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One of the main features of Esperanto is the ability to get along with very many fewer basic words, though the use of affixes, which combine with basic words to form related ones. There is a short demonstration of this in the section on vocabulary, showing how the use of affixes multiplies the effective number of words in the language, without increasing the number of unique vocabulary items that need to be memorized.
Officially, there are two sets of affixes in Esperanto, a short list of prefixes and a longer list of suffixes, but word-building in esperanto often consists of treating ordinary words as affixes, and combining them to make new words. This page lists all the official affixes, and many of the words commonly used as affixes.
| bo− | |
|---|---|
| [relationship by marriage] in-law | patro father; bopatro father-in-law fratino sister; bofratino sister-in-law |
| dis− | |
|---|---|
| [separation] outward; away; apart | doni give; disdoni give out, distribute |
[as a root] |
disa [adj] separated, scattered disigi [vt] to separate, to scatter disiĝi [vi] to separate, to scatter |
| ek− | |
|---|---|
| [beginning] change of state; suddenness | often translated with the punctiliar aspect of the verb, in languages that have such an inflection kuri run; ekkuri start running, take off krii cry; ekkiri cry out, shout sidi sit; eksidi sit down stari stand; ekstari stand up kompreni understand; ekkompreni catch on |
| [as an interjection] | Ek! Hurry up! Chop-chop! ¡Ándale! Wiki-wiki! Mach schnell! |
| eks− | |
|---|---|
| [former] ex− | eksprezidanto ex-president |
[as a root] |
eksa [adj] former eksigi [vt] to expell eksiĝi [vi] to resign |
| ge− | |
|---|---|
| [both sexes together] couple, mixed-sex group | gepatroj father and mother geedzoj husband and wife geedziĝi (of a couple) to get married gesinjoroj [abbr. ges-roj] Mr. & Mrs. amikoj friends (of either sex or both sexes) geamikoj friends (of specifically both sexes) |
[with singular] |
Technically, this prefix should only be used on plural nouns, as an individual cannot be both sexes at the same time. It is common, however, to use it with the singular of a noun that generally specifies a male, to mean either a male or a female: gepatro [either] parent; gefrato sibling. It should not be used with a singular noun that does not imply maleness, such as amiko (friend). |
| mal− | |
|---|---|
| [exact opposite] un-, in- |
bona good; malbona bad saĝa wise; malsaĝa foolish helpi help; malhelpi hinder same the same way; malsame differently |
[as a root] |
malo [n] opposite mala [adj] opposite, contrary male [adv] to the contrary |
| mis− | |
|---|---|
| [wrongly] mis− | nombri count; misnombri miscount | kompreni understand; miskompreni misunderstand |
| pra− | |
|---|---|
| [remoteness in time] original, great- | avo grandfather; praavo great-grandfather nevo nephew; pranevo great-nephew patro father; prapatro forefather, ancestor filo son; prafilo descendant |
| re− | |
|---|---|
| [repetition] re- | iri go; reiri return veni come; reveni come back skribi write; reskribi rewrite diri say; rediri repeat |
These are Esperanto words that are very commonly used as prefixes, but are listed in dictionaries as separate words.
