Learning Suffixes - The suffix "-hood"

August 14, 2025

The suffix "-hood" is used in English to indicate a state, condition, or quality, or to denote a group of people who share a particular characteristic. It essentially transforms a word into a noun referring to either the abstract state described by the root word or a community sharing that state.

Here's a breakdown:

1. State, Condition, or Quality:

The suffix "-hood" can be added to nouns to express a state of being or a period of time.

Examples include:
- childhood: The state or period of being a child.
- adulthood: The state of being an adult.
- falsehood: The state of being false or a lie.
- likelihood: The state of being likely.
- widowhood: The state of being a widow or widower.
- hardihood: The quality of being hardy or brave.

2. Group of People:

"-hood" can also be used to denote a group of people who share a particular characteristic or are part of a specific community.

Examples include:
- brotherhood: A group of men who share a close bond.
- sisterhood: A group of women who share a close bond.
- priesthood: The body of people ordained for religious duties.
- neighborhood: A group of people living in the same area.
- kinship: The state of being related.

Origin:

The suffix "-hood" comes from Old English "-hād," which originally functioned as an independent noun meaning "person, condition, or quality," according to the Dictionary of Affixes.
It's related to the Old High German suffix "-heit," which also signifies a state or condition.

In essence, "-hood" adds a layer of meaning to a word, indicating either the state or condition described by the root word or the community associated with it.

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