-itis

Borrowed from English -itis, French -itis, Italian -ite, Portuguese -ite/Spanish -itis, Russian -ит (-it), all ultimately from New Latin -itis, from Ancient Greek -ῖτις (-îtis).

appendice (“appendix”) + -itis → appendicitis (“appendicitis”)

esophago (“oesophagus”) + -itis → esophagitis (“oesophagitis”)

larynge (“larynx”) + -itis → laryngitis (“laryngitis”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting an inflammitory disease; -itis


-ese

Borrowed from English -an, French -ain, Italian -ano, Portuguese -ano/Spanish -ano, all ultimately from Latin -ānus.

China (“China”) + -ese → chinese (“Chinese”)

Geneva (“Geneva”) + -ese → genevese (“Genevese”)

Francia (“France”) + -ese → francese (“French”)

forms nouns and adjectives from nouns, denoting or pertaining to a native, citizen or inhabitant; -ese

Brooklyn (“Brooklyn”) + -ese → brooklynese (“Brooklynese, Brooklyn dialect”)

forms nouns and adjectives from nouns, denoting or pertaining to a language; -ese


-ar

Added to a noun root word, this forms a verb meaning to apply or make use of the root.

Added to an adjectival root word, this forms a verb meaning to render/make (adjective) the object of the verb.


-ico

Borrowed from English -ic, French -ique, Italian -ico, Portuguese -ico, Spanish -ico, Russian -ик (-ik)
all ultimately from Latin -icum, from -icus.

historia (“history”) + -ico → historico (“historian”)

theoria (“theory”) + -ico → theorico (“theoretician”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a person occupied with a science or study; -ic, -ician, -ian


-issimo

Added to an adjective, creates an adjective. This suffix is an intensifier which adds a qualifier of "extremely" or "remarkably."


-ista

Borrowed from English -ist, French -iste, Italian -ista, Portuguese -ista/Spanish -ista, Russian -ист (-ist), all ultimately from Latin -ista, from Ancient Greek -ιστής (-istḗs).

biologia (“biology”) + -ista → biologista (“biologist”)

tympano (“drum”) + -ista → tympanista (“drummer, tympanist”)

saxophono (“saxophone”) + -ista → saxophonista (“saxophonist”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a person who practises an art or science; -ist

Calvin (“Calvin”) + -ista → calvinista (“Calvinist”)

social (“social”) + -ista → socialista (“socialista”)

collaboration (“collaboration”) + -ista → collaborationist (“collaborationist”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting an adherent of a doctrine; -ist


-ite

Borrowed from English -ite, French -ite, Italian -ita, Portuguese -ita/Spanish -ita, all ultimately from Latin -īta, , from Ancient Greek -ίτης (-ítēs).

ligno (“wood”) + -ite → lignite (“lignite”)

meteoro (“meteor”) + -ite → meteorite (“meteorite”)

Andalusia (“Andalusia”) + -ite → andalusite (“andalusite”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a rock or mineral; -ite


-ina

Borrowed from English -ine, French -ine, Italian -ina, Portuguese -ina/Spanish -ina, all ultimately from Latin -īna.

caseo (“cheese”) + -ina → caseina (“caseine”)

globulo (“globule”) + -ina → globulino (“globuline”)

vacca (“cow”) + -ina → vaccina (“vaccine”)

(chemistry) forms nouns from nouns, denoting a technical term for a substance; container


-age

Borrowed from English -age, French -age, Italian -aggio, Portuguese -agem/Spanish -aje, all ultimately from Latin -āticum.

folio (“leaf”) + -age → foliage (“foliage”)

fructo (“fruit”) + -age → fructage (“fruitage”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a collection; -age


-mente

Borrowed from Spanish -mente and other Romance descendants of Latin mente.

physicamente (“physically”)

Attaches to an adjective to form the corresponding adverb.


-mento

From Late Latin -mentum, -amentum, from Latin -menta.

