Suffixes in Hebrew


There are several suffixes in Hebrew that are appended to regular words to introduce a new meaning. Suffixes are used in the Hebrew language to form plurals of nouns and adjectives, in verb conjugation of grammatical tense, and to indicate possession and direct objects. They are also used for the construct noun form. The letters which form these suffixes are called "formative letters".

Gender and number

Due to noun-adjective agreement rules, these apply to nouns and to adjectival modifiers. In some cases, a masculine plural noun will have a feminine plural suffix and vice versa, but the adjectival modifiers are always the same.
SuffixMeaningExamples
feminine singular
  • susa
  • susa tova
masculine plural
  • susim
  • susim tovim
  • feminine plural
  • susot
  • susot tovot
  • masculine and feminine noun dual form
  • yadayim
  • Construct state

    Pronominal suffixes

    Singular nouns

    Plural nouns

    Conjugation of verbs

    Qal Perfect

    Imperfect

    Imperative

    Derivative

    Diminutive

    Abstract nouns

    Collective nouns

    Loanwords

    These suffixes often come from loanwords from English which are especially prevalent with technical and academic terms.
    SuffixOriginHebrewMeaningExamples
    -graphyLadino- -grafyafield of study; writing
    • geografya geography
    • qaligrafya calligraphy
    -ic/-icalBiblical Hebrew/ Englishִ- iof or pertaining to
  • nostalgi nostalgic
  • politi political
  • miti mythic
  • molequlari molecular
  • qavi linear
  • -ian/-an/-ishBiblical Hebrew/ Englishִ- ibelonging to
  • rusi Russian
  • utopi utopian
  • germani German
  • briti British
  • politiqai politician
  • qomiqai comedian
  • -ismEnglish- -izmmovement; discriminatory belief
  • liberalizm liberalism
  • seqsizm sexism
  • -kinesisGreek- -qinezismovement, motion
  • teleqinezis telekinesis
  • psikhoqinezis psychokinesis
  • -logy Ladino- -logyabranch of learning
  • biyologya biology
  • trilogya trilogy
  • -maniaGreek- -manyaobsession
  • piromanya pyromania
  • qleptomanya kleptomania
  • -maniacEnglish- -manperson with obsession
  • piroman pyromaniac
  • qleptoman kleptomaniac
  • -oidEnglish- -oidsimilar, but not the same
  • android android
  • humanoid humanoid
  • -onymEnglish- -onimname
  • eponim eponym
  • hetronim heteronym
  • -scopeEnglish- -sqopinstrument for viewing
  • telesqop telescope
  • miqrosqop microscope
  • -esqueFrench- -esqaresembling
  • burlesqa burlesque
  • humoresqa humoresque
  • grotesqi grotesque
  • -yLadino- -yahaving the quality of
  • qomedya comedy
  • historya history
  • filosofya philosophy
  • -meterEnglish- -metermeasuring device;units of measure
    • barometer barometer
    • qilometer kilometer
    -nikYiddish/Russian- nikone connected with
  • moshavniq moshav member/resident
  • nudniq bothersome person