Suffixes -ful, -less, -ness and Their Meanings
Learn what suffixes ful, less and ness mean and how they change words. A fun word-building lesson for ages 7-9 with matching and word games.
Key takeaways
- A suffix is added to the end of a word to change its meaning
- -ful means full of, -less means without, -ness means the state of
- Knowing suffix meanings helps you understand new words
A helper at the end
A suffix is a little word part you add to the end of a word. It changes the word's meaning. ➖
Just like prefixes at the front, suffixes help you understand new words all by yourself!
-ful means "full of"
The suffix -ful means full of. 😀
- joy + ful = joyful (full of joy)
- help + ful = helpful (full of help) 🙌
- care + ful = careful (full of care)
- colour + ful = colourful (full of colour) 🌈
-less means "without"
The suffix -less means without. 🦁
- fear + less = fearless (without fear)
- hope + less = hopeless (without hope) 😞
- end + less = endless (without end)
- care + less = careless (without care)
See how careful and careless are opposites? One is full of care, one is without it! ↔️
-ness means "the state of"
The suffix -ness turns a describing word into a naming word. It means the state of being. 🤗
- kind + ness = kindness (being kind)
- dark + ness = darkness (being dark) 🌑
- happy → happi + ness = happiness (being happy) 😀
More handy suffixes
- -ly means in a way: quick + ly = quickly
- -able means can be: wash + able = washable
A suffix table
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ful | full of | joyful 😀 |
| -less | without | fearless 🦁 |
| -ness | the state of | kindness 🤗 |
| -ly | in a way | quickly ⚡ |
Try it
Add a suffix to make a new word:
- help + ___ = helpful (full of help) 🙌
- hope + ___ = hopeless (without hope) 😞
- dark + ___ = darkness (being dark) 🌑
Wonderful!
Now you can build words from the end. Spot these suffixes and you will understand even big, new words!
Next, try Prefixes and Suffixes and Dropping the e Before Suffixes.
Quick quiz
Test yourself and earn XP
What does the suffix -ful mean?
-ful means full of. Joyful means full of joy 😀.
What does 'fearless' mean?
-less means without, so fearless means without fear 🦁.
Which word means 'being kind'?
-ness means the state of, so kindness means being kind 🤗.
Play & learn
Match the suffix to its meaning +10 XP
Completed ✓ +10 XP
Match the new word to its meaning +10 XP
Completed ✓ +10 XP
FAQ
A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word that changes its meaning, like -ful, -less or -ness.
-less means without. For example, fearless means without fear.
Keep exploring
More in Learn to Read