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E S P E R A N T O A F F I X E S
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affix meaning examples of use
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I a. Official Prefixes:
bo- relationship by marriage, bopatrino = mother-in-law,
-in-law bofrato = brother-in-law
dis- dis-, dispersal, separation, disĵeti = to scatter about,
scattering, dismemberment disdoni = to distribute,
disaŭdigi = to broadcast,
disigi = to separate, to take apart,
disiĝi = to disintegrate, to fall apart
ek- momentary, sudden, ekiri = to start,
commencement, ekbrili = to flash,
beginning of action ekvidi = to notice,
or brief lasting action ekkrii = to shout out,
eki = to begin, to start,
ni eku! = let's get started
eks- ex-, former eksreĝo = ex-king,
eksedzino = ex-wife,
eksigi = to discharge (from office),
to impeach,
eksiĝi = to resign
fi- shameful, nasty, fiago = shameful act,
morally bad, figazeto = "smutty" magazine,
moral degradation, fialudi = innuendo, evil insinuation,
contempt fikomercisto = swindler,
fia = nasty, horrid,
fiaĉa = repulsing in any regard
ge- of both sexes together gepatroj = parents,
gejunuloj = youth, young people,
gesinjoroj = ladies and gentleman,
gea = of both sexes, unisex
mal- opposite malgranda = small,
malami = to hate,
malaperi = to vanish, to disappear,
malriĉa = poor,
malbona = bad,
malbela = ugly,
malforta = weak,
malfacila = difficult,
maldekstra = left,
malfermi = to open,
malkonsenti = to disagree,
mala = opposite,
male = on the contrary, contrary to
mis- mis-, amiss, wrongly miskompreni = to misunderstand,
miskompreno = misunderstanding,
misuzi = to misuze,
misuzo = abuse
pra- remote (time), primordiality, prapatroj = ancestors,
remoteness of relationship, praavo = great-grandfather,
of great antiquity, primeval, pranepo = great-grandson,
great (in family relationship),prahistorio = prehistory,
ancient, fore- pratempo = the ancient past,
pratempa, praa = ancient
re- re-, return, repetition, resendi = to send back,
back, over again reveni = to come back, to return (intr),
redoni = to give back, to return (tr),
rebrili = to reflect,
reverki = to re-write (a book, etc.)
I b. Unofficial Prefixes:
pseŭdo- pseudo- pseŭdoscienco = pseudoscience,
pseŭdonomo = pseudonym
retro- backward retroiri = to retire, withdraw, retreat,
retrorigardi = to look back
II a. Official Suffixes:
-aĉ- scorn, disparagement, domaĉo = hovel, shack, shanty,
contemptible, disgusting, skribaĉi = to scrawl,
bad kind infanaĉo = brat,
virinaĉo = hag,
ĉevalaĉo = sorry nag,
veteraĉo = filthy weather,
aĉulo = creep, thug,
aĉaĵo = abomination
-ad- frequent, repetitive naĝado = swimming,
or habitual action, pafado = shooting,
prolonged action, kuirado = cooking,
continuation of action agadi = to act,
agado = action, activity,
movado = movement,
parolado = a speach,
kuradi = to keep on running
-aĵ- thing (concrete idea), segaĵo = sawdust,
a concrete manifestation bovaĵo = beef,
of an abstraction, ŝafaĵo = mutton,
the external manifestation kokinaĵo, kokidaĵo = chicken,
of an activity, fluaĵo = liquid,
a characteristic piece of pakaĵo = package, thing packed,
behaviour, sendaĵo = shipment, thing sent,
the flesh of an animal, infanaĵo = a childish act,
product, dish ovaĵo = scrambled eggs,
ĝentilaĵo = polite, courteous act,
verdaĵo = greenery, something green,
manĝaĵo = food,
fragaĵo = strawberry jam,
sekaĵoj = dry goods,
dolcxaĵoj = sweets, candies,
aĵo = a thing, object,
Esperantaĵoj = publications or other
collectibles related to Esperanto