-amento (alternative)
-imento (alternative)

forming concrete nouns from verbs, with the sense of 'result, product (of process)'


-astro

Borrowed from English -aster, French -âtre, Italian -astro, Portuguese -astro/Spanish -astro, all ultimately from Latin -aster and -astrum.

poeta (“poet”) + -astro → poetastro (“poetaster”)

judice (“judge”) + -astro → judicastro (“incompetent judge”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a someone inferior or worthless; -aster

patre (“father”) + -astro → patrastro (“stepfather”)

filia (“daughter”) + -astra → filiastra (“stepdaughter”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a collection; step-


-ita

Neapole (“Naples”) + -ita → neapolita (“neaplitan”)

Israel (“Israel”) + -ita → israelita (“Israelite, Israeli”)

Moscova (“Moscow”) + -ita → moscovita (“Muscovite”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a native, citizen or inhabitant; -ite

Jacobo (“James”) + -ita → jacobita (“Jacobite”)

Thatcher (“Thatcher”) + -ita → thatcherita (“thatcherite”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting an member or adherent; -ite


-osis

Borrowed from English -osis, French -ose, Italian -ose, Portuguese -ose/Spanish -osis, Russian -оз (-oz), all ultimately via Latin from Ancient Greek -ωσις (-ōsis).

neuro- (“neuro- (“nerve”)”) + -osis → neurosis (“neurosis”)

tuberculo (“tubercle”) + -osis → tuberculosis (“tuberculosis”)

halito (“breath”) + -osis → halitosis (“halitosis”)

(pathology) forms nouns from nouns, denoting functional disease or condition; -itis


-ismo

Borrowed from English -ism, French -isme, Italian -ismo, Portuguese -ismo/Spanish -ismo, Russian -изм (-izm), all ultimately from Latin -ismus, from Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós).

despota (“despot”) + -ismo → despotismo (“despotism”)

gigante (“giant”) + -ismo → gigantismo (“gigantism”)

magnete (“magnet”) + -ismo → magnetismo (“magnetism”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a state or practice of being; -ism

plumbo (“iron”) + -ismo → plumbismo (“plumbism, lead poisoning”)

caffeina (“caffeine”) + -ismo → caffeinismo (“caffeinism”)

alcohol (“alcohol”) + -ismo → alcoholismo (“alcoholism”)

(medicine) forms nouns from nouns, denoting a condition or syndrome; -ism

Calvin (“Calvin”) + -ismo → calvinismo (“Calvinism”)

social (“social”) + -ismo → socialismo (“socialism”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a doctrine or practice of concerned with the root; -ism

hellen (“Hellene”) + -ismo → hellenisme (“Hellenism”)

gallic (“Gallic”) + -ismo → gallicisme (“gallicism”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a characteristic or language; -ism


-ia

Borrowed from English -ia, French -ie, Italian -ia, Portuguese -ia/Spanish -ía, all ultimately from Latin -ia, from Ancient Greek -ία (-ía), -εια (-eia).

arabe (“Arab”) + -ia → Arabia (“Arabia”)

scoto (“Scot”) + -ia → Scotia (“Scotland”)

bulgare (“Buglar(ian)”) + -ia → Bulgaria (“Bulgaria”)

forms nouns from ethnonyms or personal names, denoting a country, province or region; -ia, -y

coarde (“coward”) + -ia → coardia (“cowardice”)

infante (“baby, infant”) + -ia → infantia (“childhood, infancy”)

abbate (“abbot”) + -ia → abbatia (“abbacy”)

capitano (“captain”) + -ia → capitania (“captaincy”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a quality, status or jurisdiction; -y, -cy, -ness, -ity, -hood

geologo (“geologist”) + -ia → geologia (“geology”)

radiotoxicologo (“radiotoxicologist”) + -ia → radiotoxicologia (“radiotoxicology”)

idolatra (“idolater”) + -ia → idolatria (“idolatry”)

bottinero (“cobbler, shoemaker”) + -ia → bottineria (“cobblery, shoemaking; cobbler's, shoemaker's shop”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting an art, science, practice or establishment; -y


-itate

Borrowed from Latin -itās. Compare -tate from the same source.

