Suffixes in German - Higher

• A suffix is a group of letters which are added to the end of a word to change its meaning or change part of speech.

  • For example, in English adding the suffix -less to the word help to create helpless changes the meaning of the original noun.

• Suffixes in German also work in this way. A suffix can change:

  • an adjective, adverb or verb into a noun
  • a noun into an adjective, adverb or verb.

Suffixes can be added to the end of some German words to change the meaning of a word.

The suffixes -chen and -lein can be added to a noun to create a diminutive form - a smaller version of something. It can also be added to show affection or cuteness. For example:

• das Brotbread → das Brötchenbread roll

• die Katzecat → das Kätzchenkitten, kitty

• der Bruderbrother → das Brüderchenlittle brother, dear brother

If the vowels a, e, o or u are in the original noun, an umlaut is added in the diminutive form.

The ending -lein is not as common as -chen:

• der Tischtable → das Tischleinlittle table

• das Buchbook → das Büchleinbooklet

As with the suffix -chen, if the vowels a, e, o or u are in the original word, an umlaut is added in the diminutive form.

Remember:

• All nouns ending in -chen or -lein are neuter.

• They do not change in the plural form. For example:
  das Brötchenthe bread roll, die Brötchenthe bread rolls

• An umlaut is added if the vowels a, e, o or u are in the original noun.

Key diminutive forms of nouns

English nouns that end in -ty (eg necessity) or -ness (eg illness) can be formed by adding the suffixes-heit or -keit to an adjective, adverb, or noun.

• notwendignecessary → die Notwendigkeitnecessity

• krankill, sick → die Krankheitillness, sickness

• möglichpossible → die Möglichkeitpossibility

All nouns ending in -heit or -keit are feminine.

Key nouns:

Translate these sentences into English.

The suffix -los can be added to some nouns in German to create an adjective where the English equivalent means without or less:

• die Arbeitwork → arbeitlos unemployed, without work

• die Kostencosts → kostenlosfree, without cost

Key adjectives:

Translate these sentences into German:

Take this higher tier quiz on suffixes to check your understanding of the sentence.