What this suffix does
-keeper names the person (or thing) that guards, tends, or manages something: gatekeeper, beekeeper, goalkeeper, timekeeper, shopkeeper.
ESEN
Suffix · forms nouns
-keeper
Names the person who guards, tends, or manages something: gatekeeper, beekeeper, peacekeeper, timekeeper, shopkeeper, lighthouse keeper.
In Spanish: guardian de / responsable deIntermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Figurative use: gatekeeper
"gatekeeper" is often used figuratively: "the media as gatekeepers" = the media controlling what information reaches the public. "act as a gatekeeper" = control access to something.
How it is formed
Noun + keeper.
- gate + keepergatekeeper
- bee + keeperbeekeeper
- shop + keepershopkeeper
This is not a productive rule you can apply freely: it is a closed set of fixed expressions. Learn them one by one as set phrases.
How it is pronounced
-keeper/ˌkiːpər/ · sounds like "keeper"
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Base word
With -keeper
In a phrase
- gategatekeeperThe manager acts like a gatekeeper, nothing gets approved without her okay.
- beebeekeeperMy uncle is a beekeeper, he has ten hives in his backyard.
- peacepeacekeeperThe peacekeepers were sent to protect civilians during the conflict.
- goalgoalkeeperOur goalkeeper saved three penalty kicks in the final.
- timetimekeeperShe volunteered as the timekeeper for the swim meet.
- shopshopkeeperThe shopkeeper knows all his regular customers by name.
- light+houselighthouse keeperThe lighthouse keeper lived alone on the island for years.
- inninnkeeperThe innkeeper gave us the best room in the house.
- zoozookeeperThe zookeeper feeds the lions every morning at nine.
Common mistakes
beekeeping is a beekeeper
beekeeping is the activity; a beekeeper is the person
"Beekeeper" = the person. "Beekeeping" = the activity (verbal noun). They are distinct forms.
the goalkeeper keeps the gate
the goalkeeper guards the goal; the gatekeeper guards the gate
"Goalkeeper" (football/soccer goalie) and "gatekeeper" (guardian of a gate or access) are distinct words. The first element matters.
A trick to remember it
"Keeper" = the one who STAYS to look after something: a goalKEEPER stays in the goal, a beeKEEPER stays with the bees, a gateKEEPER stays at the gate deciding who gets in.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
What does a "beekeeper" do?
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -keeper mean in English?
The suffix -keeper names the person who guards, tends, or manages something: gatekeeper, beekeeper, peacekeeper, timekeeper, shopkeeper, lighthouse keeper. In Spanish it usually maps to guardian de / responsable de.
How do you pronounce -keeper?
The ending -keeper is pronounced /ˌkiːpər/ · sounds like "keeper". For example, "gatekeeper".
Can you give an example of a word with -keeper?
"gate" becomes "gatekeeper". It is a typical example of the -keeper suffix.
Other useful suffixes
-monger
From Old English "mangere" (dealer, trader): forms nouns for traders and — more powerfully — spreaders of harmful things. Warmonger, scaremonger, fishmonger, ironmonger.
-ward / -wards
Turns a direction word into a direction adverb/adjective: inward, outward, forward. Works with almost any direction word, it is productive.
-wright
From Old English "wryhta" (worker, maker): forms nouns for skilled craftsmen and makers. Playwright, wheelwright, shipwright, wainwright, millwright.
Learn every English suffix
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.