-skap

The -skap Suffix

Level 4

Add -skap to make a noun for a relationship, role or group, often like English -ship: vriend → vriendskap (friendship).

How It Works

1. Relationships and roles. The most common use is with a noun for a person:

  • vriend (friend) → vriendskap (friendship)
  • leier (leader) → leierskap (leadership)
  • moeder (mother) → moederskap (motherhood)
  • eienaar (owner) → eienaarskap (ownership)
  • lidmaat (member) → lidmaatskap (membership)
  • burger (citizen) → burgerskap (citizenship)

2. Groups and fields. Some -skap nouns name a group or a whole area: gemeenskap (community), wetenskap (science, related to weet, know), gereedskap (tools), landskap (landscape).

3. Words to learn whole. A few everyday words hide the suffix: boodskap (message), blydskap (joy).

4. Plural -skappe. The short a needs a double p before the plural ending (see plural spelling changes): vriendskappe, gemeenskappe, boodskappe.

5. -skap or -heid? -skap mostly attaches to nouns. To name a quality from an adjective, use -heid: vry (free) → vryheid (freedom).

6. In compounds. A -skap noun usually takes a linking s when it is the first part of a compound (see linking letters): gemeenskapsdiens (community service), leierskapskwessie (leadership issue). A few set words go without it, such as wetenskapfiksie (science fiction).

Examples (6)

  1. Ons vriendskap is vir my baie belangrik.

    Our friendship is very important to me.

    Word by Word: Our friendship is for me very important.

  2. Sy werk vir die plaaslike gemeenskap.

    She works for the local community.

    Word by Word: She works for the local community.

  3. Wetenskap was my gunstelingvak op skool.

    Science was my favourite subject at school.

    Word by Word: Science was my favourite-subject at school.

  4. Hoeveel kos die lidmaatskap van die klub?

    How much does membership of the club cost?

    Word by Word: How-much costs the membership of the club?

  5. Ek het drie boodskappe van jou gekry.

    I got three messages from you.

    Word by Word: I have three messages from you got.

    The plural of -skap is -skappe, with a double p.

  6. Die span het goeie leierskap nodig.

    The team needs good leadership.

    Word by Word: The team has good leadership needed.

Common Mistakes

  • Making the plural with -s.

    Ek het drie boodskaps gekry.
    Ek het drie boodskappe gekry.

    Nouns in -skap take the plural -e, and the short a needs a double p: boodskappe, vriendskappe, gemeenskappe.

  • Using -skap to name a quality from an adjective.

    Die mense veg vir vryskap.
    Die mense veg vir vryheid.

    -skap mostly attaches to nouns such as vriend and leier. A quality from an adjective usually takes -heid: vry → vryheid.

How It Connects

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

-skapLevel 4The -skap Suffix

Learn This First

The suffix -skap makes nouns, like -heid.

Words in This Pattern

-skap