ESPERANTO AFFIXES
P R E F I X E S
bo-
: indicates relationship by mariage: filo (son),
bofilo (son-in-law), frato (brother), bofrato (brother-in-
law), gepatroj (parents), bogepatroj (parents-in-law).
dis-
: separation: doni (to give), disdoni (to distribute);
semi (to sow), dissemi (to dissemnate); disigi (to separate, take apart) [see: -ig]; nedisigebla
(inseparable) [see: -ebl].
ek-
: sudden beginning, or short-lived action: brili (to shine), ekbrili (to flash, to light, to fire); iri (to go), ekiri (to start); dormi (to sleep), ekdormi (to
fall asleep); pensi (to think), ekpensi (come to think), Ek! (Forward! begin!).
eks-
: ex, former: eksprezidanto (ex-president), eksshahho (former Shah); eksigi (to discharge, dismiss) [see: -ig]; eksighi (to resign, to retire) [see: -igh]; eksedz(in)igho (divorce).
fi-
: shamefulness, morally bad: rakonto (story), firakonto
(dirty story), fivorto (bad word), fifama (of ill repute).
ge-
: persons of both sexes taken together: gepatroj
(parents), gesinjoroj (ladies and gentlemen); geedzigho (marriage).
mal-
: opposite idea: fermi (to close), malfermi (to open); richa (rich), malricha (poor); bela (beautiful), malbela
(ugly); la malo (the opposite); malebla (impossible) [see:
-ebl].
mis-
: wrongly: presi (to print), mispreso (a misprint); mispasho
(false step); misprezenti (to misrepresent).
pra-
: remoteness of relationship, forward or backward, great-,
grand-: avo (grandfather), praavo (great-grandfather); also
remoteness in past time: praarbaro (primeval forest; pratempa (of the distant past).
re-
: return or repetition: veni (to come), reveni (to come back); presi (to print), represi (to reprint); ghis la revido! (So long!); brili (to shine), rebrili (to
reflect); revivigi (to revive) [see: -ig].
S U F F I X E S
-ach
: badness of quality or condition: domacho (shack, shanty),
skribachi (scribble, scrawl), virinacho (hag); popolacho (mob); acha (rotten, awful); mola (soft), molacha (flabby).
-ad
: duration and continuation of action: paroli (to speak), parolado (a speech); rigardi (to look), rigardadi (to gaze,
stare); kanto (a song), kantado (singing); najlo (a nail), najlado (nailing); ada, ade (continual(ly), unceasing(ly)).
-ajh
: concrete ideas: mola (soft), molajho (soft material);
heredi (to inherit), heredajho (heritage); sendi (to
send), sendajho (a shipment); shafo (sheep), shafajho
(mutton); araneo (spider), araneajho (spider's web); >
ovo (egg), ovajho (egg dish [omelette etc]).
-an
: member of a group, inhabitant of, follower of: urbo (town),
urbanoj (townspeople); Kanado (Canada), kanadano (a
Canadian); Usono (USA = Unuighintaj Shtatoj de
Ameriko), usonano (an American [from USA]); Kristo
(Christ), kristano (a christian); anino (a female member);
anighi (to join [see: -igh].
-ar
: a collection of things, regarded as a whole: vorto (word),
vortaro (dictionary); arbo (tree), arbaro (forest); libraro
(library); shtupo (step, stair), shtuparo (staircase);
shtupetaro (ladder [see: -et]); knabinaro (bevy of girls);
shafaro (flock of sheep).
-cjh
: masculine affectionate diminutive: [the root is shortened!]
Josefo (Joseph), Jochjo (Joe); patro (father), pachjo (daddy).
-ebl
: possibly: vidi (to see), videbla (visible); kredi (to
believe), nekredebla (incredible); ebla (possible); eble
(perhaps).
-ec : abstract idea, quality: amiko (friend), amikeco
(friendship); klara (clear), klareco (clearness, clarity); vireco (virility); verda (green), verdeca (greenish); infaneco
(childhood); ofteco (frequency).
