German Words Ending in -er121

The suffix -er is one of the most common in the German language. It can be used to form nouns, verbs, and adjectives. In this article, we will take a closer look at each of these uses.

Nouns

The suffix -er can be used to form nouns from verbs. These nouns typically refer to the person or thing that performs the action of the verb. For example, the noun Lehrer (teacher) is formed from the verb lehren (to teach). Other examples of nouns formed with the suffix -er include:
Schüler (student) - from schulen (to educate)
Arbeiter (worker) - from arbeiten (to work)
Fahrer (driver) - from fahren (to drive)
Sänger (singer) - from singen (to sing)
Tänzer (dancer) - from tanzen (to dance)

The suffix -er can also be used to form nouns from adjectives. These nouns typically refer to the quality or characteristic expressed by the adjective. For example, the noun Schönheit (beauty) is formed from the adjective schön (beautiful). Other examples of nouns formed with the suffix -er include:
Größe (size) - from groß (large)
Stärke (strength) - from stark (strong)
Schnelligkeit (speed) - from schnell (fast)
Freundlichkeit (friendliness) - from freundlich (friendly)
Intelligenz (intelligence) - from intelligent (intelligent)

Verbs

The suffix -er can be used to form verbs from nouns. These verbs typically mean "to make" or "to become" something. For example, the verb erhitzen (to heat) is formed from the noun Hitze (heat). Other examples of verbs formed with the suffix -er include:
ermüden (to tire) - from Müdigkeit (tiredness)
erfreuen (to please) - from Freude (joy)
erschrecken (to frighten) - from Schrecken (fear)
erstaunen (to surprise) - from Staunen (amazement)
erwachen (to wake up) - from Wachen (wakefulness)

Adjectives

The suffix -er can be used to form adjectives from nouns. These adjectives typically mean "having" or "full of" something. For example, the adjective glücklich (happy) is formed from the noun Glück (happiness). Other examples of adjectives formed with the suffix -er include:
müde (tired) - from Müdigkeit (tiredness)
froh (happy) - from Freude (joy)
ängstlich (anxious) - from Angst (fear)
überrascht (surprised) - from Staunen (amazement)
wach (awake) - from Wachen (wakefulness)

Conclusion

The suffix -er is a versatile tool that can be used to form nouns, verbs, and adjectives in the German language. By understanding how this suffix is used, you can expand your vocabulary and improve your ability to communicate in German.

2025-01-02

Previous：German Word Translations

Next：German Words for European Concepts: A Linguistic and Cultural Exploration