-ig

The -ig Suffix

Level 3

-ig means having or full of: son → sonnig (sunny). Before a noun: 'n sonnige dag.

How It Works

1. Noun + -ig.

  • son → sonnig (sunny)
  • geluk → gelukkig (happy, lucky)
  • vuur → vurig (fiery, passionate)
  • krag → kragtig (powerful)
  • rus → rustig (calm, peaceful)
  • lus → lustig (cheerful, lively)

2. Spelling. The syllable rules apply: a consonant after a short stressed vowel doubles (sonnig, gelukkig), and a double vowel becomes single (vurig). A few words insert t instead: kragtig, rustig, lustig, magtig (mighty). Learn these as words.

3. Words you just learn. Some common adjectives end in -ig without a clear base: nodig (needed), besig (busy), vinnig (fast), veilig (safe).

4. Before a noun: -ige. -ig adjectives add -e before a noun (see when adjectives take -e), and the g stays single: 'n sonnige dag, 'n gelukkige kind, 'n vinnige motor. After is there is no -e: Die dag is sonnig.

5. Do not confuse -erig. A related ending, -erig, softens an adjective like English -ish: rooi → rooierig (reddish), soet → soeterig (sweetish).

6. Opposites and nouns. Many -ig adjectives take on- for the opposite (ongelukkig) and -heid for a noun (veiligheid). The suffix -loos means the opposite of having: kragteloos (powerless).

Examples (6)

  1. Dit is 'n sonnige dag.

    It's a sunny day.

    Word by Word: It is a sunny day.

  2. Ek is baie gelukkig hier.

    I'm very happy here.

    Word by Word: I am very happy here.

  3. Die motor het 'n kragtige enjin.

    The car has a powerful engine.

    Word by Word: The car has a powerful engine.

  4. Dit is lekker rustig by die see.

    It's nice and peaceful at the sea.

    Word by Word: It is nicely peaceful by the sea.

  5. Hy het 'n vurige toespraak gelewer.

    He gave a fiery speech.

    Word by Word: He has a fiery speech delivered.

  6. Is dit nodig om vroeg te kom?

    Is it necessary to come early?

    Word by Word: Is it necessary for early to come?

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to double the consonant after a short stressed vowel.

    Dit is sonig vandag.
    Dit is sonnig vandag.

    The o in son is short and stressed, so the n doubles before -ig: sonnig.

  • Leaving out the -e before a noun.

    Sy is 'n gelukkig kind.
    Sy is 'n gelukkige kind.

    An -ig adjective takes -e when it stands before a noun.

  • Doubling the g before -e.

    Dit was 'n sonnigge dag.
    Dit was 'n sonnige dag.

    The -ig ending is unstressed, so its g stays single: sonnige.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-igLevel 3The -ig Suffix

Learn This First

The suffix -ig forms an adjective whose stem spelling and following -e need separate foundations.