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# German Suffixes for adjectives: Definition & Examples
- URL: https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-suffixes-for-adjectives-definition-examples/
- Published: 2024-08-14T02:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-12T04:22:59.000Z
- Description: Just like the nouns we mentioned in the earlier post , German adjectives also come with various suffixes. Imagine you're at a party, trying to avoid alcohol…
- Author: Dear Deer
- Tags: Learn German

Just like the nouns we mentioned in the [earlier post](https://blog.lingodeer.com/german-suffixes-for-nouns-definition-examples/), German adjectives also come with various suffixes. Imagine you're at a party, trying to avoid alcohol and desperately searching for a non-alcoholic drink. Suddenly, you spot the word "alkoholfrei" and feel a wave of relief. The suffix "-frei" means "free from" or "without." See? German adjective suffixes are also important for creating compound meanings, so let's explore them in this blog!

## **What is the Suffix in German?**

Adding suffixes to the end of a word root forms new words or modifies grammatical function. In German, they create nouns, verbs, adjectives, and more, providing various grammatical functions and meanings.

## **What are the Features of Adjective Suffixes in German?**

1. **Transforming into Adjectives:**
- Suffixes like “-lich” and “-lisch” form adjectives from nouns or other roots, often indicating a characteristic or quality.
  - Examples:
    - Der Freund (friend) → **freundlich** (friendly)
    - Der Monat (month) → **monatlich** (monthly)
1. **Transforming into Adjectives:**
- German uses suffixes like “-haft,” “-arm,” and “-fest” to create adjectives that convey a more complex or nuanced meaning. These suffixes combine the root word's meaning with their inherent meaning.
  - Examples:
    - Das Kind (child) → **kindhaft** (childlike)
    - Der Fehler (mistake) → **fehlerarm** (low in mistakes)
    - Das Wasser (water) → **wasserfest** (waterproof)

## **Common German Adjective Suffixes** 

### **\-isch**

The suffix “-isch” is used to form adjectives that often indicate a relationship or similarity to the root word. It’s similar to the English suffix “-ish.”

Examples:

- Die Kunst (art) → **künstlerisch** (artistic)
- Das Poem (poet) → **poetisch** (poetic)

### **\-ig**

The suffix “-ig” is used to form adjectives indicating a particular quality or characteristic related to the root word. It’s like the English suffix “-y.”

Examples:

- Die Sonne (sun) → **sonnig** (sunny)
- Der Freund (friend) → **freundlich** (friendly)
- Die Erde (earth) → **erdig** (earthy)

### **\-lich**

The suffix “-lich” can create adjectives that describe a characteristic or feature of the root word. It is comparable to the English suffix “-ly.”

Examples:

- Der Monat (month) → **monatlich** (monthly)
- Das Jahr (year) → **jährlich** (yearly)
- Die Gefahr (danger) → **gefährlich** (dangerous)

### **\-arm**

The suffix “-arm” denotes a lack or scarcity of the root word. It is akin to the English suffix “-poor” or the phrase “low in.”

Examples:

- Die Energie (energy) → **energiearm** (low in energy)
- Der Fehler (mistake) → **fehlerarm** (low in mistakes)
- Die kalorie (calorie) → **kalorienarm** (low in calories)

### **\-fest**

The suffix “-fest” indicates resistance or immunity to the root word, similar to the English suffix “-proof.”

Examples:

- Das Wasser (water) → **wasserfest** (waterproof)
- Das Licht (light) → **lichtfest** (lightproof)
- Das Feuer (fire) → **feuerfest** (fireproof)

### **\-haft**

The suffix “-haft” is used to form adjectives that denote a characteristic or quality resembling the root word. It is similar to the English suffix “-like.”

Examples:

- Das Kind (child) → **kindhaft** (childlike)
- Der Held (hero) → **heldhaft** (heroic)
- Die Verantwortung (responsibility) → **verantwortungshaft** (responsible)

### **\-frei**

The suffix “-frei” means “free from” or “without,” similar to the English “-free.”

Examples:

- Der Zucker (sugar) → **zuckerfrei** (sugar-free)
- Der Rauch (smoke) → **rauchfrei** (smoke-free)
- Der Stress (stress) → **stressfrei** (stress-free)

![alkoholhaft - alcoholic
alkoholfrei - nonalcholic](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1a/04/1a0403d3-6352-4489-b286-d9de13f43972/content/images/fluenday-lingodeer/2024/08/38-2.png)

### **\-artig**

The suffix “-artig” indicates resemblance or similarity, akin to the English suffix “-like.”

Example:

- Der Traum (dream) → **traumartig** (dreamlike)

### **\-bar**

The suffix “-bar” signifies the potential or capability of the root word, similar to the English suffix “-able” or “-ible.”

Examples:

- essen (to eat) → **essbar** (edible)
- trinken (to drink) → **trinkbar** (drinkable)
- sehen (to see) → **sichtbar** (visible)

### **\-leer**

The suffix “-leer” denotes emptiness or the absence of the root word, similar to the English suffix “-less.”

Examples:

- Die Menschen (people) → **menschenleer** (deserted)
- Der Inhalt (content) → **inhaltsleer** (meaningless)

### **\-voll**

The suffix “-voll” indicates fullness or abundance of the root word, similar to the English suffix “-ful.”

Examples:

- Die Hoffnung (hope) → **hoffnungsvoll** (hopeful)
- Die Angst (fear) → **angstvoll** (fearful)
- Die Liebe (love) → **liebevoll** (loving)

## One Last Thing...

To become more confident with these suffixes, group the adjectives by ending and write a short example sentence for each pattern. Compare related nouns and adjectives where possible.