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.
-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.
-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
"-ify" = "to make", the verb of transformation. simple → simplify. The matching noun always follows the same mold: -ification (simplification).
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.