| ĉef− | |
|---|---|
| from ĉefo chief, leader | |
| chief, main | urbo city; ĉefurbo capital |
| fi− | |
|---|---|
| from fi! [inter] for shame! — fia [adj] shameful | |
| indicates a subjective feeling, rather than an objective opinion | fama famous; fifama infamous domo house; fidomo house of ill repute (brothel) hundo dog; fihundo cur |
| fuŝ− | |
|---|---|
| from fuŝi bungle, botch, mess up | |
| rather the same meaning as mis−, but more emphatic | nombri to count; fuŝnombri to get the count all wrong kompreni to understand; fuŝkompreni to have no clue traduki to translate; fuŝtraduki to bungle the translation |
| vic− | |
|---|---|
| from vico row, line | |
| vice- | reĝo king; vicreĝo viceroy prezedanto president; vicprezedanto vice-president |
replacement, spare |
instruisto teacher; vicinstruisto substitute teacher pneŭmatiko tire; vicpneŭmatiko spare tire |
| step- | patro father; vicpatro step-father |
| vir− | |
|---|---|
| from viro male human | |
| male | bovo cow/bull; virbovo bull ŝafo sheep; virŝafo ram amiko friend; viramiko [specifically male] friend |
| kvazaŭ− | |
|---|---|
| from kvazaŭ as though | |
| quasi− | stelo star; kvazaŭstelo quasar |
| Esperanto | English | symbol | value |
|---|---|---|---|
| jota− | yotta− | Y | 1024 |
| zeta− | zetta− | Z | 1021 |
| eksa− | exa− | E | 1018 |
| peta− | peta− | P | 1015 |
| tera− | tera− | T | 1012 |
| giga− | giga− | G | 109 |
| mega− | mega− | M | 106 |
| kilo− | kilo− | k | 103 |
| hekto− | hecto− | h | 102 |
| deka− | deka− | da | 101 |
| deci− | deci− | d | 10−1 |
| centi− | centi− | c | 10−2 |
| mili− | milli− | m | 10−3 |
| mikro− | micro− | µ | 10−6 |
| nano− | nano− | n | 10−9 |
| piko− | pico− | p | 10−12 |
| femto− | femto− | f | 10−15 |
| ato− | atto− | a | 10−18 |
| zepto− | zepto− | z | 10−21 |
| jokto− | yocto− | y | 10−24 |
| −aĉ− | |
|---|---|
| [disparagement] indicates an objective opinion, rather than a subjective feeling | domo house; domaĉo hovel skribi write; skribaĉi scrawl, scribble |
| −ad− | ||
|---|---|---|
| [continuation] repeated, habitual, or prolonged action | often translated with the continual aspect of the verb, in languages that have such an inflection kuri run; kuradi keep on running | |
[verbal root] |
used to create a verbal root from some other kind of root, in order to form derivatives of the verb. | |
| verbal root | nominal root | |
ŝoveli [vt] to shovel |
martelo [n] hammer | |
ŝovelo [n] act of shoveling |
marteli [vt] to hammer | |
ŝovelilo [n] shovel |
martelado [n] act of hammering | |
| Note that the verb ŝoveli can have the final −i changed to −o to form the name of the action, but this will not work with the verb marteli, formed from the name of the tool, as this would simply form the name of the original tool again. It requires the suffix −ad− before the usual verbal derivatives can be formed. The verb ŝoveli, on the other hand, requires the suffix −il− to form the name of an appropriate tool. | ||
| −aĵ− | |
|---|---|
| [substance] concrete manifestation | skribi write; skribaĵo written material nova new; novaĵo novelty, news item Volapuko Volapük‡; volapukaĵo gobbledegook |
characteristic bahavior |
infano child; infanaĵo childishness perversa perverse; perversaĵo perversity |
meat |
bovo cow/bull; bovaĵo beef ŝafo sheep; ŝafaĵo mutton |
| ‡ Volapük is a proposed international language invented a few years before Esperanto, incomprehensible to most Esperantists, so we might say, «Tio estas al mi Volapuko» = That’s Greek [nonsense] to me. | |
| −an− | |
|---|---|
| [member] member of a group or nation, or follower of a religion or leader | klubo club; klubano club member Usono United States; usonano American Kanado Canada; kanadano Canadian Islamo Islam; islamano Moslem Kristo Christ; kristano Christian |
| −ar− | |
|---|---|
| [collection] a group of things or people | libro book; libraro library ŝtupo step; ŝtuparo stairway arbo tree; arbaro woods, forest homo person, human; la homaro Mankind kristano Christian; la kristanaro Christendom |
