A suffix is a series of letters with no meaning of their own. Added to the end of a word, a suffix creates a new word. Most suffixes are added to a noun, a verb, or an adjective. The list of French suffixes is extensive. Some common suffixes are listed below:
Suffixes added to verbs:
-able:
discuter (to discuss):
discutable (disputable)
-ade: bousculer (to shove): bousculade (rush)
-ment:
loger (to house): logement
(lodging)
-ence:
adhérer (to adhere): adhérence
(adhesion)
-age:
trier (to sort): triage
(classification)
-ible:
lire (to read): lisible
(readable)
-aison:
incliner (to bend): inclinaison
(inclination)
-ance:
venger (to avenge): vengeance
(vengeance)
Suffixes added to nouns:
-aille:
fer (iron): ferraille
(scrap-iron)
-aire:
million (million): millionaire
(millionaire)
-é:
âge (age): âgé (aged)
-eux:
courage (courage): courageux
(brave)
-ier:
fruit (fruit): fruitier (fruit
seller)
-iste:
dent (tooth): dentiste
(dentist)
-ude:
plat (flat): platitude
(platitude)
-ique:
chimie (chemistry): chimique
(chemical)
-u:
barbe (beard): barbu (bearded)
Added to a noun, -ier designates people who have a relationship with the base word: barbe (beard), barbier (barber); prison (jail), prisonnier (prisoner).
Suffixes added to adjectives:
-âtre:
vert (green): verdâtre
(greenish)
-eur:
ample (ample): ampleur (width)
-if:
tard (late): tardif (tardy)
-té:
bon (good): bonté (goodness)
-esse:
gentil (kind): gentillesse
(graciousness)
Some French suffixes have equivalent suffixes in English:
| French | English | Examples |
| -tion | -tion | opération (operation) |
| -able | -ible | incroyable (incredible) |
| -isme | -ism | feminisme (feminism) |
| -iste | -ist | socialiste (socialist) |
| -ice | -ess | actrice (actress) |
| -eur | -or | vendeur (vendor) |
| -oire | -ory | migratoire (migratory) |
See Also: