Language keeps changing and evolving all the time. One cool thing about language is how words can change to mean different things. Noun suffixes are a great example of this. Suffixes are parts we add to the end of a word to change what it means or does. When we use noun suffixes, they can change a word into a noun and tell us more about what the noun is like. In this article, we’ll look at list of noun suffixes, what they mean, and examples of how they’re used.
Noun Suffixes with Easy Examples List
- -er (one who)
Examples: teacher, writer, baker
- -ist (one who practices or believes in)
Examples: artist, scientist, pessimist
- -ism (doctrine, belief, system)
Examples: capitalism, feminism, racism
- –ment (result of an action)
Examples: development, improvement, movement
- -tion / -sion (act or state of)
Examples: action, reaction, decision, discussion
- -ity / -ty (quality or state of)
Examples: reality, creativity, responsibility
- -ness (state of being)
Examples: happiness, darkness, kindness
- -ance / -ence (state or quality of)
Examples: importance, presence, competence
- -age (action or process of)
Examples: storage, passage, coverage
- -ure (result of)
Examples: failure, adventure, structure
- -ship (position held)
Examples: leadership, friendship, ownership
- -hood (state of being)
Examples: childhood, adulthood, brotherhood
- -dom (state or realm of)
Examples: kingdom, freedom, wisdom
- -er / -or (thing that does)
Examples: computer, actor, director
- -arian (one who supports or advocates)
Examples: vegetarian, humanitarian, librarian
- -ee (person who receives)
Examples: employee, payee, trainee
- -ese (native of)
Examples: Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese
- -ette (small version or imitation)
Examples: kitchenette, cigarette, usherette
- -let (small)
Examples: booklet, piglet, droplet
- -ling (young one or small)
Examples: duckling, darling, underling
- -ologist (one who studies or is an expert in)
Examples: biologist, psychologist, geologist
- -phile (lover of)
Examples: audiophile, bibliophile, Francophile
- -phobe (one who fears or dislikes)
Examples: arachnophobe, claustrophobe, xenophobe
- -scope (instrument for viewing)
Examples: microscope, telescope, kaleidoscope
- -ward / -wards (in the direction of)
Examples: forward, backward, afterwards
- -wise (in the manner of)
Examples: clockwise, otherwise, lengthwise
- -ium (place or medium)
Examples: auditorium, aquarium, stadium
- -cy (state or quality of)
Examples: efficiency, accuracy, privacy
- -ness (state or quality of)
Examples: kindness, readiness, emptiness
- -itude (state or condition)
Examples: gratitude, servitude, plenitude
- -gram (something written or drawn)
Examples: telegram, diagram, program
- -al (act or process of)
Examples: arrival, refusal, survival
- -logy (study of)
Examples: biology, psychology, geology
- -able / -ible (capable of, fit for)
Examples: capable, visible, incredible
- -icle (small)
Examples: particle, article, vehicle
- -ish (resembling)
Examples: reddish, childish, selfish
- -ful (full of)
Examples: joyful, hopeful, careful
- -ize / -ise (to make, to become)
Examples: organize, criticize, realize
- -acy (state or quality of)
Examples: democracy, accuracy, privacy
- -ics (study of)
Examples: physics, economics, politics
- -ian (native of, relating to)
Examples: American, Canadian, musician
- -arium / -orium (place for)
Examples: aquarium, auditorium, terrarium
- -ant (person or thing that does)
Examples: servant, applicant, pollutant
- -ist (follower or supporter of)
Examples: artist, biologist, violinist
- -ive (tending to)
Examples: creative, informative, responsive
- -ary (related to, connected with)
Examples: primary, dictionary, military
- -ty / -ity (quality or state of)
Examples: quality, quantity, electricity
- -dom (state or condition)
Examples: kingdom, freedom, wisdom
- -ation / -ion (act or process of)
Examples: information, creation, expansion
- -ary (connected with, relating to)
Examples: library, dictionary, culinary
- -er (thing that does)
Examples: computer, printer, blender
- -ist (adherent or supporter of)
Examples: artist, optimist, therapist
- -ism (doctrine, system, condition)
Examples: capitalism, socialism, patriotism
- -er (comparative form)
Examples: taller, faster, stronger
- -ity / -ty (state or quality of)
Examples: ability, curiosity, humility
- -ship (position, state, quality)
Examples: leadership, friendship, partnership
- -ion / -tion (act or state of)
Examples: action, reaction, decision
Must Try: Suffix and Prefix Examples
Suffixes for Noun | Images