| −ebl− | |
|---|---|
| [possibility] −able, −ible | manĝi eat; manĝebla edible porti carry; portebla portable legi read; legebla legible |
| −ec− | |
|---|---|
| [abstract quality] −ness, −ty, −dom | feliĉa happy; feliĉeco happiness libera free; libereco liberty, freedom |
| −eg− | |
|---|---|
| [largeness] more, greater | bona good; bonega excellent arbo tree; arbaro woods, forest; arbarego forest |
| −ej− | |
|---|---|
| [place] normal location for an item or activity | sana healthy; malsana ill; malsanulo sick person; malsanulejo hospital kuiri cook; kuirejo kitchen preĝi pray; preĝejo church, mosque, synagogue |
| −em− | |
|---|---|
| [tendancy] | danki thank; dankema thankful suspekti suspect; suspektema suspicious (i.e., tending to suspect others) |
| −end− | |
|---|---|
| [obligation] −able | pagi pay; pagenda payable agi act; agendoj agenda (things that need to be done) |
| −er− | |
|---|---|
| [unit] small piece of something | mono money; monero coin pano bread; panero crumb ĉeno chain; ĉenero link |
| −estr− | |
|---|---|
| [leader] | lernejo school; lernejestro principal, headmaster imperio empire; imperiestro emperor |
| −et− | |
|---|---|
| [smallness] | bona good; boneta nice dormi sleep; dormeti doze ridi laugh; rideti smile arbo tree; arbaro woods, forest; arbareto woods |
| −i− | |
|---|---|
| [country] named after its capital, or other major city | Alĝero Algiers; Alĝerio Algeria Novjorko New York City; Novjorkio New York (the state) Vaŝintono Washington, DC; Vaŝintonio Washington (the state) |
| [country] named after a river | Niĝero Niger (river); Niĝerio Nigeria Misisipo Mississippi (river); Misisipio Mississippi (the state) |
| Note: Some people use this suffix instead of −uj− to name countries after their inhabitants, too. | |
| −iĉ− | |
|---|---|
| [male] | amiko friend; amikiĉo [specifically male] friend patro [supposedly] parent; patriĉo father |
| Note: This suffix is used by a small group of Esperantists who supposedly want to make Esperanto “non-sexist” by forcing pairs of gendered words into symmetrical forms. They insist that all words that traditionally refer to males now be gender-neutral, requiring this suffix to form a specifically male term, symmetrical to the feminizing suffix −in−. | |
| −id− | |
|---|---|
| [derivative] descendent | Izraelo Israel (i.e., Jacob, son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham); izraelido Israelite |
young [of an animal] |
ĉevalo horse; ĉevalido colt |
| −ig− | |
|---|---|
| [causation] | dormi sleep; dormigi put to sleep morti die; mortigi kill |
| −iĝ− | |
|---|---|
| [become] | riĉa rich; riĉiĝi get rich ruĝa red; ruĝiĝi blush mortigi kill; mortiĝi be killed |
| −ik− | |
|---|---|
| [science] −ology | vivo life; viviko biology insekto insect; insektiko entomology |
| Note: This suffix forms new words from basic Esperanto words, not from Greek words, as the English suffix −ology does. The words biologio and entomologio also exist, with the same meanings as the above two words, but are not formed by compounding; they are basic root words in Esperanto. | |
| −il− | |
|---|---|
| [tool] | tranĉi cut; tranĉilo knife ŝloso lock; ŝlosilo key skribi write; skribilo pen, pencil, crayon, stylus, typewriter, computer with printer executing a word-processing program, etc. aboni subscribe; abonilo subscription form voĉdoni vote; voĉdonilo ballot, voting-machine, ostracon, etc. umo thingamabob; umilo gizmo |
| −ilion− | |
|---|---|
| [large number] [Br] −illion | du two; duiliono 1012 [Br] billion [Am] trillion tri three; triiliono 1018 [Br] trillion [Am] quintillion kvar four; kvariliono 1024 [Br] quadrillion [Am] septillion kvindek du fifty-two; kvindek-duiliono 10312 |
| Note: This suffix, placed after an ordinary Esperanto number (with spaces replaced with hyphens) forms names for very large numbers (powers of a million). The result is a one with 6n zeros, where n is the number before the suffix. See the discussion on writing numbers elsewhere on this site. | |
