Morphology Patterns
Understand how German words are built from prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Learn the meaning of common word parts and expand your vocabulary.
Prefixes
Word parts added before the root
Germanic origin, indicates completion or change of state. Appears multiple times.
Noun-forming prefix, Germanic origin.
Germanic, intensifying/state-indicating prefix
Germanic origin, intensifying prefix meaning 'high'.
Latin-derived, meaning 'under', 'below', indicates a subordinate aspect.
German, meaning 'federal'.
German prefix meaning 'development', derived from 'entwickeln'.
Germanic, though functions as part of the compound.
German, relating to a state/region; Genitive attribute
Germanic origin, indicates 'out of', 'from', or 'completely'
Germanic origin, reflexive pronoun/prefix meaning 'self-'
Greek origin, meaning 'distant'
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Roots
Core meaning-bearing word parts
Germanic origin, meaning 'speed'.
From 'schwinden' (to decrease), Germanic origin.
German, derived from Latin 'communicatio', meaning 'communication'.
Germanic, related to 'treiben' (to drive, operate)
German, meaning 'insurance', from 'versichern' (to insure).
Germanic origin, core meaning (water).
Germanic origin, core concept of speed.
Germanic, meaning 'economy'
Meaning 'water', Germanic origin.
German, ultimately from Old High German 'wissenshaft', related to 'wissen' (to know), meaning 'science'.
From 'Mittel' (means/medication), core meaning.
From Middle High German 'versichern', meaning 'to secure'. Noun base.
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Suffixes
Word parts added after the root
Genitive plural case marker.
Genitive plural marker.
Forms a noun, indicating action or result. Germanic origin.
Genitive singular ending.
Plural marker
Germanic nominalizing suffix, forming a noun.
Plural ending.
Genitive case ending
Genitive plural marker
German, feminine plural inflectional ending for professions.
Meaning 'company', Middle High German origin 'geselschaft'.
German, meaning 'societies/companies', plural form of 'Gesellschaft'
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