Suffixes are word parts that are added to a root to create a word (e.g., “dent” + “-al” = “dental”) or to a root word to create a new word (e.g., “soft” + “ness” = “softness”). Suffixes often change a root word’s part of speech and sometimes they make a significant change in the meaning too. For example, the suffix “-less” changes a noun to an adjective and also changes the meaning a great deal. Compare “tooth” and “toothless,” for instance! Some suffixes add grammatical information to a root word without changing the part of speech. The past tense marker “-ed” is an example of this type of suffix. “Talk” and “talked” are both still verbs despite the change in forms.
The suffixes listed below are very basic suffixes that, when added to a root word, change its part of speech. In this list are included a number of suffixes—“-y,” “-th,” “-ly,” and “-ful”—that come from Old English. As the suffixes become more specialized in their meaning, or if they tend to combine with more sophisticated words, they are more likely to derive from Latin or Greek.
Additional example words for each suffix in the list below can be found by going to A-Z Word Parts under Search Tools in our dictionary, filtering the list there for “Suffixes,” and browsing through the list. One may also use the search box on the A-Z Word Parts page to search the list for a particular suffix. Click here to learn more about how to use the Wordsmyth Word Parts database.
Rudimentary suffixes:
| suffix | meaning | example words |
|---|---|---|
| -ation | Latin noun-forming suffix that means the act, process, or result of | education, translation, vacation |
| -ion (tion, sion) | Latin noun-forming suffix that means the act, process, or result of | action, permission, confusion |
| -er, -or, -ar | Latin noun-forming suffix that means a person or thing that does | driver, actor, computer, liar |
| -able | Latin adjective-forming suffix that means capable of being, doing, or undergoing | adorable, movable, drinkable |
| -ability | Latin noun-forming suffix that means ability to do, be, or undergo | capability, reliability |
| -ment | Latin noun-forming suffix that means act, process, or instance of | movement, agreement, measurement |
| -ful | Old English adjective-forming suffix that means full of | beautiful, successful, useful |
| -ness | Old English noun-forming suffix that means state or quality of | fitness, kindness, business |
| -th | Old English adjective- and noun-forming suffix that means in the position in a series indicated by the base number | fourth, fifth, sixth |
| -y | Old English adjective-forming suffix that means characterized by; full of; tending to | chewy, itchy, lucky, messy |
| -an | Latin adjective- and noun-forming suffix that means in adjectives: from (a place) or pertaining to or following (a figure or school of thought); in nouns: person or thing from (a place) or associated with (an activity or school of thought). | American, European, historian |
See also:
Word Parts I: basic roots
Word Parts III: Intermediate level suffixes
Word Parts IV: basic prefixes
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