{"id":118555,"date":"2023-11-16T05:19:04","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T10:19:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/french-suffixes\/"},"modified":"2025-01-27T05:12:06","modified_gmt":"2025-01-27T10:12:06","slug":"french-suffixes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/french\/french-suffixes\/","title":{"rendered":"21 Common French Suffixes (and How They’ll Expand Your Vocab)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Suffixes can transform your French vocabulary.\u00a0Specifically, they allow you to quickly acquire new words based on your existing vocabulary, since French suffixes are added to nouns<\/a>, verbs<\/a> and adjectives<\/a>.\u00a0They’re also great for brevity. For example, it’s much less of a mouthful to say une\u00a0poissonnerie <\/em>(a fish market) than\u00a0un endroit o\u00f9 se trouve du poisson en vente<\/em> (a place where one finds fish for sale).<\/p>\n

Because suffixes in French are derived from Latin or Greek like their English counterparts, many French and English suffixes are the same (except for minor variations in spelling).\u00a0Basically, your French reading comprehension<\/a> and writing<\/a> will quickly improve once you learn more suffixes.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. -able\u00a0<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>adjectival (i.e., the suffix turns words into adjectives)<\/p>\n

Gender:<\/strong> neutral<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>can only be added to verbal stems\u2014that is, verbs minus their -er, -ir<\/em> or -re<\/em> endings. Denotes the possibility or ability to be done.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

laver <\/em>(wash) + -able\u00a0\u2192\u00a0lavable<\/strong> <\/em>(washable)<\/p>\n

Cette chemise est lavable<\/strong> \u00e0 l’eau chaude.<\/em> (This shirt can be washed<\/strong> in hot water.)<\/p>\n

2. -age<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal (i.e., the suffix turns words into nouns)<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>masculine<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>refers to the “action or result of X-ing” or the “state of being a(n) X”<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

esclave <\/em>(slave) +<\/strong> -age<\/em>\u00a0\u2192\u00a0esclavage<\/strong><\/em> (the state of being a slave or, more succinctly, slavery)<\/p>\n

L’esclavage<\/strong> est horrible.<\/em>\u00a0(Slavery<\/strong> is horrible.)<\/p>\n

3. -ain(e)\/<\/em>-ais(e)\/-ois(e)\/-\u00e9en(e)<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal or adjectival<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>adding e<\/em> to the suffix makes it feminine<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>describes someone or something by their place of origin (i.e., a diminutive noun)<\/p>\n

Examples<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

A person, place or thing from la Jama\u00efque<\/em> (Jamaica) is jama\u00efcain\/<\/em><\/strong>jama\u00efcaine<\/em><\/strong> (Jamaican).<\/p>\n

Il y a un nouveau restaurant\u00a0jama\u00efcain<\/strong> dans le quartier.<\/em>\u00a0(There is a new Jamaican<\/strong> restaurant in the neighborhood.)<\/p>\n

Note:\u00a0<\/strong>Jama\u00efcain\u00a0<\/em>can also be spelled as jama\u00efquain<\/em>,\u00a0<\/em>although this spelling isn’t as popular.<\/p>\n

A person, place or thing from\u00a0l<\/em>a France<\/em> <\/em>(France) is fran\u00e7ais\/fran\u00e7aise<\/strong> <\/em>(French).<\/p>\n

Sa femme est fran\u00e7aise<\/strong>.<\/em> (His wife is French<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

J’ai une voiture fran\u00e7aise<\/strong>.<\/em> (I have a French<\/strong> car.)<\/p>\n

A person, place or thing from\u00a0le Danemark<\/em> (Denmark) is danois\/danoise<\/em><\/strong> (Danish).\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

A person, place or thing from l’Europe <\/em>(Europe) is europ\u00e9en\/<\/strong><\/em>europ\u00e9ene<\/strong><\/em> (European).\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

4. –aire<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>neutral<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>added to words to convey a relationship or connection to the base word (e.g., profession, quality or characteristic)<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

volont\u00e9 <\/em>(drive or will) + -aire<\/em> \u2192\u00a0volontaire <\/em><\/strong>(voluntary)<\/p>\n

Elle est volontaire<\/strong> ici depuis deux ans. <\/em> (She’s been a volunteer<\/strong> here for two years.)<\/p>\n

5. -al\/-ale<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>adjectival<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>-al <\/em>is masculine, while -ale <\/em>is feminine<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>indicates a relationship or characteristic shared with the root word<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

nation<\/em>\u00a0(nation) + -ale<\/em> \u2192\u00a0nationale <\/em><\/strong>(national)<\/p>\n

C’est une comp\u00e9tition nationale<\/strong>.<\/em>\u00a0(It’s a national<\/strong> competition.)<\/p>\n

6. -ance<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>feminine<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>indicates a state, quality or action<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

ignorer<\/em>\u00a0(ignore) + -ance \u2192 ignorance <\/strong><\/em>(ignorance)<\/p>\n

L’ignorance<\/strong> n’est pas une excuse.<\/em>\u00a0(Ignorance<\/strong> is not an excuse.)<\/p>\n

7. -ant\/-ante<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>verbal (i.e., forms a verb) and adjectival<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>-ant <\/em>is masculine, while -ante<\/em> is feminine<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>forms present participle verbs and adjectives
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00e9tudier <\/em>(study) + -ant <\/em>\u2192\u00a0\u00e9tudiant<\/em><\/strong> (student)<\/p>\n

Je suis \u00e9tudiant<\/strong>. <\/em>(I am a student<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

8. -ateur\/-atrice<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal or adjectival<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>-ateur\u00a0<\/em>is masculine, while -atrice<\/em> is feminine<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>signifies actors or agents<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

d\u00e9vaster <\/em>(devastate) + -ateur\u00a0\u2192\u00a0d\u00e9vastateur<\/strong><\/em> (something that devastates or is devastating, as in un ouragan d\u00e9vastateur <\/em>or “a devastating hurricane”)<\/p>\n

Elle a une maladie d\u00e9vastatrice.<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0(She has a devastating<\/strong> illness.)<\/p>\n

ventiler <\/em>(ventilate) + -ateur<\/em>\u00a0\u2192\u00a0ventilateur<\/strong><\/em> (a fan)<\/p>\n

J’ai besoin d’un ventilateur<\/strong> pour cette pi\u00e8ce.<\/em> (I need a fan<\/strong> for this room.)<\/p>\n

Note<\/strong>: In this word, we see the word vent <\/em>(wind), which is a nice addition to your weather-related French vocabulary<\/a>.<\/p>\n

9. -eau\/-elle<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>-eau <\/em>is masculine, while -elle <\/em>is feminine<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>has a diminutive function<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Un petit lapin<\/em>\u00a0(a little rabbit, as in a young one) can be condensed to\u00a0un lapineau <\/em><\/strong>(a little rabbit).<\/p>\n

Le lapineau<\/strong> a perdu sa m\u00e8re.<\/em>\u00a0(The young rabbit<\/strong> lost its mother.)<\/p>\n

Une petite rue<\/em> (a little street) can be shortened to une ruelle <\/em><\/strong>(a little street or alley).<\/p>\n

J’ai entendu un hurlement dans une ruelle<\/strong>.<\/em>\u00a0(I heard a scream in an alley<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

10. -\u00e9<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal, verbal or adjectival<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>neutral<\/p>\n

As a suffix, this acute accent can perform many roles, such as:<\/p>\n

Forming the past participle <\/strong><\/p>\n

This suffix is used to construct the past participle<\/a> of -er <\/em>verbs, where -\u00e9\u00a0<\/em>replaces the -er.<\/em><\/p>\n

The past participle of\u00a0manger<\/em> (eat) is mang\u00e9 <\/em><\/strong>(ate).<\/p>\n

J’ai mang\u00e9<\/strong> tard. <\/em>(I ate<\/strong> late.)<\/p>\n

La viande, mang\u00e9e<\/strong> par les mouches, est dans la poubelle. <\/em>(The meat, eaten<\/strong> by the flies, is in the trash.)<\/p>\n

Forming adjectives <\/strong><\/p>\n

If the root is a noun, the suffix -\u00e9<\/em>\u00a0can be added to produce an adjective that signifies “possessing X” or “resembling X.”<\/p>\n

Le sens<\/em> refers to sense (as in common sense) or reason, so the adjective sens\u00e9<\/strong><\/em> refers to something or someone reasonable or possessing sense\/reason.<\/p>\n

Ses propos sont sens\u00e9s<\/strong>. <\/em>(His remarks are reasonable<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

Forming nouns<\/strong><\/p>\n

The suffix -\u00e9<\/em>\u00a0can be added to nouns to denote “the state of X.”<\/p>\n

In French,\u00a0un parent <\/em>denotes not only a mother or a father, but a relative in general.\u00a0La parent\u00e9 <\/em><\/strong>refers to kinship, (family) relationship or relatedness.<\/p>\n

Quel est ton lien de parent\u00e9<\/strong> avec elle ? <\/em>(What is your relationship<\/strong> to her?)<\/p>\n

11. -\u00e9e<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>neutral<\/p>\n

This multipurpose suffix can be added to nouns or verbs to make new nouns with different meanings.<\/p>\n

“A __ful of” something:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Une poign\u00e9e<\/em><\/strong> (a fistful) derives from un poing<\/em> (a fist).<\/p>\n

J’ai mang\u00e9 une poign\u00e9e<\/strong> de dates ce matin.<\/em> (I ate a fistful of<\/strong> dates this morning.)<\/p>\n

Result of an action, purpose:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Une donn\u00e9e<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>(a piece of data or information) comes from the verb donner <\/em>(give).<\/p>\n

La soci\u00e9t\u00e9 stocke ses donn\u00e9es<\/strong> sur un serveur.<\/em> (The company keeps its data<\/strong> on a server.)<\/p>\n

A location:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Une entr\u00e9e<\/em><\/strong> (an entrance) derives from the verb entrer<\/em> (enter).<\/p>\n

L’entr\u00e9e<\/strong> du b\u00e2timent est ouverte. <\/em>(The building’s entrance<\/strong> is open.)<\/p>\n

Period of time:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Une matin\u00e9e<\/em><\/strong> (the morning hours) comes from le\u00a0<\/em>matin<\/em> (the morning).<\/p>\n

J’ai lu toute la matin\u00e9e<\/strong>.<\/em> (I read all morning<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

12. -erie<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>feminine<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>denotes “a specialty in X.” In many cases, it also denotes “a place that sells X.”<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Une\u00a0poissonnerie<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(a fish market) is a place that specializes in or sells\u00a0du poisson<\/em> (fish).<\/p>\n

J’ai achet\u00e9 ce flet dans une\u00a0<\/strong>poissonnerie<\/strong>. <\/em>(I bought this flounder at the fish market<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

Une\u00a0<\/em>bijouterie<\/i><\/strong>\u00a0(a jewelry store) is a place that specializes in or sells\u00a0des bijoux <\/em>(jewelry).<\/p>\n

Jean a achet\u00e9 un cadeau pour sa femme dans une bijouterie<\/strong>. <\/em>(Jean bought a present for his wife at a jewelry store<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

13. -esse<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>feminine<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>indicates a quality or state of being<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

jeune <\/em>(young) +\u00a0-esse<\/em> \u2192\u00a0jeunesse <\/strong><\/em>(youth; young people)<\/p>\n

La jeunesse<\/strong> a des probl\u00e8mes.<\/em>\u00a0(The youth<\/strong> have problems.)<\/p>\n

14. -et\/-ette<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>-et<\/em> is masculine, while -ette<\/em> is feminine<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>has a diminutive function, making the noun smaller. Think of this suffix as synonymous with un petit X<\/em> (a little X).<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Un petit gar\u00e7on <\/em>(a little boy) can also be referred to as\u00a0un gar\u00e7onnet<\/strong><\/em> (a little boy).<\/p>\n

Le gar\u00e7onnet<\/strong> court apr\u00e8s le ballon.<\/em>\u00a0(The little boy<\/strong>\u00a0is running\u00a0after the ball.)<\/p>\n

Une petite fille<\/em>\u00a0(a little girl) can also be referred to as\u00a0une fillette<\/strong><\/em> (a little girl).<\/p>\n

La\u00a0fillette<\/strong>\u00a0porte une robe jaune.<\/em> (The little girl<\/strong> is wearing a yellow dress.)<\/p>\n

