Suffixes

Common Suffixes

50 suffixes tested on the SSAT. A suffix at the end of a word tells you its part of speech and role — master these and reading becomes much easier.

💪-able, -ible
Latincapable of
applicablereversible
📦-age
Frenchplace, thing, idea
storage
🔗-al
Latinpertaining to
instructional
🌟-ance
Latinrelating to
reliance
🧑-ant, -ent
Latininclined to
persistentdominantresistant
📚-ary
Latinrelating to
dictionary
⚙️-ate
Latinan action of
confiscate
🏛️-cracy
Greekrule by
democracybureaucracytheocracy
🏅-cy
Latinthe quality of
democracy
👑-dom
Old Englishstate, realm
freedomkingdomboredom
⏮️-ed
Old Englishpast action
subsided
🎯-ee
Frenchone who receives
employeerefugeetrainee
🎖️-eer, -ier
Frenchone who does
volunteerengineerfinancier
🔨-en
Old Englishto become, to make
strengthenenlightenfrighten
🔬-ence
Latinrelating to
confidence
👷-er, -or
Old Englishone who
adviseractor
🏭-ery, -ry
Frenchplace of, practice of
bakerybraverysorcery
🎨-esque
Frenchin the style of
picturesquestatuesquegrotesque
🫙-ful
Old Englishfull of
beautifulwonderfulgraceful
🪄-fy, -ify
Latinto make, to cause
simplifybeautifymagnify
🏘️-hood
Old Englishstate, condition
childhoodlikelihoodfalsehood
🔎-ic
Greekpertaining to
democratic
▶️-ing
Old Englishpresent action
surmising
🔄-ion
Latinthe act or state of
radiation
-ious
Latinfull of
rebellious
🤏-ish
Old Englishsomewhat, resembling
childishfoolishreddish
💡-ism
Greekbelief, doctrine
capitalismheroismrealism
🎹-ist
Greekone who practices
artistscientistpianist
💎-ity
Latinquality, state
abilitydiversitycomplexity
🧲-ive
Latinhaving the quality of
creative
🔧-ize
Greekto make
harmonize
🚫-less
Old Englishwithout
hopelesscarelessfearless
🐣-ling
Old Englishsmall, young
ducklingyearlingunderling
🏃-ly
Old Englishto do with the quality of
carefully
🏗️-ment
Latinthe result of
amusement
🌈-ness
Old Englishthe quality of being
selfishness
📖-ology
Greekstudy of
biologysociologypsychology
🌋-ous, -eous
Latinfull of, having
joyousfamouscourageous
❤️-phile
Greeklover of
bibliophileaudiophile
😨-phobe, -phobia
Greekfear of
claustrophobiaxenophobe
🔭-scope
Greekinstrument for viewing
microscopetelescope
🤝-ship
Old Englishposition, relationship
friendshipleadershipcitizenship
📏-th
Old Englishstate, quality
growthwarmthstrength
🎬-tion, -sion
Latinact or process of
educationexpansioncelebration
🏔️-tude
Latinstate, quality
gratitudesolitudemagnitude
🎯-ty
Latincondition of being
sanity
🖼️-ure
Latinact, process, result
exposurefailureprocedure
➡️-ward
Old Englishin the direction of
forwardbackwardhomeward
🧭-wise
Old Englishin the manner of
otherwiselikewiseclockwise
🏆-worthy
Old Englishdeserving of
trustworthynoteworthy