Did you know that there are over 275 suffixes in the Spanish language? Imagine knowing only a few of them and how that would improve your Spanish vocabulary? Let's see what a suffix actually is and also what are the most common endings in Spanish. At the end of this article you will find a list of all suffixes in the Spanish language.
What is the suffix?
Suffixes are modifications of the word stem withspellingmodifications or endings that change meaning in Spanish.
(Video) How to use Suffixes in Spanish - Basic Grammar
There are many different types of suffixes that we will explore today. Let's start with an overview of what a suffix is. Suffixes are common words that are usually attached to a stem and change the meaning of the root in some way. more specifically, a suffix is an addition to a form of spoken or written language that changes the roots of the related language to form more complex words.
See Also
16 Spanish words to know before eating out in Spain - Spanish SaboresSpråk Företagsnamnsgenerator + (omedelbar tillgänglighetskontroll)Some common suffixes in English are -able/-ible, -ness, -ful and -ish. The same is found in the Spanish language and it changes the meaning of words. Let's look at some common suffixes in Spanish:
(Video) PREFIXES & SUFFIXES | English Lesson
The most common suffixes in Spanish:
the- indicate a diminutive
for example: perrito (dog), regalito (smallgave)
I was/was- form noun adverbs and form places where a noun normally resides or the noun functions.
for example: sugar bowl (sugar bowl), salt shaker (salt shaker), hat (hat, shade supplier)
(Video) Spanish Words - 100 Most Common Words Translated - Covering 50% of Spoken Conversation!
ía – create the name of a location, usually a store. Or suggest that there is something connected to it.
for example: bakery (bread shop, bakery), shoe shop (shoe shop), hardware store (hardware store)
moose- to create businesses
for example: dentist (dentist), linguist (linguist), retired (retired), cheerleader (cheerleader). See a complete list ofall Spanish words ending with ISTA here.
(Video) Spanish Prefixes: Boost Your Vocab Overnight
dor - Dora- used to create tools, household appliances, place names, professions and jobs.
for example: vacuum cleaner, dining room, driver, hostel, lost
are-is used in the same way -ly words are used in English.
for example: pacientemente (patient), practica (practical). See a complete list ofall words ending in -mente in Spanish.
(Video) Suffixes
List of all suffixes in Spanish
In total, there are just over 275 suffixes in Spanish. Find a complete list below:
All Spanish suffixes
| Spanish suffix | They say… |
|---|---|
| -IN | -ace. (Used to form a singular feminine noun.) |
| -IN | -LITTLE. (Used to form third person singular (also used with usted)gaveindicative mood of regular verbs -ar.) |
| -IN | (Used to form feminine singular adjectives.) |
| -IN | (Used to form first and third person singular (also used with usted) singular subjunctive of -er and -Iverbs which are also used for the used imperative.) |
| -IN | (Used to form the 2nd person singular imperative of -ar verbs.) |
| - ups | Suffix indicating the imperfect singular of verbs -ar |
| - ups | Suffix indicating the first person singular indicating -ar verbs |
| -abais | Suffix indicating the imperfect second person plural of -ar verbs |
| -prohibit | Suffix indicating the third person plural of -ar verbs |
| - both | Suffix indicating 2nd singular singular imperfect indicative of verbs -ar |
| -capable | |
| - many | alternative shape tie |
| -ada | Used to form words, derived from nouns, similar to -ful (as much as something fits) |
| -ada | Used to form words derived from nouns that indicate a hit with the named object |
| -ada | It is used to form words derived from nouns denoting a set |
| -ada | It is used to form words indicating abundance or excess |
| -ada | It is used to form words that indicate action |
| -ada | It is used to form words that indicate a period of time |
| -ada | It is used with a stem to form the feminine singular past of regular -are verbs. feminine form -ado |
| -stress and me | Suffix indicating past tense of regular -ar verbs |
| -Love | -dor form attached to -ar verb stems. Forms (usually agents) of nouns and adjectives |
| - Love | feminine form -ador |
| -prayer | Form -dura used with -ar verbs to form nouns |
| -magi | Forms masculine nouns that express an action, quantity, location, time period, etc |
| - al | In adjectives that indicate relationships |
| - al | In nouns it denotes a place where something is grown |
| - pain | - perception |