| −in− | |
|---|---|
| [female] | patro father; patrino mother kapro goat; kaprino nanny-goat |
| −ind− | |
|---|---|
| [worthiness] | ami love; aminda lovable suspekto suspicion; suspektinda suspicious, i.e., acting in such a way as to attract suspicion |
| −ing− | |
|---|---|
| [holder] | glavo sword; glavingo scabbard kandlo candle; kandlingo candelabrum |
| −ism− | |
|---|---|
| [doctrine, system] −ism | komuna common (owned by all); komunismo Communism kapitalo capital (funds); kapitalismo capitalism |
[behavior pattern] −ism |
alkoholo alcohol; alkoholismo alcoholism magneto magnet; magnetismo magnetism |
| −ist− | |
|---|---|
| [occupation] −er | instrui teach; instruisto teacher kanti sing; kantisto singer |
[devoted amateur] −er, −ist |
biciklo bicycle; biciklisto cyclist kuri run; kuristo runner |
[adherent] −ist |
komunismo Communism; komunisto Communist Markso [Karl] Marx; marksisto Marxist |
| −obl− | |
|---|---|
| [multiple] | tri three; triobla triple cent hundred; centoble hundredfold |
| −on− | |
|---|---|
| [fraction] −th | du two; duono a half dudek kvar twenty-four; dudek-kvarono a twenty-fourth |
| −op− | |
|---|---|
| [group] | unu one; unuope one at a time dek du twelve; dek-duope twelve by twelve |
| −uj− | |
|---|---|
| [container] | sukero sugar; sukerujo sugar-bowl mono money; monujo till |
| [country] used to name a country after its inhabitants | bulgaro a Bulgarian; Bulgarujo Bulgaria ĉino a Chinese; Ĉinujo China skoto a Scott; Skotujo Scotland Esperantujo the mythical homeland of the Esperantists |
| −ul− | |
|---|---|
| [being] denotes a person with a particular characteristic, or commonly associated with a particular item | riĉa rich; riĉulo millionaire malsaĝa unwise; malsaĝulo fool sentaŭga unsutible; sentaŭgulo good-for-nothing drinki drink to excess; drinkulo drunkard famo fame; famulo celebrity |
| as a noun | ulo guy, bloke |
| −um− | |
|---|---|
| no fixed meaning | aero air; aerumi ærate malvarma cold; malvarmumi catch a cold |
| [means of execution or torture] | kruco cross; krucumi crucify kapo head; senkapumi decapitate |
Some of these are Esperanto words that are very commonly used as suffixes, but are listed in dictionaries as separate words.
| −land− | |
|---|---|
| From lando country | |
| [country] used instead of −uj− with some countries | skoto a Scott; Skotlando Scotland polo a Pole; Pollando Poland finno a Finn; Finnlando Finland |
Note: some countries have the character-string «land» as part of their names, not as a suffix. These form the names of their inhabitants from the name of the country, not the other way around: Islando Iceland; islandano an Icelander Nederlando Netherlands; nederlandano a Dutchman | |
| −maŝin− | |
|---|---|
| From maŝino machine | |
| [machine] more specific than −il− | skribi write; skribmaŝino typewriter voĉdono vote; voĉdonmaŝino voting machine |
| −pov− | |
|---|---|
| From povi be able, can | |
| [ability] | legi read; legpova literate |
These two official suffixes are used for forming nicknames, and behave a bit differently than all other suffixes. They all but require that the root that they are attached to be truncated a bit, since they do not begin with vowels. Generally, the root (usually a person’s name) is trimmed from the end, so that it ends with a vowel. It can sometimes be trimmed down to an L, N, or R, and still be pronouncable.
| −ĉj− | |
|---|---|
| [male nickname] −y, etc. | Johano John; Johanĉjo, Johaĉjo, Joĉjo Jonny Josefo Joseph; Joseĉjo, Joĉjo Joe patro father; paĉjo Daddy |
| −nj− | |
|---|---|
| [female nickname] −i, −ie, etc. | Margarito Margaret; Margarinjo, Marganjo, Marnjo, Manjo Maggie, Margie, Peg, Peggy, Gretta, Madge, etc. patrino mother; panjo Mommy |
Questions or suggestions? Please write, and I’ll get back to you.
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