Suffix · forms verbs
Turns a noun or adjective into a verb meaning "to make" or "to convert into": simple becomes simplify.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
The suffix -ify (or -fy when the root already ends in a vowel) takes a noun or adjective and creates a verb meaning "to make something X" or "to convert into X". From "simple" you get "simplify"; from "class" you get "classify"; from "beauty" you get "beautify". It is the sibling of -ize: both create verbs, but -ify is more prevalent in academic and formal vocabulary (clarify, identify, justify, verify), while -ize dominates tech and business contexts.
The Spanish equivalent is -ificar, and cognates are plentiful: simplify = simplificar classify = clasificar identify = identificar justify = justificar verify = verificar If Spanish uses a -ificar verb, the English version almost always ends in -ify. Drop the -icar and add -ify: simplificar = simplify.
-ify verbs form their nouns with -ification: simplify = simplification classify = classification identify = identification justify = justification Learning the -ify verb gives you the -ification noun and the -ified adjective (simplified, classified, identified) for free. Three words for the price of one.
Noun or adjective + ify. Minor spelling adjustments.
When the base ends in -y, drop the -y and add -ify: beauty = beautify. With Latin roots (magn-, fort-, noti-) there may not be an obvious English noun, but the Spanish -ificar cognate confirms the meaning.
-ify / -fy/ɪfaɪ/ · sounds like 'ih-fye'
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
The form is -ify, not -ificate or -ify-ze. It ends simply in -ify.
The verb is "identify". The noun is "identification" but those are two different words.
The -ify suffix is unstressed. Stress stays on the root syllable: SIMplify, CLASsify, IDENtify.
A trick to remember it
If Spanish uses -ificar, drop -icar and add -ify in English: simplificar = simplify, clasificar = classify. And the noun is always -ification: simplification, classification.
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
What is the noun form of "classify"?
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
"justify" in Spanish is...
The suffix -ify / -fy turns a noun or adjective into a verb meaning "to make" or "to convert into": simple becomes simplify. In Spanish it usually maps to -ificar.
The ending -ify / -fy is pronounced /ɪfaɪ/ · sounds like 'ih-fye'. For example, "simplify".
"simple" becomes "simplify". It is a typical example of the -ify / -fy suffix.
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.