Alternative form of -tate, giving a quality or characteristic of an adjective; -ity


-ica

Borrowed from English -ics, French -ique, Italian -ica, Portuguese -ica/Spanish -ica, Russian -ика (-ika), all ultimately from Latin -icum, from -icus.

electron (“electron”) + -ica → electronica (“electronics”)

phonema (“phoneme”) + -ica → phonemica (“phonemics”)

gymnasta (“gymnast”) + -ica → gymnastica (“gymnastics”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a science of study; -ics


-ero

Borrowed from English -er, French -ier, Portuguese -eiro/Spanish -ero, all ultimately from Latin -ārius or -ārium.

barba (“beard”) + -ero → barbero (“barber”)

banca (“bank”) + -ero → banchero (“banker”)

ambulantia (“ambulance”) + -era → ambulantiera (“ambulance driver”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a professional occupation; -er, -eer


-ano

Africa (“Africa”) + -ano → africano (“African”)

Italia (“Italy”) + -ana → italiana (“Italian”)

Atlanta (“Atlanta”) + -ano → atlantano (“Atlantan”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a native, citizen or inhabitant; -an

Italia (“Italy”) + -ano → italiano (“Italian”)

Samoa (“Samoa”) + -ano → samoano (“Samoan”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a language; -an

Mohammed (“Mohammed”) + -ano → mohammedano (“Mohammedan”)

Wesley (“Wesley”) + -ana → wesleyana (“Wesleyan”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting an adherent or follower; -an


-ata

Borrowed from Italian -ata, Portuguese -ada/Spanish -ada, all ultimately from Latin -āta(m).

coclear (“spoon”) + -ata → coclearata (“spoonful”)

bucca (“mouth”) + -ata → buccata (“mouthful”)

carretta (“cart”) + -ata → carrettata (“cartload”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting contents or a quantity; -ful, load


-ato

Borrowed from English -ate, French -ate, Italian -ato, Portuguese -ato/Portuguese -ado/Spanish -ato/Spanish -ado, all from Latin -ātus.

duce (“duke”) + -ato → ducato (“duchy, dukedom”)

episcoppo (“bishop”) + -ato → episcopato (“bishopric, episcopate”)

capitano (“captain”) + -ato → capitanato (“captaincy”)

discipulo (“disciple”) + -ato → discipulato (“discipleship”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a status, jurisdiction or period of office; -ate, -dom, -cy, -ship


-etto

Borrowed from English -et, French -et, Italian -etto, Portuguese -ito/Spanish -ito, all ultimately from Latin -ittum, from -ittus.

hacha (“axe”) + -etto → hachetto (“hatchet”)

pacco (“pack, bundle”) + -etto → pacchetto (“packet”)

boteca (“shop, store”) + -etta → botechetta (“small shop”)

pane (“bread”) + -etto → panetto (“bread roll”)

uxor (“wife”) + -etta → uxoretta (“wifie”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a diminutive; -et, -ie, -y, -let, -ling


-iera

Borrowed from French -ière, Italian -iera, Portuguese -eria/Spanish -era, all ultimately from Latin -ārius.

sucro (“sugar”) + -iera → sucriera (“sugar bowl”)

bira (“beer”) + -iera → biriera (“beer can”)

garretto (“hollow of the knee”) + -iera → garrettiera (“garter”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a container or cover; container

ris (“rice”) + -iera → risiera (“rice field”)

carbon (“coal”) + -iera → carboniera (“coal pit”)

baca (“berry”) + -iera → bachiera (“berry patch”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting an area where something grows or is found; field, patch, mine, quarry


-eria

Borrowed from English -ery, French -erie, Italian -eria, Spanish -ería, all ultimately from Latin -āria.

lacte (“milk”) + -eria → lacteria (“dairy”)

instrumento (“tool”) + -eria → instrumenteria (“tool shop”)

joiel (“jewel”) + -eria → joieleria (“jeweller's”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a place where the root is prepared, kept or sold; -ery, shop, store

drappo (“cloth”) + -eria → drapperia (“drapery”)

arco (“bow”) + -eria → archeria (“archery”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a craft, practice or product of such; -ery, -work

diabolo (“devil”) + -eria → diaboleria (“devilry, diabolical behaviour”)

galante (“gallant”) + -eria → galanteria (“galantry”)

clown (“clown”) + -eria → clowneria (“clownery, clowning around”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting behaviour; -ery, -age, -ism