| -ment | alternativ form for -mento |
| -ment | alternative form for -mento |
| -amos | suffix indicating the first person plural of verbs -ar |
| -amos | Suffix indicating the first person plural of -ar verbs |
| -amos | Suffix indicating the first person singular of verbs -er and -ir |
| -amos | Suffix indicating the first person singular of verbs -er and -ir |
| -In | Suffixes indicating the 3rd person plural of -er and -ir verbs |
| -In | Suffix indicating the third person plural of -ar verbs |
| -In | Suffixes indicating the third person plural subjunctive of verbs -er and -ir |
| cane | - anguish |
| -anders | Don't add itgerundof regular -ar verbs |
| -again | Derived from, related to, or similar to |
| -again | One of, belonging to, relating to or the like |
| -again | -an (in the name of hydrocarbons) |
| -ante | Forms adjectives from verbs |
| -Is | Suffix indicating first person singular of future indicative of -ar verbs |
| -No | In adjectives indicate membership or state |
| -No | In nouns it denotes a place where something is grown |
| -No | The present ending for many verbs |
| - aran | It indicates the imperfect subjunctive in its (standard) b ́ plural personregular verbsends in -no |
| - aran | Declare the imperfect subjunctive in the third person plural for regular verbs ending in -ar |
| -areas | Suffix indicating second person plural, verb indicative -ar |
| -silver | -I |
| -Unpleasant | Indicates the past indicative in (formal) second person plural for regular verbs ending in -ar |
| -Unpleasant | Indicates the indicative past tense in the 3rd person plural for regular verbs ending in -ar |
| -if | suffix indicating second person singular of -ar |
| -if | indicative suffix b ́ present singular of -er verbs and -ir verbs |
| -astro | It is used to form nouns with a derogatory or inferior meaning |
| -at a | feminine form -ato |
| -ato | denotes a salt or an ester related to an acid |
| -ato | It indicates the position of a noun |
| -ato | Forms adjectives of quality |
| -ato | forms a scene of substantial strain |
| -ato | forms the corresponding action of a noun |
| -ato | denotes a baby of a particular animal |
| -to avoid | added to a base number to indicate a part of a whole that is divided into that number of parts. Creates nouns and adjectives |
| - refrain | feminine form -azo |
| -azgo | Forms the effect or condition of the main word |
| -azgo | It forms the keyword office |
| - fasten them | Incremental form? words that express greatness or size |
| - fasten them | form pejoratives; words that emphasize contempt for a subject |
| - fasten them | Form words that express a blow or blow |
| - fasten them | Form words that express suddenness or brevity |
| - Let's go | denotes the simple past tense of the first person plural of a verb -ar |
| -at | feminine form-aceous |
| -acetate | -acetate |
| - lightness | Suffix indicating the second person plural of -ar verbs |
| - lightness | Suffixes indicating the second person plural subjunctive of verbs -er and -ir |
| - dexterity | -dad form commonly used for adjectives ending in -ble. In general, the English ending is similar to -ity |
| -ceta | feminine form -cete, which is another form of -ete |
| - you will | Form -and |
| - the face | - exhibition |
| - the face | -cide (denotes a person or substance that is deadly) |
| -cidio | -cide (denotes act of killing) |
| - Killa | feminine form -cillo |
| - hair | Form -illo attached to some nouns |
| -tie up | It is used when forming a noun to show the characteristic corresponding to a verb. -tie up |
| -men | feminine form of -cito Replaced by "a" at the end of feminine words and nouns ending in a vowel to indicate diminutive |
| -quickly | -cell (used to form cell names) |
| -quickly | Form - var. Replace "o" at the end of masculine words and nouns to indicate the diminutive |
| -cola | grower, breeder (noun and adjective forms) |
| -cola | resident (noun and adjective forms) |
| -constitution | -constitution |
| - boxes | - times |
| - come now | It is used when forming a noun to show the quality that corresponds to an adjective. -hot |
| - I will | someone or something that makes, uses, or creates. eg. pescadero, crujidero, saladero, aserradero, embarcadero |
| -dor | Derived forms of other nouns: |
| -dor | Form (usually agencies) nouns and adjectives from verbs. The form used depends on the suffix of the verb being added: for -ar verbs use -ador (-adora), for -er verbs use -edor (-edora) and for -ir verbs use -idor (-idora) |
| - Dora | feminine form -dor |