-an- member (of a group), ano = member,
inhabitant (of a place klubano = club member,
or country), partisan, kursano = a course participant,
participant, adherent kongresano = congressman, delegate,
vilaĝano = villager,
urbanoj = townspeople,
nederlandano = dutchman,
londonano = londoner,
amerikanoj = americans,
kristano = christian
-ar- collective, group, set, arbaro = forest, woods,
a collection of like things anaro = members' body,
vortaro = dictionary,
libraro = library,
aŭdantaro = audience,
homaro = mankind,
aro = collection, set
-ĉj- pet-name (masculine) pacĉo = daddy,
[truncation of root optional] Joĉjo = Johnny, Joe,
Tomĉjo = Tom, Tommy
-ebl- -able, -ible, possibility legebla = legible,
portebla = portable,
videbla = visible,
manĝebla = edible,
kredebla = credible, believable,
kredeble = possibly, probably,
eble = perhaps,
ebla = possible,
ebleco = possibility
-ec- quality, abstract idea, blankeco = whiteness,
-ness, -ship rapideco = speed,
silkeca = silky,
amikeco = friendship,
klareco = clearness,
profesoreco = professorship,
moleco = softness,
malmoleco = hardness,
eco = quality
-eg- augmentative, great size, bonega = excellent,
intense degree petegi = to beseech, to implore,
domego = mansion,
ridegi = to guffaw,
varmega = hot,
ega = great,
ege = very
-ej- place alloted to lernejo = school,
or characterized by, space kuirejo = kitchen,
loĝejo = apartment,
vendejo = store,
herbejo = meadow,
hundejo = dog kennel,
preĝejo = temple, church,
ejo = place
-em- propensity, disposition, babilema = loquacious,
tendency parolema = talkative,
komprenema = understanding,
laborema = hard working, industrious,
ŝparema = thrifty,
mortema = mortal,
ludema = playful,
kredema = credulous,
kolerema = irascible,
suspektema = open to suspicion,
samseksema = homosexual,
malsamseksema = heterosexual,
ambaŭseksema = bisexusual,
ema = inclined, disposed, prone, apt,
malema = unwilling, reluctant,
eme = willingly, readily,
emo = tendency, inclination, disposition
-end- to be -ed, which-must-be-done, pagenda = payable, to be payed, due,
necessity of action detruenda = to be destroyed,
solvenda = must be solved,
farenda = to be done, must be done
-er- item, unit, fragment, panero = crumb,
small particle of a whole, ĉenero = link,
element pluvero = raindrop,
monero = coin,
pulvero = dust particle,
fajrero = spark,
sablero = grain of sand,
diserigi = to split up, grind down,
ero = element, particle, part
-estr- leader, ruler, head, chief estro = chief,
estri = to govern, direct, lead,
ŝtatestro = head of state,
guberniestro = state governor,
staciestro = station master,
urbestro = mayor,
regnestro = ruler,
lernejestro = head-master, principal,
school director,
ŝipestro = capitain, ship's master
-et- diminutive dormeti = to doze, to slumber,
libreto = booklet,
lageto = pond,
dometo = cottage,
varmeta = luke-warm,
rideti = to smile,
eta = small, minimal
-id- offspring, the descendant of, ido = child, infant, descendant, scion,
the young of an animal idoj = progeny,
izraelido = israelite,
reĝido = prince,
hundido = puppy,
katido = kitten,
ĉevalido = colt,
bovido = calf,
kokido = chick
-ig- to make, to render, purigi = to clean, to purify,
to cause, to bring about ebligi = to make possible,
mortigi = to kill,
plenigi = to fill,
blankigi = to whiten,
ruinigi = to ruin,
bruligi = to burn something (tr),
timigi = to frighten,
plibonigi = to improve something (tr),
lumigi = to put on the light,
bindigi = to have bound,
starigi = to stand (tr),
sciigi = to let know, to inform,
igi = to make someone or to cause
something to be
