Adjective Suffixes in English

Adjective Suffixes in English

Hello English learners! Have you ever noticed how adding a little suffix to a word can completely change its meaning? In English, adjective suffixes are powerful tools that transform nouns and verbs into descriptive words. By mastering them, you’ll not only expand your vocabulary but also sound more natural and advanced—something very useful for Cambridge exams like FCE (B2) and CAE (C1). In this lesson, we’ll look at the most common adjective suffixes in English, their meanings, and lots of example sentences to help you use them confidently.

1. -able / -ible (can be done, possible to)

Meaning: form adjectives from verbs or nouns, meaning “capable of” or “worthy of.” -able is more common; –ible is used with Latin roots.

• Enjoyable – The holiday was really enjoyable.
• Reliable – She’s a very reliable friend.
• Flexible – We need a flexible timetable.
• Accessible – The museum is easily accessible by bus.
• Invisible – The stars became invisible as the sun rose.

2. -al (relating to, connected with)

Meaning: often added to nouns to make adjectives.

• Cultural – London has many cultural attractions.
• Historical – The tourists visited a historical site.
• Personal – That’s my personal opinion.
• Environmental – We must protect our environmental resources.

3. -ous / -ious (full of, having the quality of)

Meaning: turns nouns into adjectives with the sense of “full of.”

• Dangerous – Driving too fast can be dangerous.
• Curious – She’s always curious about other people’s lives.
• Ambitious – He is very ambitious and wants to become a doctor.
• Delicious – This cake is absolutely delicious.
• Mysterious – They disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

Adjective Suffixes in English

4. -ive (tending to, having the nature of)

Meaning: often used for describing people’s behaviour or qualities.

• Creative – She has a very creative mind.
• Talkative – The little boy is very talkative.
• Attractive – Paris is an attractive city for tourists.
• Sensitive – He’s quite sensitive about criticism.
• Competitive – This industry is extremely competitive.

5. -ic / -ical (relating to)

Meaning: creates adjectives, often academic or technical. -ical usually means “in general,” while -ic may mean “specific.”

• Historic – The battle was a historic victory.
• Historical – Sheilla is reading a historical novel.
• Scientific – This theory has no scientific basis.
• Practical – That’s not a very practical solution.
• Artistic – She has artistic talent.

6. -ful (full of, having)

Meaning: gives a positive quality.

• Hopeful – The students are hopeful about the results.
• Beautiful – What a beautiful garden!
• Respectful – He was very respectful to his teachers.
• Joyful – Christmas is such a joyful time of year.

Adjective Suffixes in English

7. -less (without, lacking)

Meaning: the opposite of -ful.

• Hopeless – His situation seemed hopeless.
• Careless – Don’t be so careless with your phone!
• Fearless – The firefighter was fearless in the rescue.
• Homeless – Many people are homeless after the flood.

8. -y (characterised by, full of)

Meaning: makes words descriptive, often about qualities or tendencies.

• Sunny – It’s a bright and sunny day.
• Lucky – She was very lucky to find that job.
• Noisy – The children are too noisy.
• Greedy – He ate the whole cake—how greedy!

9. -ish (like, somewhat, belonging to)

Meaning: can mean “related to,” “rather,” or “nationality.”

• Childish – Don’t be so childish.
• Foolish – It was a foolish mistake.
• Greenish – The walls were painted a greenish colour.
• Spanish – I love Spanish food.

Adjective Suffixes in English

10. -en (made of, resembling)

Meaning: less common, but very useful.

• Wooden – They live in a wooden house.
• Golden – She wore a golden bracelet.
• Woollen – He put on a warm woollen jumper.

11. -ary / -ory (connected with, relating to)

Meaning: more formal, often found in academic or official words.

• Voluntary – Karen does voluntary work at the hospital at the moment.
• Revolutionary – The Internet was a revolutionary invention.
• Mandatory – Wearing seat belts is mandatory.
• Advisory – Peter is an advisory board member.

Adjective suffixes are like secret codes in English: once you know them, you can guess the meaning of new words and use them confidently in your writing and speaking. Next time you see a new word, look closely at the ending—you may already understand more than you think!

Download the exercise with adjective suffixes here

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