This collection presents 14 Suffixes that start with H, spanning from “-ham” to “-hydrate”. They include productive endings and older, borrowed forms used to make nouns, adjectives, and verbs.
Suffixes that start with H are bound morphemes that attach to roots to form new words or change word class. Many come from Old English or Latin, with familiar examples like “-hood” in “childhood”.
Below you’ll find the table with origin, meaning, and example words.
Origin: Shows the historical language or period the suffix comes from, helping you judge formality and usage.
Meaning: Summarizes the basic semantic contribution of the suffix in a short phrase you can scan quickly.
Example words: Provide two to four real words showing how the suffix is used, so you can test fit and tone.
Suffixes that start with H
| Suffix | Origin | Meaning | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| –hood | Old English (hād) | state, condition; collective group | productive |
| –head | Old English (heafod) | person characterized by; top or front part | derivational |
| –house | Old English (hūs) | building or place associated with X | productive |
| –ham | Old English (hām) | homestead, village (place-name element) | restricted |
| –hurst | Old English (hyrst) | wooded hill, grove (place-name element) | restricted |
| –holm | Old Norse (holmr) | islet, small island; low-lying land | restricted |
| –haven | Old English (hæfen) | harbor, safe place (place-name element) | restricted |
| –hold | Old English/Germanic | place of holding; possession | derivational |
| –holic | 20th-century English (back-formation from alcoholic) | addicted to; obsessive about | productive |
| –hedron | Greek via Latin/Neo-Latin | geometric solid, face-bearing shape | restricted |
| –hyde | Modern chemical nomenclature (19th c.) | compound containing an aldehyde group | restricted |
| –hydrate | Greek via Neo-Latin (hydor) | containing water (in compound) | restricted |
| –hawk | Old English (hafoc) used metaphorically | advocate/supporter of a policy | derivational |
| –hound | Old English (hund/hound) | one who pursues; dog-like | derivational |
Descriptions
–hood
A common noun-forming suffix meaning state or group. Widely used across levels of speech. Examples: childhood, neighborhood, likelihood, knighthood.
–head
Used to make nouns indicating persons or the top/leading part. Many fixed compounds; limited new coinages. Examples: blockhead, figurehead, drumhead, beachhead.
–house
Combines with nouns to name buildings or institutional spaces. Very productive in compounds. Examples: farmhouse, boathouse, statehouse, playhouse.
–ham
A bound toponymic element preserved in English place names. Not productive for new words. Examples: Birmingham, Nottingham, Gillingham, Fulham.
–hurst
Toponymic suffix in English place names, especially southern England. Rarely forms modern words. Examples: Lyndhurst, Sandhurst, Hurstpierpoint.
–holm
Nordic-derived place-name element found in British and Scandinavian toponyms; not productive in general vocabulary. Examples: Stockholm, Holm (placename), Greenholm.
–haven
Used in coastal place names and some compounds meaning haven or refuge. Mostly toponymic. Examples: Whitehaven, Newhaven, Longhaven.
–hold
Found in compounds relating to possession or fortress-like places; somewhat restricted. Examples: stronghold, freehold, household.
–holic
Modern colloquial combining form (often variant -aholic) forming humorous/critical agent nouns. Examples: chocoholic, workaholic, shopaholic.
–hedron
Specialized technical suffix in geometry and taxonomy for polyhedra and face-counting names. Examples: tetrahedron, dodecahedron, polyhedron.
–hyde
Chemical naming suffix from “aldehyde”; used in common names for aldehydes. Examples: formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, paraldehyde.
–hydrate
Scientific combining form for compounds including water of crystallization; technical usage. Examples: monohydrate, dihydrate, calcium chloride dihydrate.
–hawk
Productive in political and journalistic coinages; often hyphenated or closed. Examples: warhawk, deficit-hawk, budget-hawk.
–hound
Found in animal names and agentive compounds; largely lexicalized but attested as combining element. Examples: foxhound, bloodhound, greyhound