Suffix · forms adjectives
Turns a noun into an adjective meaning "of", "relating to" or "characteristic of": economy becomes economic.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
The suffix -ic creates adjectives describing something as "relating to" or "characteristic of" a subject or concept. From "economy" you get "economic"; from "history" you get "historic"; from "drama" you get "dramatic". It is very common in academic and scientific vocabulary. Seeing -ic at the end of an adjective immediately tells you the word describes something in relation to the root in front of it.
Another easy win: -ic in English corresponds to -ico in Spanish in the vast majority of cases. economic = económico historic = histórico dramatic = dramático atomic = atómico electric = eléctrico If Spanish uses a -ico adjective, the English version ends in -ic. Just drop the final -o: económico → economic.
There is a subtle distinction between -ic and -ical worth knowing. historic = having historical importance, memorable: a historic moment. historical = relating to history in general: a historical novel. The same applies to economic/economical. In most adjectives there is no difference, but in these pairs the nuance matters.
Noun or root + ic. Usually no spelling changes.
Many -ic words come from Greek or Latin and have no obvious English noun as a base: electric, magnetic, toxic, organic. In those cases, the Spanish -ico cognate gives you the meaning directly.
-ic/ɪk/ · stress falls on the syllable before -ic
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
economic = relating to the economy. economical = cost-saving. Two different adjectives.
historic = memorable, of great importance. historical = relating to the study of history.
"electric" is the adjective: an electric car. "electrically" is the adverb: an electrically powered vehicle.
A trick to remember it
If Spanish uses -ico, English uses -ic: económico = economic, dramático = dramatic, atómico = atomic. Works in almost all academic and scientific contexts.
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"historic" and "historical" are...
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
What is the adjective form of "atom"?
The suffix -ic turns a noun into an adjective meaning "of", "relating to" or "characteristic of": economy becomes economic. In Spanish it usually maps to -ico.
The ending -ic is pronounced /ɪk/ · stress falls on the syllable before -ic. For example, "economic".
"economy" becomes "economic". It is a typical example of the -ic suffix.
Turns a noun into an adjective meaning "related to" or "belonging to": nation becomes national.
Turns a verb or noun into an adjective showing tendency or capacity: create becomes creative.
Turns a noun into an adjective meaning "full of" or "having that quality": danger becomes dangerous.
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.