15. -eur\/-eresse<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal<\/p>\n

Gender:<\/strong> -eur <\/em>is masculine, while -eresse <\/em>is feminine<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>indicates a person or thing that performs a specific action<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

agir<\/em>\u00a0(act) + -eur<\/em> \u2192\u00a0acteur<\/em> <\/strong>(actor)<\/p>\n

Joe est un mauvais acteur<\/strong>.<\/em>\u00a0(Joe is a bad actor<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

16. -if\/-ve<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix:<\/strong> adjectival<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>neutral
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>turns a noun into an adjective that embodies the noun’s characteristics<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

cr\u00e9er <\/em>(create) + -if <\/em>\u2192\u00a0cr\u00e9atif <\/strong><\/em>(creative)<\/p>\n

C’est un motif tr\u00e8s cr\u00e9atif<\/strong>. <\/em>(It is a very creative<\/strong> design.)<\/p>\n

17. -isme<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>masculine<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>refers to doctrines, ideologies or belief systems. It’s added to adjectival stems that often end in -iste<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Une doctrine nationaliste<\/em>\u00a0(a nationalist doctrine) can be condensed to\u00a0nationalisme<\/strong><\/em> (nationalism).<\/p>\n

Le nationalisme<\/strong> est en pleine croissance en France.<\/em>\u00a0(Nationalism<\/strong> is spreading quickly in France.)<\/p>\n

Une doctrine socialiste <\/em>(a socialist doctrine) can be shortened to\u00a0socialisme <\/em><\/strong>(socialism).<\/p>\n

Le socialisme<\/strong> est un syst\u00e8me politique et \u00e9conomique. <\/em>(Socialism<\/strong> is a political and economic system.)<\/p>\n

18. -issime<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>adjectival<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>neutral<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>has an augmentative function, making the adjective stronger. Think of -issime\u00a0<\/em>as synonymous with the adjectives tr\u00e8s <\/em>(very) and extr\u00eamement<\/em> (extremely).<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tr\u00e8s grand<\/em>\u00a0(very big) can be simply put as\u00a0grandissime<\/strong> <\/em>(very big).<\/p>\n

La maison du Charles est\u00a0<\/em>grandissime<\/strong>.<\/i>\u00a0(Charles’ house is very big<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

Tr\u00e8s grave<\/em> (very serious) can be shortened to gravissime<\/strong><\/em> (very serious).<\/p>\n

La maladie est\u00a0<\/em>gravissime<\/strong>.<\/i> (The illness is very serious<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

19. -iste<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>neutral<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>refers to nouns that conform to certain doctrines or schools of thought<\/p>\n

Example: <\/strong><\/p>\n

Someone or something (e.g., a book) that adheres to the doctrine of\u00a0fascisme <\/em>(fascism) is\u00a0fasciste <\/em><\/strong>(fascist).<\/p>\n

Le gouvernement de Benito Mussolini \u00e9tait fasciste<\/strong>.<\/em>\u00a0(Benito Mussolini’s government was fascist.)<\/p>\n

20. -ite<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>neutral<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>indicates that a noun takes on a certain quality. If applied to a person, it can denote a follower of a certain belief or religion.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n

curieux <\/em>(curious) + -ite \u2192\u00a0curiosit\u00e9 <\/em><\/strong>(curiosity)<\/p>\n

Sa curiosit\u00e9<\/strong> est sans fin.<\/em>\u00a0(His curiosity<\/strong> is without end.)<\/p>\n

bouddhisme <\/em>(Buddhism) + -ite \u2192\u00a0bouddhiste <\/strong><\/em>(Buddhist)<\/p>\n

J’ai toujours voulu \u00eatre bouddhiste<\/strong>.<\/em>\u00a0(I have always wanted to be a Buddhist<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

21. -tion, -ation, -ition<\/em><\/h2>\n

Type of suffix: <\/strong>nominal<\/p>\n

Gender: <\/strong>feminine<\/p>\n

Use: <\/strong>indicates an action, process or state<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n

traduire <\/em>(translate) + -tion <\/em>\u2192\u00a0traduction <\/em><\/strong>(translation)<\/p>\n

J’ai termin\u00e9 la traduction<\/strong>. <\/em>(I finished the translation<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

Now that you’ve seen some of the more common suffixes in French, you can take things to the next level by exposing yourself to authentic French media on a language learning platform like FluentU<\/a>.\u00a0

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