Learning common suffixes is an excellent language hack for growing your vocabulary. With the simple addition of a suffix, words transform, adopting new identities and nuances.
Ready to boost your word power and level up your English skills? Then check out our list of 30 common suffixes, complete with their uses and pronunciation. Also, we share some handy tips that will help you learn them fast.So, read on to become a suffix specialist.
What are suffix words?
Technically, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, suffixes aren’t words. A suffix is a type of affix that changes the meaning or grammatical function of a word by adding extra letters to the end of it. Let’s look at “-able,” a popular suffix. By attaching “-able” to a verb, the verb transforms into an adjective, suggesting something can be done. For example, add “-able” to “read,” and you get “readable,” meaning “it can be read.”
Suffixes are like secret codes that change words in special ways. By adding these codes to the end of words, we can turn a simple action into a quality or change a verb into a noun. It’s like giving words a new costume to wear.
30 common English suffixes
Here’s a handy chart of 30 common suffixes, which features examples and pronunciation guidance using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
Noun suffixes
Nouns name everything from places to ideas. Discover how noun suffixes expand these names by learning about the meanings of specific suffixes and a few useful examples.
Suffix | Pronunciation | Meaning | Examples |
-ance | /æns/ | State or quality of | assistance (help), performance, endurance |
-dom | /dəm/ | Domain or state of being | freedom, kingdom, wisdom |
-ment | /mənt/ | Result or product of an action | achievement, agreement, employment |
-ship | /ʃɪp/ | State or condition; skill or art of | friendship, leadership, partnership |
-tion | /ʃən/ | Action or resulting state | action, celebration, education |
-ity | /ɪti/ | Quality or state | activity, reality, possibility |
-ness | /nəs/ | State, condition, or quality | happiness, darkness, kindness |
-ism | /ɪzəm/ | Practice, system, or philosophy | realism, socialism, capitalism |
-age | /ɪdʒ/ | Result of an action; collection of; associated fee | passage, marriage, storage |
-ery | /əri/ | Place of; collective items; art of | bakery, machinery, robbery |
-hood | /hʊd/ | State, condition, or quality | childhood, brotherhood, likelihood |
-ure | /jʊər/ | Action, process, or result | closure, exposure, measure |
-ence | /ɛns/ | Action, state, or process; quality of being | difference, independence, presence |
-cy | /si/ | State, condition, or quality | democracy, accuracy, privacy |
Adjective suffixes
This list introduces suffixes that turn basic words into descriptive powerhouses, helping you paint clearer pictures with your words.
Suffix | Pronunciation | Meaning | Examples |
-able | /əbəl/ | Capable of being; worthy of | comfortable, reliable, sustainable |
-al | /əl/ | Relating to; of the nature of | personal, natural, musical |
-ful | /fʊl/ | Full of; having the qualities of | joyful, respectful, careful |
-less | /lɛs/ | Without; lacking | fearless, hopeless, tireless |
-ous | /əs/ | Having the qualities of; full of | dangerous, glorious, nervous |
-ive | /ɪv/ | Having the nature of; pertaining to | active, creative, sensitive |
-ic | /ɪk/ | Of or relating to | poetic, classic, organic |
-y | /i/ | Characterized by or filled with | happy, cloudy, sticky |
-ish | /ɪʃ/ | Having the qualities of; somewhat like | foolish, selfish, bookish |
-ary | /əri/ | Relating to; pertaining to | customary, stationary, legendary |
Verb suffixes
Actions and states are expressed through verbs. This table highlights suffixes that transform words into verbs, helping you add action to your sentences in diverse and dynamic ways.
Suffix | Pronunciation | Meaning | Examples |
-ate | /eɪt/ | To make; to become | activate, demonstrate, motivate |
-en | /ən/ | To make; to become | strengthen, shorten, soften |
-ify | /ɪfaɪ/ | To make; to cause to become | clarify, purify, simplify |
-ize | /aɪz/ | To make; to become; to practice | realize, harmonize, specialize |
Adverb suffixes
Adverbs refine our understanding by modifying verbs and adjectives. Explore these adverb suffixes to see how easily you can add detail and depth to your descriptions.
Suffix | Pronunciation | Meaning | Examples |
-ly | /li/ | In the manner of | quickly, slowly, happily |
-wise | /waɪz/ | In the manner of; in relation to | clockwise, otherwise, likewise |
How to master suffixes: Top tips
Now that you have a list of every day “suffix words”, let’s explore some fun and effective ways to learn these transformative word endings.
Watch movies and TV with subtitles
Yes, platforms such as Netflix can be educational tools! Just select your favorite English-language show and switch on the subtitles to see suffixes appear naturally and within context. To streamline your learning, download the Preply app and use the Vocabulary feature to record new suffixes, verbs, nouns, and more. You can then study and test your knowledge of the new words later.
You can also level up your study sessions with Netflix’s Dual Subtitle feature. This Google extension places the primary language’s subtitles and a translation in your native language at the bottom of the screen.
Want to learn more? Then visit our guide on Netflix Dual Subtitles to transform episodes of Friends or fascinating documentaries into English lessons.
Embrace e-learning software
With so many online resources and tools, learning English online is easier than ever. The best websites to learn English include sections dedicated to learning common suffixes. Additionally, the top English-learning apps use games and quizzes to make learning fun and effective.
Apps such as Reverso are user-friendly and handy, letting you look up new words on the go, unlike traditional dictionaries.
However, self-study apps don’t provide conversation practice, feedback on writing, or the guidance of professional tutors. So, you’ll still need to supplement your digital learning with tutor-led lessons.
If you’re just starting out, don’t run before you can walk – take an English lesson for beginners.
Get a 1-on-1 language coach
To master suffixes (and all other aspects of the language), enlisting the help of a personal language coach is the best option.
According to a study by the RAND Corporation on the effectiveness of personalized learning, a tailor-made learning plan can help you learn much more quickly than following a cookie-cutter approach. This is because it addresses your strengths and weaknesses while keeping your objectives in mind.
Do you think getting a personal language coach is too expensive or that you simply don’t have enough time? Then think again. Platforms like Preply have made arranging personalized English speaking classes with professional online tutors more convenient and affordable than ever.
Preply starts by asking you about your goals, your level, and when you’re free in order to provide you with a list of tutors who perfectly fit your needs.
You can then assess your options by comparing tutors’ prices, intro videos, availability, and countries of origin. Next, book a 25- to 50-minute trial lesson to see if you like a tutor before signing up for more lessons. Want some expert tips to help your search? Then read our guide on how to pick a good tutor.
So, if you’re serious about making real progress with your English, register with Preply today.
