-kor

Tending to: -kor

Level 5

Add -kor to a verb stem: alda- (aldatu, to change) → aldakor (changeable). The noun it describes is the one that changes, forgets or dies easily: eguraldi aldakorra (changeable weather).

How It Works

1. Common -kor words.

  • ahazkor: forgetful (ahaztu)
  • aldakor: changeable (aldatu)
  • iraunkor: lasting, permanent, sustainable (iraun)
  • hilkor: mortal (hil); hilezkor: immortal
  • galkor: perishable (galdu)
  • sentikor: sensitive (sentitu)
  • ulerkor: understanding, sympathetic (ulertu)
  • emankor: fertile, productive (eman)
  • haserrekor: quick to get angry (haserretu)

2. From other words. baikor (optimistic) comes from bai (yes), and ezkor (pessimistic) from ez (no).

3. -kor or -garri? Many verbs take both, with opposite roles:

  • hilkor = can die; hilgarri = kills
  • ulerkor = understands others; ulergarri = can be understood

4. Using them. They work like any adjective: after the noun, with the article at the end (gaixotasun kutsakorra, a contagious illness), or as a predicate (Oso ahazkorra naiz.). They can also take -tasun: iraunkortasun (permanence, sustainability), aldakortasun (changeability).

Examples (6)

  1. Nire aitona oso ahazkorra da.

    My grandfather is very forgetful.

  2. Euskal Herriko eguraldia oso aldakorra da.

    The weather in the Basque Country is very changeable.

  3. Gizakiok hilkorrak gara.

    We humans are mortal.

  4. Gaixotasun hau oso kutsakorra da.

    This illness is very contagious.

  5. Garapen iraunkorra da gure helburua.

    Sustainable development is our goal.

  6. Beti oso baikorra izan zara.

    You have always been very optimistic.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding -kor to the participle.

    Eguraldi aldatukorra dugu gaur.
    Eguraldi aldakorra dugu gaur.

    -kor goes on the verb stem alda-, not on the participle aldatu.

  • Using -kor for something that causes the action.

    Gaixotasun hilkorra da: jende asko hiltzen du.
    Gaixotasun hilgarria da: jende asko hiltzen du.

    hilkor means "able to die". Something that kills is hilgarri.

  • Mixing up ulerkor and ulergarri.

    Azalpen hau oso ulerkorra da.
    Azalpen hau oso ulergarria da.

    If you mean "This explanation is very easy to understand", use ulergarri. ulerkor describes a person who understands others.

How It Connects

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

-korLevel 5Tending to: -kor

Learn This First

-kor follows the radical.