Common Suffixes and Their Meanings

Front

-ful

Back

full of (e.g., hopeful, joyful)

Front

-less

Back

without (e.g., hopeless, fearless)

Front

-ly

Back

in a way (e.g., quickly, softly)

Front

-er/-or

Back

person who does something (e.g., teacher, actor)

Front

-est

Back

most (e.g., biggest, fastest)

Front

-ness

Back

state of being (e.g., kindness, darkness)

Front

-ment

Back

action or process (e.g., enjoyment, movement)

Front

-tion/-sion

Back

act or state (e.g., action, tension)

Front

-able/-ible

Back

capable of (e.g., readable, visible)

Front

-y

Back

characterized by (e.g., sunny, sticky)