-eg
: augmentation, intensity of degree: domo (house), domego (mansion); varma (warm), varmega (hot); vento (wind),
ventego (gale); bluega (deep blue); malamegi (to detest).
-ej
: place, space: lerni (to lern), lernejo (school); baki (to
bake), bakejo (bakery); preghi (to pray), preghejo
(church); kuiri (to cook), kuirejo (kitchen); malsanulejo
(hospital).
-em
: inclination, propensity or disposition: babili (to
chatter), babilema (garrulous, loquacious, talkative);
shpari (to save), shparema (thrifty); eksplodema
(explosive).
-end
: necessity of action: fari (to do), farenda (to be done); solvenda problemo (a problem which must be solved).
-er
: element, unit of a homogeneous whole: mono (money), monero
(coin); sablo (sand), sablero (grain of sand); diserigi (to separate into its elements); programero (item of a program).
-estr
: chief, leader: familiestro (head of the family);
lernejestro (principal [of school]); shipestro (captain);
estraro (executive board).
-et
: diminishes the idea, diminutive: varma (warm), varmeta
(lukewarm); domo (house), dometo (cottage); etighi (to
diminish [see: -igh]; etulo (a little one [male], dwarf);
[see: -ul]; shtoneto (pebble).
-id
: the young of, descendant of: kato (cat), katido (kitten);
hundo (dog), hundido (puppy); regho (king), reghido
(prince); latinidaj lingvoj (Romance languages); senida
(childless).
-ig
: causing something to be: plena (full), plenigi (to fill);
morta (dead), mortigi (to kill); unuigi (to unite); bruli
(to burn), bruligi (to set on fire); disigi (to separate);
enlitigi infanon (to put a child to bed); Venigu
kuraciston! (Send for a doctor!).
-igh
: denotes the action of becoming: rugha (red), rughighi (to
blush); sidi (to sit), sidighi (to sit down, become
seated); enlitighi (to go to bed); subakvighi (to sink);
plenighi (to become full).
-il
: a tool or instrument: shlosi (to lock), shlosilo (key);
kudri (to sew), kudrilo (needle); razi (to shave), razilo
(razor).
-in
: to denote feminine quality: regho (king), reghino (queen); onklo (uncle),
onklino (aunt); instruistino (a lady teacher); prezidantino
(a female president); kokino (hen), kokinejo
(hen-coop); ina, inseksa (feminine); skoltino (girl guide).
-ind
: worthiness: admiri (to admire), admirinda (worthy of
admiration); laudi (to praise), laudinda (praiseworthy).
-ing
: holder into which one object is put: plumo (pen), plumingo
(penholder); kandelo (candle), kandelingo (candlestick).
-ist
: trade, profession or occupation: polico (police), policisto
(policeman); mashino (machine), mashinisto (machinist).
-nj
: feminine affectionate diminutive: [the root is shortened!]
Florenca (Florence), Flonjo (Flo); panjo (mommy).
-obl
: multiplication: duoble (twice); multobla (manifold).
-on
: division, fraction: duono (half), tri kvaronoj (3/4).
-op
: together, in groups of: duope (two by two); kvaropo (quartet).
-uj
: container: cigarujo (cigar-box); leterujo (letter file);
Anglo (Englishman), Anglujo (England); salujo (salt
shaker); akvujo (reservoir); banujo (bath-tub); teujo (tea
canister).
-ul
: an individual characterised by the root (of the word):
belulino (a belle); sanktulo (a saint); kara (dear),
karulino (darling [female]);kontrauulo (adversary,
opponent); mamulo (a mammal).
-um
: changes basic meaning in an undefinite way (this suffix
has no definite sense. It is used to create a word
somewhow related or around the idea (or object)
designated by the root): plena (full), plenumi (to
fulfil); malvarma (cold), malvarmumo (a cold); kolo
(neck), kolumo (collar); komuna (common), komunumo
(community); vento (wind), ventumilo (a fan); [see also:
- il]; umilo (gadget).
Correlative Words
Basic Grammar
Basic Dictionary ESPERANTO Page
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Last Revised April 4, 2002
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