-ig

Adjective Suffix -y

Level 3

The suffix -ig is the Dutch equivalent of the English -y (as in sunny) or -ous (as in poisonous). It transforms a base word into a descriptive adjective.

How It Works

The suffix -ig is a highly productive tool in Dutch for creating adjectives. Here is how it works:

  • From Nouns: It indicates the presence of a substance or quality.
    Honger (hunger) → hongerig (hungry).
  • From Adjectives (Lessened Degree): When added to existing adjectives, especially those describing colors or tastes, it indicates a lessened degree of that quality, similar to the English suffix '-ish'.
    Zuur (sour) → zurig (sourish); Blauw (blue) → blauwig (bluish). For a more general '-ish' meaning, the suffix -achtig is more common.
  • From Adverbs and Prepositions: It can be attached to adverbs or prepositions to create adjectives describing a position or state.
    In (in) → inwendig (internal); Voor (before) → vorig (previous).
  • The Variant -erig: This variant is used with both verbs and nouns, often to indicate a 'messy', 'excessive', or 'tending toward' quality.
    Beven (to tremble) → beverig (shaky); Zand (sand) → zanderig (sandy).
  • Numerals: While the suffix for tens in counting is technically -tig (e.g., twintig, dertig), it follows the same pronunciation and spelling patterns as -ig.

Usage as Adverbs:
Like most Dutch adjectives, words ending in -ig can be used as an adjective as adverb without changing their form. For example: Hij kijkt hongerig naar de taart (He looks hungrily at the cake).

Spelling and Pronunciation:
1. Vowel and Consonant Changes: Because -ig starts with a vowel, it triggers spelling rules. Long vowels may lose a letter (e.g., nood → nodig) to stay long in an open syllable, while short vowels require a double consonant to stay short (e.g., grap → grappig).
2. Voicing: The suffix prevents final devoicing. While overvloed (abundance) ends in a 't' sound, overvloedig (abundant) is pronounced with a clear 'd' sound.
3. The Schwa and Stress: The suffix is pronounced as [əx] (a schwa followed by a 'g'). The suffix itself is never stressed. While the stress usually stays on the root, in compound words it may shift to the syllable immediately preceding the suffix (e.g., eenvoud → eenvoudig).

Examples (5)

  1. De wandelaar was erg dorstig na de lange tocht.

    The hiker was very thirsty after the long trek.

    Word by Word: The hiker was very thirsty after the long trek.

    Here, the noun 'dorst' (thirst) becomes the adjective 'dorstig' (thirsty).

  2. Zij voelt zich schuldig over het ongeluk.

    She feels guilty about the accident.

    Word by Word: She feels herself guilty over the accident.

    'Schuld' can mean debt or guilt; adding -ig creates the adjective 'guilty'.

  3. Het is vandaag een zonnige dag.

    It is a sunny day today.

    Word by Word: It is today a sunny day.

    Note that when the adjective is before a noun, it often takes an extra -e: 'zonnig' becomes 'zonnige'.

  4. De oude man heeft beverige handen.

    The old man has shaky hands.

    Word by Word: The old man has trembling hands.

    Derived from the verb 'beven' (to tremble/shake).

  5. Deze grond is erg zandig.

    This soil is very sandy.

    Word by Word: This ground is very sandy.

    A simple transformation from the noun 'zand' (sand).

Common Mistakes

  • Pronouncing the 'i' in -ig like the 'ee' in 'see' or omitting the 'g'.

    Hij is dorst-IEG.
    Hij is dorst-UG.

    In Dutch, the suffix -ig is pronounced as a neutral schwa sound followed by a soft 'g' [əx]. It is never pronounced like 'ee' and the 'g' is not silent.

  • Confusing -ig with -lijk in writing.

    Dat is makkelig.
    Dat is makkelijk.

    Because both -ig and -lijk are pronounced with a schwa, learners often swap them. 'Makkelijk' (easy) always uses -lijk.

How It Connects

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

-igLevel 3Adjective Suffix -y

Learn This First

To understand the suffix -ig, learners need to know how to apply basic spelling rules when attaching suffixes to stems and how to inflect the resulting adjectives.

Words in This Pattern

-ig