| -duration | It forms nouns from verbs. The form used depends on the suffix of the verb that is added: for -ar verbs use -adura, for -er verbs use -edura and for -ir verbs use -idura |
| -Yes | feminine form of -a |
| -over | form verbs from adjectives and nouns |
| -ececilla | feminine form -ececillo |
| -ececillo | Form -illo attached to some nouns |
| - excites | feminin form -ececito |
| -ececito | Form - var. Replaced by "o" at the end of masculine words and nouns ending in a vowel to indicate diminutive |
| retail | -retire |
| -ecilla | feminine form -ecillo |
| -ecillo | Form -illo attached to some nouns |
| -ecita | feminin form -ecito |
| -ecito | Form - var. Replaced by "o" at the end of masculine words and nouns ending in a vowel to indicate diminutive |
| -alder | The -dad form is generally used for adjectives ending in -io or disyllabic adjectives. In general, the English ending is similar to -ity |
| -Dinning room | -dor form attached to -er verb stems. Forms (usually agents) of nouns and adjectives |
| - Indora | feminine form -edor |
| -edura | -dura form used with -er verbs to form nouns |
| - morning | diminutive forms; applies an abominable or detestable quality to the root |
| -Vi | suffix indicating the first person plural of -er verbs |
| -Vi | Suffix indicating the first person singular of verbs -ar |
| -Vi | Suffix indicating the first person singular of the present tense of verbs -ar |
| -i | Suffix indicating the third person plural of -ar verbs |
| -i | Third person plural endings indicate -er and -ir verbs |
| -i | Suffixes denoting the third person plural of verbs -ar |
| -eno | Derived from, related to, or similar to |
| -eno | One of, belonging to, relating to or the like |
| to | It is used to form adjectives and nouns denoting ethnonyms in the United States, such as American |
| -In | Derived from, related to, or similar to |
| -In | One of, belonging to, relating to or the like |
| reward | Suffix indicating the first person singular of the future indicative of -er verbs |
| -is | The present ending for many verbs |
| time | feminine form -ero |
| - areal | A trait of his character; -ery |
| - areal | Changes a noun to a store that sells such an item. -ery |
| - Stand up | Suffix denoting 2nd person plural, verb indicative -er |
| - love | form noun phrases |
| - love | form parts where a generic noun is found |
| -es | Suffix indicating the plural of nouns and adjectives ending in certain consonants (usually -l, -r, -n, -d, -z, -j, -s, -x, -ch, with some exceptions) |
| -es | Suffix indicating the second person singular of verbs -er and -ir |
| -es | Suffix indicating the second person singular of verbs -ar |
| -aas | Feminine form of -esco which is a variant of -sco |
| -esco | Form -sco |
| - To | feminine form -ete |
| -eet | It is added to nouns and adjectives, often adding a diminutive to the stem |
| - No | such as Cortez, Enriquez, Godinez, Gomez, Gutierrez, Hernandez, Ibanez, Lopez, Ordonez, Perez, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Sanchez |
| - No | Suffix forming feminine nouns from nouns and adjectives denoting "state" (equivalent to English -hood, -ness, -ty) |
| -is | It is attached to adjectives to form abstract nouns of this quality |
| -ezna | feminine form -ezno |
| -ezno | Added to animal names to form other nouns, often diminutive and denoting young |
| - already | Suffix indicating the second person plural of -er and -ir verbs |
| - already | Suffix indicating the second person plural of -ar verbs |
| -I | Form nouns and adjectives by nationality: |
| - Do | feminine form of -fago |
| - ate | - ate |
| - I accept | - mad |
| - I accept | - mad |
| - Kiss | feminine form -filo |
| -ven | - shake down |
| -problem | -neck |
| -phobias | -phobias |
| - the telephone | -phone |
| -form | -form, -form, -like |
| -geno | - gen |
| -geno | - the spirits |
| -spelling | -Curve |
| - graaf | -Curve |
| - graaf | - graf |
| -gram | -gram |
| -i | Past 1st person verb form for -er verbs |
| -i | Suffixes denoting certain demons, especially from Arab and Indo-Iranian countries and regions, such as Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Penyabi and others |
| - He walked | Suffix indicating imperfect singular of verbs -er and -ir |
| - He walked | Suffix indicating the first person singular indicating verbs -er and -ir |
| - low | Suffixes indicating imperfective plural indicate -er and -ir verbs |
| - we would | Suffix indicating the imperfect first person plural, declarative of -er and -ir verbs |
| - it was | Suffixes indicating the imperfect third person plural indicate -er and -ir verbs |