-iero

Borrowed from French -ier, Portuguese -eiro/Spanish -ero from Latin -ārius and -ārium.

amandola (“almond”) + -iero → amandoliero (“almond tree”)

corco (“cork”) + -iero → corchiero (“cork tree”)

fraga (“strawberry”) + -iero → fragiero (“strawberry plant”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a fruit- or nut-bearing tree, bush or other plant; tree, bush, plant


-essa

Borrowed from English -ess, French -esse, Italian -essa, Portuguese -esa/Spanish -esa, Russian -е́сса (-éssa) all ultimately from Latin -issa from Ancient Greek -ισσα (-issa).

conte (“count, earl”) + -essa → contessa (“countess”)

abbate (“abbot”) + -essa → abbatessa (“abbess”)

tigre (“tiger”) + -essa → tigressa (“tigress”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a female; -ess


-eto

Borrowed from Italian -eto, from Latin -ētum.

pino (“pine”) + -eto → pineto (“pine grove”)

orangiero (“orange tree”) + -eto → orangiereto (“orange grove”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a grove of trees; grove


-ada

Borrowed from English -ade, French -ade, Italian -ata, Portuguese -ada/Spanish -ada. Also found in Russian in words such as лимонад (limonad, “lemonade”) and оранжад (oranžad, “orangeade”). All ultimately from Latin -āta, feminine of -ātus.

limon (“lemon”) + -ada → limonada (“lemonade”)

persica (“peach”) + -ada → persicada (“peachade”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a product; -ade

columna (“column”) + -ada → columnada (“colonade”)

fenestra (“window”) + -ada → fenestrada (“row of windows”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a series; -ade


-oide

Borrowed from English -oid, French -oïde, Italian -oide, Portuguese -oide/Spanish -oide, Russian -оид (-oid), all ultimately from Ancient Greek -ειδής (-eidḗs), -οειδής (-oeidḗs), from εἶδος (eîdos, “form, likeness”).

cellula (“cell”) + -oide → celluloide (“celluloid”)

delta (“delta”) + -oide → deltoide (“deltoid”)

human (“human”) + -oide → humanoide (“humanoid”)

forms nouns and adjectives from nouns, denoting something resembling or having the likeness of the root; -oid


-issime

Appended to an adjective, this suffix is an intensifier which adds the qualifier of "very" or "particularly."


-ario

Borrowed from English -ary, French -aire, Italian -ario, Portuguese -ário/Spanish -ario, all ultimately from Latin -ārium.

mission (“mission”) + -ario → missionario (“missionary”)

million (“million”) + -aria → millionaria (“millionaire”)

ferrovia (“railway, railroad”) + -ario → ferroviario (“railway worker”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a person concerned with or characterised by the root; -ary

herba (“herb”) + -ario → herbario (“herbarium”)

insecto (“insect”) + -ario → insectario (“insectarium”)

proverbio (“proverb”) + -ario → proverbario (“collection of proverbs”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a collection; -ary, -arium

grano (“grain”) + -ario → granario (“granary”)

feno (“hay”) + -ario → fenario (“hayloft”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a place containing the root; -ary


-tate

-ty (suffix used to form nouns, often denoting a quality or a property)


-ificar

Added to a noun root word, this forms a verb meaning to transform or convert the object of the verb into the root.

Added to an adjectival root word, this forms a verb meaning to render/make (adjective) the object of the verb.


-il

Borrowed from French -ile, Italian -ile, Portuguese -il, all ultimately from Latin -īle.

can (“dog”) + -il → canil (“kennel”)

tauro (“bull”) + -il → tauril (“bull pen”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a place where animals are kept


-isar

Added to a noun root word, this forms a verb meaning to make the object of the verb into the root.

Added to a noun or adjectival root word, this forms a verb meaning to apply or make use of (the principles of) the root.

Added to an adjectival root word, this forms a verb meaning to make the object of the verb (adjective).


-alia

ferro (“iron”) + -alia → ferralia (“scrap iron”)

papiro (“paper”) + -alia → papiralia (“waste/old/heaps of paper(s)”)

forms nouns from nouns, denoting a worthless collection