Word
Formation
Noun compounds
German uses compounds more often than English
and they are formed by simply putting the two words
together (sometimes adding an -n or -s in between),
and using the gender of the last word. Die
Woche (week) + der Tag (day) = der Wochentag (Days of the week)
The prefix un-
As in English, the prefix un- gives a word a negative
or opposite meaning. klar (clear) - unklar
(unclear)
The suffix -los
This suffix is often the equivalent of the English
suffix -less, and is used to form adjectives and adverbs
from nouns. das Ende (the end) - endlos
(endless)
The suffix -haft
The suffix -haft is used to form adjectives from nouns
so as to designate related qualities. das
Kind (the child) - kindhaft (childlike)
The suffix -ung
This suffix may be added to the stem of a verb to
form a noun. All nouns ending in -ung are feminine.
wandern (to hike) - die Wanderung
(the hike)
The suffix -er
This suffix designates a person is from a certain
place. Frankfurt (a city) - Frankfurter
(a person from Frankfurt)
The suffix -in
This suffix designates a female person and is added
to the male counterpart. Architekt (male
architect) - Architektin (female architect)
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