| - you went | Suffix indicating second person singular imperfect indicating -er and -ir verbs |
| -io | Suffix indicating the first person indicating the verbs -er and -ir |
| - Ian | -ian (all cases) |
| -medicine | -medicine |
| -medicine | - hardships |
| - baar | |
| -ico | -ic? are added to nouns to form adjectives |
| -ico | usually irregular diminutive suffix; added to nouns to form nouns |
| -hed | -far form, generally used for adjectives with three or more syllables. Similar to the English suffix -ity |
| -I accept | Suffix indicating past tense of regular -ir and -er verbs |
| - dry | -dor form attached to -ir verb stems. Forms (usually agents) of nouns and adjectives |
| -office | feminine form -idor |
| - prayer | -dura form used with -ir verbs to form nouns |
| -I'm leaving | Suffix indicating the gerund of regular verbs -er- and -ir |
| -iron | Suffixes indicating third person plural indicating prepositional verbs -er and -ir |
| -ify | -ify, -fy, with verb formation suffix meaning turn into, turn into |
| -il | -ile (denotes relationship or concerns) |
| -bad | Added to feminine nouns to indicate diminutive |
| - What | Added to masculine nouns to indicate diminutive |
| -ment | alternative form for -mento |
| - Let's go | suffix indicating the first person plural of verbs -ir |
| - Let's go | Suffixes indicating priority of the first person plural indicate -er and -ir verbs |
| -io | -ium |
| -Want to go | Suffix indicating the first person singular indicative future of verbs -ir |
| -I | Present tense verbs |
| -Do you want to go? | Suffix indicating 2nd person plural, verb indicative -ir |
| -name | -name |
| -moose | Denotes a person who practices a profession from the noun stem. Example: magazine magazine |
| -moose | - is it? someone who follows a principle. Example: optimistic |
| - I will | Suffix indicating second person singular, indicative of prepositional verbs -er and -ir |
| - is | Suffix indicating indicative priority of second person plural of verbs -er and -ir |
| - it was | -vt |
| - it was | Replace "a" at the end of feminine words and nouns to indicate a diminutive form |
| -the | Forms the name of a salt derived from an acid (similar to -ate in English) |
| -the | Forms names of minerals |
| -the | Replace "o" at the end of masculine words and nouns to indicate the diminutive |
| -The | -degree, state, used to form a noun forms an adjective |
| -ivo | -I have |
| -back | feminine form of -izo |
| -ster | -ise/-ize |
| - What | Forms adjectives from other adjectives, nouns and verbs that usually show tendency or similarity |
| -i | A suffix to form the diminutives of nouns, often a suffix with a diminutive |
| -erg | Added to adjectives to form the absolute superlative |
| -erg | Added to adverbs to form superlatives (eg lejísimo and tardísimo) |
| - turned on | -lith, -lite |
| -hus | -ologize, -ologize |
| -logo | - accountant (someone studying) |
| -mor | feminine form of -mano |
| - rage | - rage |
| -suggestion | - rage |
| - thousands | - the mane, - rages |
| -are | -clever, -ly, somehow? used to form adverbs from adjectives |
| -mint | form concrete nouns from verbs meaning "result, product (of a process)" |
| - meter | -meter |
| - subway | -meter |
| -I am lying | -ment, forming nouns from verbs meaning action or process |
| sump | feminin form for -morpho |
| -form | -form |
| -form | -morfisch, -morfisch |
| - Oh | Suffix indicating the 3rd person singular indicative preposition of a verb |
| -from | end of any chemical element belonging only to the noble gas group, except helium (in Spanish helio) |
| -from | emphasizes contempt for the subject |
| -from | emphasizes that something big, grand, intense, important |
| -from | indicates in some cases that something is used incorrectly or often (forms adjectives and/or nouns) |
| -from | forms a noun for something else (usually older) but related or similar |
| -from | indicates small size or lack of something in very few cases (as an ironic addition) |
| -from | indicates that someone or something has large features or is larger than usual |
| -from | the end of most or every subatomic particle |
| -from | suffix for verbs, to do something repeatedly or often |
| -on | -on |
| -THE | Suffix indicating the first singular present tense of verbs |
| - Ph.D | -oid |
| - min | - min |
| - And | feminin form-on |
| - f.eks | -ous, -y |
| -at | feminine form of -then |
| -bill | emphasizes contempt for the subject |
| -bill | emphasizes the size |
| -passion | -passion |
| - plastic | - plastic |
| -I can | -Fulani |
