Essential German Suffixes for Every Learner

Suffixes play a major role in German. They appear constantly, making them indispensable for anyone wanting to advance their understanding of German grammar.

The system in German is quite like English, where suffixes attach directly to the base word without a space–sometimes with minor adjustments to the root.

Below is a useful overview of the most important German suffixes.

Suffixes for Forming Nouns

You can attach these suffixes to verbs, adjectives, or other nouns. Certain suffixes might also alter the original noun's gender.

–chen

This is a diminutive suffix, creating a "smaller version" of something. It gives nouns a more affectionate, "cute" character. Any noun with –chen becomes neuter, and it stays the same in both singular and plural.

• das Pferd (horse) → das Pferdchen (little horse)
• der Teller (plate) → das Tellerchen (little plate)
• die Idee (idea) → das Ideechen (itty bitty idea)

If the word's first syllable has an a, o, or u, it typically gets an umlaut when you add -chen:

• das Haus (house) → das Häuschen (little house)
• die Torte (cake) → das Törtchen (little cake)
• der Hund (dog) → das Hündchen (little dog)

–e

This is a frequent ending for feminine nouns. It also helps form nouns from adjectives and verbs, sometimes with changes to the root word like an umlaut or a different vowel.

• stark (strong) → die Stärke (strength)
• sprechen (to speak) → die Sprache (speech)
• breit (wide) → die Breite (width)

–heit / –keit

These two suffixes are quite alike. They usually change an adjective into its corresponding abstract noun. The English equivalent is often "-ness." Conveniently, they are always feminine.

• frei (free) → die Freiheit (freedom)
• gesund (healthy) → die Gesundheit (health)
• freundlich (friendly) → die Freundlichkeit (friendliness)
• einsam (lonely) → die Einsamkeit (loneliness)

–i

Similar to -chen, -i is a common diminutive that adds a warm, affectionate tone. The noun's gender doesn't change with -i. Often, part of the root word is dropped when adding -i.

• der Vater (father) → der Vati (dad, daddy, papa)
• Schatz (sweetheart, treasure) → Schatzi (little treasure, sweetie)

–ie

A common suffix comparable to the English "-y." It's often used when talking about academic disciplines and sciences.

• die Chemie (chemistry)
• die Theorie (theory)
• die Demokratie (democracy)

–ist

Equivalent to the English "-ist." It's often used to indicate someone who practices a specific profession. The root word usually comes from Latin or Greek.

• der Pianist (male pianist)
• der Polizist (male police officer)
• der Spezialist (male specialist)

–graphie

Equivalent to the English "-graphy." Occasionally, it's spelled as -grafie.

• die Photographie (photography)
• die Orthographie (orthography)
• die Lithographie (lithography)

–lein

Another diminutive suffix that works like -chen, but it's mostly used for words ending in –ch. Using it with other words can sound old-fashioned. Like -chen, it changes the noun to neuter gender.

• der Tisch (table) → das Tischlein (little table)
• das Buch (book) → das Büchlein (little book)
• der Fisch (fish) → das Fischlein (little fish)

–ling

A suffix that implies possessing a specific quality, or shows someone is connected to a particular practice or characteristic.

• Haupt (main, head) → der Häuptling (chief)
• die Liebe (love) → der Liebling (beloved)
• schwach (weak) → der Schwächling (weakling)

–ologie

Equivalent to the English "-ology," used for fields of study. These nouns are always feminine.

• die Psychologie (psychology)
• die Biologie (biology)
• die Ideologie (ideology)

–tion : “-tion”

Equivalent to the English "-tion." The root words are generally from Latin. They are also always feminine.

• die Kommunikation (communication)
• die Produktion (production)
• die Information (information)

–ung

A common suffix that turns verbs into nouns. Once again, words ending in -ung are always feminine!

• ordern (to order) → die Ordnung (order)
• lösen (to solve) → die Lösung (solution)
• zahlen (to pay) → die Zahlung (payment)

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Suffixes for Forming Adjectives and Adverbs

German uses many suffixes to show that words are adjectives and adverbs. Some are straightforward to understand, as they are cognates of English suffixes.

–arm

A suffix that indicates a lack of a quality. It can be translated as "low."

• fett (fat) → fettarm (low-fat)

It can also be used with many nouns to create an adjective describing the absence of that thing:

• das Wasser (water) → wasserarm (arid)
• die Faser (fiber) → faserarm (low-fiber)
• das Blut (blood) → blutarm (low-blood, anemic)

–artig

A suffix added to nouns or adjectives to indicate they have a certain manner, behavior, or appearance. The English equivalent is "-like."

