What this suffix does
-scape forms nouns for panoramic views or entire worlds: landscape, cityscape, seascape.
ESEN
Suffix · forms nouns
-scape
From Dutch "landschap" (landscape): forms nouns for panoramic views or entire realms. Landscape, seascape, moonscape, cityscape, dreamscape, soundscape, mindscape, cloudscape.
In Spanish: -paisaje / panorama deIntermediate
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Still productive today
Unlike many suffixes like this, -scape is still used to create new words: soundscape, mindscape, dreamscape are relatively new combinations that are already well understood.
How it is formed
Noun + scape. Produces nouns for panoramic views or entire realms of something.
- natural viewland = landscapesea = seascapemoon = moonscapecloud = cloudscapeice = icescape
- urban / builtcity = cityscapestreet = streetscaperoof = roofscapetown = townscape
- sensory / mental (modern)sound = soundscapemind = mindscapedream = dreamscapemedia = mediascapetime = timescape
-scape is productively forming new vocabulary in academic and creative writing: "soundscape" (ecology, music), "mindscape" (psychology), "dreamscape" (film criticism), "mediascape" (media studies). Unlike many literary suffixes, -scape is still actively used.
How it is pronounced
-scape/skeɪp/ · rhymes with cape
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Base word
With -scape
In a phrase
- landlandscapeThe painting shows a beautiful mountain landscape.
- seaseascapeHe collects seascape paintings from local artists.
- moonmoonscapeAfter the fire, the field looked like a moonscape.
- citycityscapeYou can see the whole cityscape from the rooftop bar.
- dreamdreamscapeThe movie takes place in a strange dreamscape.
- soundsoundscapeThe forest has a peaceful soundscape of birds and wind.
- mindmindscapeThe novel explores the character's inner mindscape.
- cloudcloudscapeThe sunset painted an amazing cloudscape over the ocean.
- mediamediascapeSocial media has completely changed the mediascape.
- timetimescapeThe documentary jumps across a strange timescape of past and future.
Common mistakes
-scape only exists in "landscape" — the rest are invented words
-scape is a fully productive suffix with dozens of established words
"seascape," "cityscape," "moonscape," and "soundscape" appear in major dictionaries. "dreamscape" and "mindscape" are widely used in academic and literary writing. -scape is not just "landscape" — it is a living suffix.
landscape = only a painting of nature
landscape = 1) the natural scenery itself; 2) a painting of it; 3) any panoramic situation
"landscape" has three major senses: 1) the physical terrain ("a beautiful landscape"); 2) a painting of natural scenery; 3) any general situation ("the political landscape," "the emotional landscape"). All three are standard and common.
A trick to remember it
"-scape" comes from "landscape". Picture taking a PANORAMIC PHOTO of anything: sound-SCAPE = the "panoramic photo" of all the sounds in a place. mind-SCAPE = the "panoramic photo" of a mind.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Which of these is a modern, productive -scape combination?
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
"The political landscape" means...
Frequently asked questions
What does the suffix -scape mean in English?
The suffix -scape from Dutch "landschap" (landscape): forms nouns for panoramic views or entire realms. Landscape, seascape, moonscape, cityscape, dreamscape, soundscape, mindscape, cloudscape. In Spanish it usually maps to -paisaje / panorama de.
How do you pronounce -scape?
The ending -scape is pronounced /skeɪp/ · rhymes with cape. For example, "landscape".
Can you give an example of a word with -scape?
"land" becomes "landscape". It is a typical example of the -scape suffix.
Other useful suffixes
-bound
From the past participle of "bind": forms adjectives meaning "confined by," "heading toward," or "obligated by." Spellbound, earthbound, homebound, hidebound, snowbound, inbound.
-like
Forms adjectives meaning "similar to X": dreamlike, lifelike, childlike (having a child's qualities, in a positive sense). It is fairly productive, you can attach it to almost any noun.
-ward / -wards
Turns a direction word into a direction adverb/adjective: inward, outward, forward. Works with almost any direction word, it is productive.
Learn every English suffix
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.