| -LILLE | It is used to form the regular plural of nouns ending in vowels |
| - saurio | - lizard |
| - shit | feminin form for -sco |
| -sco | Forms adjectives meaning "relationship" with the word stem |
| - extent | - extent |
| -discount | -sector |
| -sag | used for any type of collection |
| -sag | used for different ethnicities in Mexico or Central America |
| -technology | skill, technique |
| -treatment | It is used to form names of treatments, many of which are two words in English |
| - Toma | feminine form of -tomo |
| - Tomía | - to my |
| - volume | -to me |
| -trophy | feminine form of -tropho |
| - trophy | -trophy |
| - trophy | -trophic, -trophic |
| -over | feminine form of -ucho |
| -over | It is used to form derogatory nouns and adjectives |
| -you do | -y, -ous, -vol: |
| - What | feminine form -uelo |
| - leave | diminutive suffix for nouns |
| - leave | emphasizes contempt for the subject |
| - time | attach to adjectives to form abstract nouns |
| -xion | Suffix denoting a process, action or result, like "-ction" in English, used in a very rare group of Spanish words, namely: |
| -I'm leaving | -ing |
| -ZOO | - I'm leaving |
List of all Spanish suffixes
(Video) How to Learn Spanish Verb Conjugation Fast
Similar suffixes in Spanish and English
Fortunately, there are many suffixes that work the same way in Spanish and English. Which means you can immediately expand your vocabulary once you learn that the following English suffixes can be changed in the Spanish language in the following way:
| English suffix | Spanish suffix |
| - gen | -geno |
| -constitution | -constitution |
| -ess | -IN |
| -Curve | - graaf |
| - Ian | - Ian |
| -medicine | -medicine |
| -ium | -io |
| - understand | -hus |
| -ment | -I am lying |
| -ing | -I'm leaving |
| -Curve | -spelling |
| - times | - boxes |
| - exhibition | - the face |
| - shake down | -ven |
FAQs
How many suffixes are there in Spanish? ›
There are over 200 suffixes in Spanish, and it can take a while to learn how to use them properly.
What is the most common Spanish suffix? ›Knowing those vocabulary words and knowing the general meaning that the most common suffixes have can help learners deduct the meaning of new words, even if they've never heard of them before. We've talked about the most common suffix in Spanish, “ito” and its variations, in our post about diminutives.
What are the 50 suffixes? ›50 Examples of Suffixes, Meaning and Examples
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ion | A process, state orresult | Decoration |
| –ism | A belief or condition | Judaism |
| -ist | A person | Florist |
| –ment | An action or state | Measurement |
Mar 4, 2022
Think of the 26 common suffixes that follow as clues to the meanings of words, however, bear in mind that the meanings of words are best determined by studying the contexts in which they are used as well as the construction of the words themselves.
What are the most used suffixes? ›The most common suffixes are: -tion, -ity, -er, -ness, -ism, -ment, -ant, -ship, -age, -ery.
What is the big suffix in Spanish? ›In Spanish, instead of adding the adjective grande (big), we commonly use the augmentative suffixes -azo, -ote, -ón. The suffix can indicate a size (a big, huge something) but very often it also denotes something extra, for example, appreciation or disdain by the speaker.
What are the 5 most common verb suffixes? ›Commonly used verb suffixes
| Suffixes forming verbs | Meaning |
|---|---|
| -ate | To bring about a state |
| -en | To become |
| -ify | To make something, to become |
| -ise | To do something, to become |
Feb 15, 2021
Some common examples of suffixes include -able, -al, er, est, ful and ible. All of these can be attached to the end of a root word to change it in some way.
How many total Spanish verbs are there? ›It's believed that there are about 20,000 verbs in the Spanish language, and 18,000 of them are regular verbs. Regular verbs in Spanish can be classified into three groups.
Does Spanish have prefixes and suffixes? ›Just like prefixes, Spanish suffixes are not words, since they cannot be used on their own. Instead, they must be added at the end of a base word, to which they grant different meanings. In this case, a suffix does not change a word entirely, but adapts it to an alternative use.
How many forms does Spanish have? ›
The modern Spanish verb paradigm (conjugation) has 16 distinct complete forms (tenses), i.e. sets of forms for each combination of tense, mood and aspect, plus one incomplete tense (the imperative), as well as three non-temporal forms (the infinitive, gerund, and past participle).