• der Affe (ape) → affenartig (apelike)
• der Blitz (lightning) → blitzartig (lightning-fast)
• der Baum (tree) → baumartig (arboreal)

–bar

When attached to nouns or verbs, this suffix implies the ability or possession of a specific trait, feature, or action. A close English equivalent is "-able."

• machen (to do) → machbar (doable)
• essen (to eat) → essbar (edible)
• danken (to thank) → dankbar (thankful)

–en / –n

When added to a noun, this suffix indicates that something is made from a specific material or has a certain quality. The suffix –n is used if the modified word is plural and ends in R, or if R is already the last letter.

• die Hölzer (wood, plural) → hölzern (wooden)
• das Silver (silver) → silbern (silver)

–fest

When attached to a noun or verb, this suffix suggests stability or resistance. A close English equivalent is the suffix "-proof."

• das Wasser (water) → wasserfest (waterproof)
• das Feuer (fire) → feuerfest (fireproof)

–frei

Equivalent to the English suffix "-free," it forms an adjective showing that something is without a specific feature or quality.

• die Sorgen (care, worries) → sorgenfrei (carefree)
• der Zucker (sugar) → zuckerfrei (sugar-free)
• der Alkohol (alcohol) → alkoholfrei (alcohol-free)

–haft

Similar to -artig, this suffix emphasizes the possession of a described feature or trait.

• das Beispiel (example) → beispielhaft (exemplary)
• das Kind (kid) → kindhaft (childlike)
• der Meister (master) → meisterhaft (masterful)

–ig

Similar to -artig and -haft, this suffix indicates something has a quality or characteristic.

• die Sonne (sun) → sonnig (sunny)
• der Nebel (fog) → nebelig (foggy)
• der Knack (snap) → knackig (crunchy)

–isch

Equivalent in function to the English suffix "-ish," this suffix shows something is from a certain origin or somewhat has a trait. It can also indicate adopting the manner of something.

• Kanada (Canada) → kanadisch (Canadian)
• das System (system) → systematisch (systematic)
• das Kind (kid) → kindisch (childish)

–iv

Equivalent in function to the English suffix "-ive." A simple suffix used to form adjectives.

• komparativ (comparative)
• passiv (passive)
• adaptiv (adaptive)

–leer

Like -arm and -frei, this suffix indicates that an object lacks a certain quality or feature, or is simply empty. It's equivalent to the English suffix "-less."

• der Inhalt → inhaltsleer (void of content, meaningless)
• die Menschen → menschenleer (deserted, empty)

–lich

Equivalent in function to the English suffix "-like." It suggests the presence or embodiment of a characteristic, or that something is related to the root word.

• der Freund (friend) → freundlich (friendly)
• das Glück (fortune, joy) → glücklich (lucky, happy)
• das Ende (end) → endlich (finally)

–los

Very similar to -leer, this suffix can also be compared to the English suffix "-less." When added to a noun, it shows the absence of a quality or thing.

• die Sprache (speech) → sprachlos (speechless)
• die Zeit (time) → zeitlos (timeless)
• der Sinn (point, meaning) → sinnlos (meaningless)

–mal

An adverb-forming suffix that indicates a number of times or occurrences. It's commonly added to numbers.

• zwei (two) → zweimal (twice)
• hundert (hundred) → hundertmal (hundred times)
• manchmal (sometimes)

–reich

Meaning "rich," this suffix shows that something is full of a particular trait or feature.

• das Eiweiß (protein) → eiweißreich (protein-rich)
• die Hilfe → hilfreich (helpful)
• die Farbe → farbreich (colorful / color-rich)

–sam

Equivalent to the English suffix "-some," this common adjective suffix describes the presence of a certain quality or ability.

• die Arbeit (work) → arbeitsam (industrious)
• die Sorge (care) → sorgsam (careful)
• die Furcht (anxiety) → furchtsam (anxious)

–voll

Equivalent to the English suffix "-ful," this suffix suggests a large amount of a quality or item.

• das Wunder (wonder) → wundervoll (wonderful)
• die Angst (fear) → angstvoll (fearful)
• der Rand (edge, verge) → randvoll (brimming)

–würdig

Meaning "worthy," this suffix indicates that an object deserves a specific trait or action. It's similar in meaning to the English suffix "-able."

• der Glaube (belief) / glauben (to believe) → glaubwürdig (believable, credible)
• die Anbetung (adoration) → anbetungswürdig (adorable, admirable)
• die Frage (question) / fragen (to ask) → fragwürdig (questionable)

By learning these suffixes, your command and use of German vocabulary will grow immensely (or, as you'd say in German, zehnmal)!