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Lesson 11:
Word Building

Affixes

Introduction

The affixes, the prefixes and suffixes, in Esperanto contribute to the ease of learning the language by creating a large number of words from one root word. This process gives the vocabulary learning curve an exponetial quality.

Prefixes are simply placed before the root, however, suffixes are placed after the root, but before the grammatical ending. Affixes also may form words by themselves.

Bova, bovo, bovino, gebovoj, bovido, ido

Bovine, bull, cow, cattle, calf, offspring


List

bo-relationship by marriage, -in-law
dis-separation, scattering
ek-beginning of action, momentary action
eks-former, ex-
el-thoroughness
fi-shameful, nasty
ge-both sexes together
mal-opposite of
mis-mis-, wrongly
pra-of great antiquity, great (in relationships)
pri-about, concerning, widens scope of action
re-over again, back again, re-
-aĉbad sense, disparagement
-adcontinuation, duration
-aĵsubstance
-anpartisan of, member, inhabitant
-arcollection of, number of
-ĉjmasculine diminutive of endearment
-eblpossibility, -able, -ible
-ecabstract idea, quality, -ness, -ship
-egaugmentation, intensity of degree
-ejplace specially set apart for
-empropensity, inclination, disposition
-endwhich must be done
-erelement of, unit, a grain
-estrchief, leader, head
-etdiminution of degree
-icountry
-iddescendant, offspring, young of
-igtransitivity, making, rendering, causing to be
intransitivity, becoming, getting, growing, being made, gradual transition
-ilinstrument, tool, means
-infeminine
-indworthiness, -worthy
-ingholder of a single object
-ismdoctrine, movement
-isttrade, occupation, profession, worker, -ist
-njfeminine diminutive of endearment
-ujreceptacle
-ula being characterised by the root
-um(indefinite suffix)

Patro, patrino, gepatroj, paĉjo, panjo, bopatro

Father, mother, parents, daddy, mommy, father-in-law

Urbo, urbeto, urbego, urbestro

City, town, metropolis, mayor

Angla, anglio, anglano

English, England, Englishman

Ami, malami, fiami, amebla, ekami, aminda

To love, to hate, to lust after, lovable, to fall in love with, loveworthy

Ruĝa, ruĝigi, ruĝiĝi

Red, to make red, to become red

Samseksa, samseksema, samseksemeco, samseksemulo, samseksemulaĉo

Same-sex, gay, homosexuality, a homosexual, faggot

Rompi, disrompi, eldisrompi, rompendi

To break, to shatter, to thoroughly shatter, must be broken


Compounds

Formation

Words may also be formed by combining any word with any other word. The grammatical ending on the first word, if present, may be dropped or it may be retained to sake of clearity or ease of pronunication.

Arte + Farita = Artefarita

Artly + Made = Artificial

Libro + Amanto = Libramanto

Book + Lover = Booklover

Libro + Prunti + Ejo = Libro-pruntejo

Book + Lend + Place = Library


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Last Updated: 03/06/04