Most Common Suffixes in English

Common suffixes in English can help you figure out the meanings of new words you encounter. Many words in English are formed from the same root or base word. By adding different suffixes, a range of new words can be formed.

Adjective suffixes 

 

Common Suffixes then examples of adjectives:

• -able → drinkable, portable, predictable
  
• -al → brutal, formal, postal
• -en → broken, golden, wooden
• -ese → Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese
• -ful → forgetful, helpful, useful
• -i → Iraqi, Pakistani, Yemeni
• -ic → classic, Islamic, poetic
• -ish → British, childish, Spanish
• -ible → flexible, credible, edible
  
• -ive → active, passive, productive
• -ian → Canadian, Malaysian, Peruvian
• -less → homeless, hopeless, useless
• -ly → daily, monthly, yearly
• -ous → cautious, famous, nervous
• -y → cloudy, rainy, windy

Noun suffixes

 

Common suffixes then examples of nouns:

• -acy → privacy, fallacy, delicacy
• -age → baggage, village, postage
• -al → arrival, recital, rebuttal
• -ance → reliance, assurance, reliance
  
• -dom → boredom, freedom, kingdom
• -ee → employee, payee, referee
• -eer → volunteer, engineer, profiteer
• -ence → eminence, defence, insistence
  
• -or → director, protector, narrator
• -er → driver, writer, teacher
• -hood → brotherhood, childhood, neighbourhood
• -ion → celebration, opinion, decision
• -ism → capitalism, humanism, socialism
• -ist → capitalist, narcissist, socialist
• -ity → inactivity, veracity, parity, serenity
• -ty → cruelty, twenty, thirty
  
• -ment → amazement, argument, parliament
• -ness → happiness, kindness, heaviness
• -or → distributor, investigator, translator
• -ry → entry, ministry, robbery
• -ship → friendship, fellowship, workmanship
• -sion → depression, confusion, concession
• -tion → population, transition, abbreviation
• -xion → complexion, genuflexion, anteflexion
• -th →  labyrinth, depth, warmth

Adverb suffixes 

 

Here comes the suffixes and then examples of Adverb:

• -ly → calmly, easily, quickly
• -ward(s) → downwards, homeward(s), upwards
• -wise → anti-clockwise, clockwise, edgewise

 

See: Most Common Prefixes With Meanings and Examples in English

 

Adjective suffixes 

 

Common Suffixes then examples of adjective:

• -able → preventable, adaptable, portable
• -ible → edible, flexible, credible
• -al → theatrical, regional, criminal
• -ant → vigilant, defiant, brilliant
• -ary → budgetary, planetary, honorary
• -en → broken, golden, wooden
• -ese → Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese
• -esque → picturesque, statuesque, burlesque
• -ful → fanciful, resentful, grateful
• -i → Iraqi, Pakistani, Yemeni
• -ian → Canadian, Malaysian, Peruvian
• -ic → iconic, Islamic, heroic
• -ical → mythical, theistical, whimsical
• -ious → gracious, cautious, studious
• -ish → fiendish, childish, Spanish
• -ive → creative, expensive, productive
• -less → hopeless, faultless, effortless
• -ly → daily, monthly, yearly
• -ous → cautious, famous, humorous
• -y → brainy, fruity, sleazy

Verb suffixes

 

Common Suffixes then examples of verbs:

• -ate → complicate, regulate, irritate
• -ed → laughed, climbed, called
• -en → harden, soften, fasten
• -er → faster, bigger, fuller
• -ify → beautify, clarify, exemplify
• -fy → satisfy, diversify, nullify
• -ing → laughing, swimming, driving
• -ize → memorialize, industrialize , socialize
• -ise → advertise, economise, realise (-ise is most common in British English; -ize is most common in American English) 

 

See: Opposites of Adjectives by Adding Prefixes

 

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References

dictionary.cambridge - thoughtco