-iĝ- causative, to become, get, edziĝi = to get married
action of becoming (to become a husband),
edziniĝi = to get married
(to become a wife),
naskiĝi = to be born,
ruĝiĝi = to blush,
blankiĝi = to grow white, whiten,
pliboniĝi = to improve (intr),
sidiĝi = to sit down, to become seated,
moviĝi = to move of itself,
enlitiĝi = to get into bed,
ruliĝi = to roll (intr),
sciiĝi = to get to know, become aware,
iĝi = to become by self
-il- instrument, means, ilo = tool,
tool, implement hakilo = axe,
ŝlosilo = key,
kudrilo = needle,
tranĉilo = knife,
razilo = razor,
flugilo = wing,
montrilo = pointer, arrow
-in- female, feminine virino = woman,
patrino = mother,
reĝino = queen,
fratino = sister,
onklino = aunt,
ĉevalino = mare,
kokino = hen,
ino = female
-ind- worthiness, laŭdinda = praiseworthy,
worthy to be -ed, admirinda = worthy of admiration,
admirable,
worth -ing aminda = loveable, worthy of love,
memorinda = memorable,
vidinda = worth seeing,
vizitinda = worth a trip,
inda = worthy
-ing- holder, socket, glavingo = scabbard,
sheath (for one object) plumingo = penholder,
kandelingo = candlestick
-ist- person habitually occupied instruisto = teacher,
or concerned with something, artisto = artist,
professional or enthusiastic pentristo = painter,
amateur, adherent, partisan policisto = policeman,
maŝinisto = machinist,
biciklisto = cyclist,
maristo = sailor,
ŝuisto = shoemaker,
drogisto = druggist,
marksisto = marxist,
Esperantisto = Esperantist
-nj- pet-name (feminine) panjo = mommy,
[truncation of root optional] Manjo = Mary,
Nenjo = Nellie
-obl- multiple unuobla = single,
duobla = double, twofold,
trioble = triply, three times,
kvaroble = fourfold, quadruply,
dekduoble = twelve times,
dudekoble = twenty times,
centoble = a hundredfold,
multobligi, obligi = to multiply
-on- fraction duono = half,
duonigi = to halve,
sesono = sixth,
centono = a hundredth part
-op- collective unuope = one by one, singly,
duope = two by two, in twos,
kvaropo = quartet,
kvarope = four abreast, by fours,
centope = by hundreds, a hundred at
a time
-uj- (1) container, receptacle monujo = purse,
inkujo = inkstand,
ujo = generic container
(2) land, country Anglujo = England,
Esperantujo = Esperanto-land
(everywhere where E-o is spoken),
(3) tree or bush pomujo = apple tree,
bearing fruit pirujo = pear-tree,
plumujo = plum-tree,
vinberujo = vine
[note that (2) and (3) usages of -uj- are becoming archaic/outdated]
-ul- person (possesing a certain junulo = youth, young man,
quality), characterised by belulino = beauty,
bravulo = brave man,
blindulo = blind person,
surdulo = deaf person,
mutulo = mute person,
riĉulo = rich man,
drinkulo = drunkard,
saĝulo = wise man, sage,
samseksemulo = homosexual, gay,
kunulo = companion,
fremdulo = stranger,
ulo = person, individual
-um- indefinite relation malvarmumi = to catch cold,
plenumi = to fulfil,
tendumi = to camp,
literumi = to spell,
okulumi = to ogle,
foliumi = to browse, to glance
(through a book),
kolumo = colar,
manumo = wirst band,
plandumo = sole (of shoe),
ventumi = to fan,
ventumilo = a fan,
aerumi = to ventilate,
komunumo = community,
krucumi = to crucify,
amikumi = to be friends,
Esperantumi = to use Esperanto
(and to enjoy it)
II b. Unofficial Suffixes:
-i- country Francio = France,
Britio = Great Britain,
Bulgario, Meksikio
-ism- -ism, theory, system, platonismo = platonism,
characteristic behaviour, protektismo = protectionism,
pattern alkoholismo = alcoholism,
magnetismo = magnetism,
fetiĉismo = fetishism,
anglismo = anglicism
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