ABSTRACT
PREFIXES are most often used to create NOUNS from nouns, ADJECTIVES from adjectives, and VERBS from nouns, adjectives or other verbs:
prefixes der Instinkt instinct → der Urinstinkt original instinct interessant interesting → uninteressant uninteresting stören disturb → zerstören destroy groß big, large → vergrößern enlarge
SUFFIXES are most often used to create NOUNS from adjectives or verbs, and ADJECTIVES from nouns or verbs. They are less common in forming verbs:
by changing a vowel
Umlaut occurs very often in word formation, sometimes in combination with a SUFFIX:
Other vowel changes in word formation relate to the changes in the tenses of strong verbs. They are usually found with the ROOTS of STRONG VERBS, sometimes with a SUFFIX as well:
by compounding
Compounding involves putting two (or more) words together to form a new word. It is most commonly used to form NOUNS, but there are compound adjectives and verbs, too:
suffixes krank ill → die Krankheit illness bedeuten mean → die Bedeutung meaning der Freund friend → freundlich friendly denken think → denkbar thinkable das Ideal ideal → idealisieren idealize
der Arzt doctor → die Ärztin woman doctor der Bart beard → bärtig bearded der Druck pressure → drücken press scharf sharp → schärfen sharpen
strong verb vowel changes beißen bite → der Biss bite
→ bissig biting, vicious binden bind, tie → das Band ribbon, bond
→ das Bündnis alliance schwingen swing → der Schwung swing, impetus
→ schwungvoll spirited
compounding der Staub saugen dust suck → der Staubsauger vacuum cleaner der Rat das Haus council house → das Rathaus town hall hell blau light blue → hellblau light blue die Brust schwimmen breast swim → brustschwimmen do breast-stroke
11.2 The formation of nouns PREFIXES used to form nouns usually narrow down the meaning of the root noun in some
way:
Many other ‘augmentative’ prefixes are common in colloquial German, indicating that something is huge, enormous or important, often excessively so, e.g. Affengeschwindigkeit, Bombengeschäft, Heidenlärm, Höllendurst, Mordsapparat, Spitzenbelastung, Superhit, Teufelskerl, Topmanager.
