What this suffix does
-itude forms abstract nouns of state or quality: gratitude, solitude, attitude, altitude, magnitude.
ESEN
Suffix · forms nouns
-itude
From Latin "-itudo": forms abstract nouns of state or quality. Solitude, gratitude, magnitude, fortitude.
Intermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
How it is formed
Latin root (state or quality) + itude or -tude:
- Latin adjective + itudesol (alone) = solitudegrat (grateful) = gratitudemagn (great) = magnitudeapt = aptitudefort (strong) = fortitude
- geographic concept + itudelat (side) = latitudelong (length) = longitudealt (high) = altitudeplat (flat) = platitude
- number or quantity root + itudemulti (many) = multitudeampli = amplitudeplen = plenitudesimili = similitude
The variant -tude (without -i-) appears when the root already ends in a vowel: platitude, amplitude, attitude, beatitude, certitude. The choice is phonological.
How it is pronounced
-itude/ɪtjuːd/ · sounds like 'ih-TYOOD'
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Base word
With -itude
In a phrase
- sol (alone)solitudeAfter a busy week, she loves a bit of solitude on Sunday mornings.
- grat (grateful)gratitudeHe wrote a card to show his gratitude for their help.
- magn (great)magnitudeScientists are still studying the magnitude of the change.
- lat (side)latitudeThe city sits at a latitude close to the equator.
- alt (high)altitudeThe plane is now flying at an altitude of 30,000 feet.
- aptaptitudeShe has a real aptitude for math.
- fort (strong)fortitudeIt took a lot of fortitude to finish the marathon injured.
- multi (many)multitudeA multitude of fans showed up outside the stadium.
- plat (flat/worn)platitudeHis speech was full of platitudes and said nothing new.
- beat (blessed)beatitudeThe monk spoke about beatitude, a deep sense of peace and joy.
Common mistakes
confusing "solitude" and "loneliness"
"solitude" = chosen aloneness (can be positive); "loneliness" = unwanted isolation (always negative)
"I enjoy my solitude" = I value my alone time (positive, chosen). "The loneliness is unbearable" (negative, unwanted). The same physical reality can be solitude or loneliness depending on whether it is chosen or suffered.
attitude / aptitude confused
attitude = mental disposition; aptitude = natural ability/talent
"attitude" = how you think or behave toward something. "aptitude" = a natural ability or talent. "a positive attitude" ≠ "an aptitude for music". Similar spelling, different meanings.
A trick to remember it
"-itude" = the state or quality of something. Use "attitude" as your anchor: grat-ITUDE = the state of being grateful. alt-ITUDE = the state of being up high. Same mold as attitude, just a different root.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
What is the difference between "solitude" and "loneliness"?
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
"A speech full of platitudes" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -itude mean in English?
The suffix -itude from Latin "-itudo": forms abstract nouns of state or quality. Solitude, gratitude, magnitude, fortitude.
How do you pronounce -itude?
The ending -itude is pronounced /ɪtjuːd/ · sounds like 'ih-TYOOD'. For example, "solitude".
Can you give an example of a word with -itude?
"sol (alone)" becomes "solitude". It is a typical example of the -itude suffix.
Other useful suffixes
-ian / -ean
Turns proper nouns into style or period adjectives: Orwellian = relating to Orwell's ideas of surveillance and totalitarianism.
-ity
Turns an adjective into the noun that names that abstract quality: active becomes activity.
-ness
Turns an adjective into the noun that names that quality or state: happy becomes happiness.
Learn every English suffix
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.