Suffixes of Russian Nouns

The essential parts of most Russian nouns are the root, the suffix, and the ending. A suffix is usually a group of letters which goes at the end of a word and carries a new meaning or grammatical properties. For example, the suffix -изм (-ism) added to the word капитал (capital) turns it into an abstract noun капитализм (capitalism) in both Russian and English. You can get a better understanding of nouns in the Russian language by paying close attention to their suffixes. The tables below sum up the most common suffixes and their roles in formation of Russian nouns.

Note that some masculine nouns may not have feminine forms. In such cases the masculine nouns are used for both males and females, for example Он – космонавт (He's a spaceman) and Она – космонавт (She's a spacewoman).

1. Russian suffixes that form nouns designating
occupations, trades and professions

SUFFIXES (m) - masculine (f) - feminine	Examples of Russian nouns		Translation
SUFFIXES (m) - masculine (f) - feminine	masculine	feminine	Translation
-тель (m) -тельница (f)	учитель, писатель ---------- строитель	учительница, писательница ---------- no feminine form	a teacher, a writer ---------- a constructor
-ник (m) -ница (f)	ученик, художник ---------- дворник	ученица, художница ---------- no feminine form	a student a artist ---------- a wiper
-чик (m) -чица (f)	лётчик, переводчик	лётчица, переводчица	a pilot, a translator
-ик (m)	математик, историк	feminine forms not used	a mathematician, a historian

2. Russian suffixes that form nouns designating people of various
societies, nationalities, residencies and occupations

SUFFIXES (m) - masculine (f) - feminine	Examples of Russian nouns		Translation
SUFFIXES (m) - masculine (f) - feminine	masculine	feminine	Translation
-ец (m) -ка (f)	австриец американец	австрийка американка	an Austrian an American
-ин (m) -ка (f)	болгарин	болгарка	a Bulgarian
-анин (m) -янин (m) -анка (f) -янка (f)	гражданин египтянин	гражданка египтянка	a citizen an Egyptian
-ист (m) -истка (f)	гитарист	гитаристка	a guitarist
-тор (m) -атор (m)	автор оратор	-	an author an orator
-ка (f)	-	студентка	a student

3. Russian suffixes that form nouns designating
ideas and concepts

SUFFIXES (m) - masculine (f) - feminine (n) - neuter	Examples of Russian nouns			Translation
SUFFIXES (m) - masculine (f) - feminine (n) - neuter	masculine	feminine	neuter	Translation
-изм (m)	героизм капитализм	-	-	heroism capitalism
-ость (f)	-	гордость честность	-	pride honesty
-ция (f)	-	лекция акция	-	lecture action
-ство (n)	-	-	общество чувство	society feeling
-ани, -ание (n) -ни, -ние (n) -ени, -ение (n)	-	-	понимание движение сочинение	understanding movement composition

4. Russian suffixes that form
diminutive nouns and pet names

SUFFIXES (m) - masculine (f) - feminine	Examples of Russian nouns		Translation
SUFFIXES (m) - masculine (f) - feminine	masculine	feminine	Translation
-ик -чик -ок -ек	братик диванчик листок сыночек	-	a little brother a small sofa a small leaf a son
-ка -ичка -ечка	-	мышка водичка Танечка	a little mouse water pet name for Tatyana

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