What this suffix does
-legged describes the number or type of legs: four-legged, long-legged, three-legged (as in "a three-legged race").
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Suffix · forms adjectives
-legged
Describes the number or type of legs: four-legged (having four legs) and long-legged (having long legs).
In Spanish: de piernas / con patasIntermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
How it is formed
Number or adjective + legged.
- four + leggedfour-legged
- long + leggedlong-legged
- three + leggedthree-legged (a three-legged race)
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
-legged
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Base word
With -legged
In a phrase
- longlong-leggedThe long-legged dog could run much faster than the others.
- fourfour-leggedCats and dogs are both four-legged animals.
- bandybandy-leggedThe old cowboy walked with a bandy-legged gait.
- spindlespindle-leggedThe baby deer looked spindle-legged as it tried to stand.
- threethree-leggedThe kids laughed all the way through the three-legged race.
Common mistakes
long-legged = always a compliment
long-legged is neutral and descriptive unless the context makes it evaluative
"Long-legged" is primarily descriptive rather than evaluative — it describes a physical characteristic. Context determines whether it is admiring (fashion writing often uses "long-legged" admiringly), neutral (scientific or nature writing), or gently humorous (applied to ungainly creatures). The compound itself does not carry a fixed positive or negative charge.
four-legged = only for animals
four-legged is used for any creature or thing with four legs, including robots, furniture, and animals
"Four-legged" can apply to animals, furniture (four-legged table, four-legged stool), mythological creatures, robots, or any entity with four appendages used for support or locomotion. The compound is entirely structural — it describes the physical configuration, not the nature of the entity.
A trick to remember it
"Legged" = having legs, 100% literal and countable: four-LEGGED = count 4 legs. long-LEGGED = measure the legs, they're long. No trick here, just count or measure.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"long-legged" describes someone with...
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -legged mean in English?
The suffix -legged describes the number or type of legs: four-legged (having four legs) and long-legged (having long legs). In Spanish it usually maps to de piernas / con patas.
Can you give an example of a word with -legged?
"long" becomes "long-legged". It is a typical example of the -legged suffix.
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