-loos

The -loos Suffix

Level 4

Add -loos to a noun for without: kleur → kleurloos (colourless). Before a noun it is -lose: draadlose internet (wireless internet).

How It Works

1. Noun + -loos.

  • werk (work) → werkloos (unemployed)
  • kleur (colour) → kleurloos (colourless)
  • draad (wire) → draadloos (wireless)
  • tyd (time) → tydloos (timeless)
  • doel (goal) → doelloos (aimless), with two l's

2. With -e- before -loos. Some nouns already end in -e: einde → eindeloos (endless), moeite → moeiteloos (effortless). Others add an -e-: hoop → hopeloos (hopeless), hulp → hulpeloos (helpless), sorg → sorgeloos (carefree). The oo of hoop is written with one o because it now ends an open syllable. Which words add -e- must be learned one by one.

3. Before a noun: -lose. The adjective adds -e (see adjective + -e), and the long oo is written with one o in the open syllable (see open and closed syllables):

  • Die situasie is hopeloos. → 'n hopelose situasie
  • Hy is werkloos. → werklose mense

4. Nouns in -loosheid. Add -heid for the state: werkloosheid (unemployment).

Tip: You can say the same thing with sonder (without): sonder werk, sonder hoop. -loos packs it into one word.

Examples (6)

  1. Baie jongmense is werkloos.

    Many young people are unemployed.

    Word by Word: Many young-people are workless.

  2. Die hotel het gratis draadlose internet.

    The hotel has free wireless internet.

    Word by Word: The hotel has free wireless internet.

    Before a noun, draadloos becomes draadlose, with one o.

  3. Water is kleurloos en reukloos.

    Water is colourless and odourless.

    Word by Word: Water is colourless and smell-less.

  4. Ek voel heeltemal hulpeloos.

    I feel completely helpless.

    Word by Word: I feel completely helpless.

  5. Dit is 'n hopelose situasie.

    It's a hopeless situation.

    Word by Word: It is a hopeless situation.

  6. Die kinders het 'n sorgelose somer gehad.

    The children had a carefree summer.

    Word by Word: The children have a care-less summer had.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the -e before a noun.

    Dit is 'n hopeloos situasie.
    Dit is 'n hopelose situasie.

    Before a noun a -loos adjective adds -e: hopelose, werklose, draadlose.

  • Spelling -lose with two o's.

    Ons het draadloose internet.
    Ons het draadlose internet.

    In draadlose the o ends an open syllable, so the long vowel is written with one o.

  • Building hopeloos without its -e-.

    Die situasie is hooploos.
    Die situasie is hopeloos.

    Hoop takes an -e- before -loos, and the vowel is then written with one o: hopeloos.

How It Connects

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

-loosLevel 4The -loos Suffix

Learn This First

The suffix -loos makes adjectives meaning without, like -ig.