Here you’ll find 13 Suffixes that start with R, organized from “-r” to “-ry”. These bound endings commonly form nouns and adjectives and help writers, students, and ESL learners expand vocabulary.

Suffixes that start with R are bound endings you add to stems to form new words or change word class. Many trace back to Old English, French, or Latin, and examples like “-ry” show long-standing usage in nouns.

Below you’ll find the table with Origin, Meaning, and Example words.

Origin: Shows the language or historical period where the suffix comes from, so you understand its background.

Meaning: Gives a concise sense of the suffix’s function so you quickly see what it adds to base words.

Example words: Lists two to four words that show common uses, helping you spot patterns and real-world forms.

Suffixes that start with R

SuffixOriginMeaningExample words
rOld English/GermanicAgentive, comparative, nominalizerwriter, bigger, farmer
ryOld French/LatinPlace, collection, practice, quality, or conditionpoetry, bakery, bravery, cannery
ressOld French/LatinFeminine agent or roleactress, empress, poetess, waitress
rianLatinMember, follower, specialist, advocatelibrarian, vegetarian, centenarian, antiquarian
ricOld English/GermanicRealm, rule, domain; office or jurisdiction (historical)bishopric, archbishopric
rousLatin (via Old French)Full of; characterized bydangerous, odorous, glamorous, fibrous
rrheaGreekFlowing, discharge (medical)diarrhea, gonorrhea, menorrhea
rrheicGreekRelating to discharge/flow (adjectival)diarrheic, catarrheic
rrhagiaGreekExcessive flow or bleedingmenorrhagia, haemorrhagia (rare)
rrhageGreekBursting forth; hemorrhage/major flowhemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage (compound)
rrhaphyGreekSurgical suturing or repairherniorrhaphy, neurorrhaphy, tenorrhaphy
rrhexisGreekRupturemetrorrhexis, angiorrhexis
rhythmiaGreekCondition relating to heart or biological rhythmarrhythmia, bradyarrhythmia

Descriptions

r
Orthographic short form of -er; productive in English for comparatives and agent nouns (spoken/written alternant).
ry
Noun-forming suffix (often alternating with -ery/-ary); makes places, collectives, or abstract qualities; widely used.
ress
Feminine agentive suffix for female office/role nouns; common historically, increasingly avoided for gender-neutral language.
rian
Forms people associated with beliefs, professions, or groups; productive and transparent.
ric
Historical noun-forming element meaning realm or office; limited, formal/archaic in modern English.
rous
Adjective-forming suffix (from Latin -ōsus); very productive and neutral register.
rrhea
Medical combining form from Greek rheō “to flow”; specialized and highly productive in pathology.
rrheic
Adjectival form of -rrhea; technical medical usage; variant spellings occur.
rrhagia
Medical combining form for profuse bleeding; technical and specialist usage.
rrhage
Common English noun from Greek; used in medical contexts to name severe bleeding events.
rrhaphy
Surgical/medical suffix meaning suture or repair; specialized technical term.
rrhexis
Medical term meaning rupture; rare and technical, mostly in pathology literature.
rhythmia
Medical/technical combining form referring to rhythm disturbances; common in cardiology terminology.
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