Size and Quality

Esperanto Word-Building

Chapter 5 · Size, Quality and Degree

📏 Size, Quality and Degree — Grando kaj eco

Eight suffixes adjust a word without changing what it is about. Three change the degree (-et- smaller, -eg- larger, -aĉ- worse), one makes a quality into a noun (-ec-), and one gives a tendency (-em-). The last three, -ind-, -ebl- and -end-, are the passive trio: worth doing, can be done, must be done.

The idea in a box The degree suffixes change how big, strong or good a thing is. The last five say what kind of quality or tendency it has. Each acts on the root before it, and the final ending sets the part of speech.

Degree: -et-, -eg-, -aĉ-

Suffix	Meaning (ReVo)	Examples
-et-	a noticeably low degree of size or intensity	monteto small hill, seĝeto small chair, verdeta greenish
-eg-	a very high degree of size or intensity	pluvego downpour, belega very beautiful, pordego large gate, kriegi to shout loudly
-aĉ-	contemptuous: bad quality, unsuitable, ugly	domaĉo shabby house, ĉevalaĉo nag, babilaĉi to chatter foolishly

These are not "small" and "very" ReVo stresses that -eg- is not a simple substitute for "big" or "very". It often makes a word with its own meaning: pluvego is a downpour, ventego a gale, pafilego an artillery piece. For plain "big" and "very", use granda and tre. Likewise -et- often narrows a meaning: seĝeto is a small chair, a stool.

Affection with -et-, and a slang twist ReVo notes that -et- is often used affectionately, as in patreto, though -ĉj- or -nj- (Chapter 4) would be more precise. And malaĉa is an exception to the contemptuous sense: since the late 2010s, ReVo says, it has been youth slang for "cool", linked to a popular song of that title. A learner reading a text should expect aĉa (bad, nasty) in most places, with malaĉa as the slang exception.

Quality and tendency: -ec-, -em-

Suffix	Meaning (ReVo)	Examples
-ec-	the abstract quality or state	boneco goodness, beleco beauty, certeco certainty
-em-	inclination or tendency	laborema hardworking, malsanema prone to illness, ŝparema thrifty

ReVo gives -em- three senses: a wish that drives the tendency (laborema), a natural or acquired tendency (malsanema), and a capacity to produce an effect (brulema, flammable). It adds two small distinctions:

With -a or -ec- the tendency is lasting: ŝparema, kredemeco (credulity).
With -o it is passing: dormemo (sleepiness), vomemo (nausea).

Replacing -em- with -am- softens the sense of will: verama (truthful), gastama (hospitable).

The passive trio: -ind-, -ebl-, -end-

All three are used with transitive verb roots and give a passive sense. They differ in what they claim:

Suffix	Claim	Examples (ReVo)
-ind-	deserves it, is worth it	laŭdinda praiseworthy, leginda worth reading, memorinda memorable
-ebl-	can be done, is suitable for it	manĝebla edible, nealirebla inaccessible, nememorebla unforgettable
-end-	must be done	uzenda to be used, rekonsiderenda in need of reconsidering, forigenda to be removed

Put them on one root and the difference is clear. With leg- (read): leginda is worth reading, legebla can be read (legible), and legenda is to be read (a must). ReVo warns against confusing legenda ("to be read") with legenda (legendary, from the root legend-): the same spelling, different words, so context decides.

Does -ind- mean "must"? ReVo says -ind- does not itself express obligation, although in its passive sense it can come close, as in kaŝinda (to be hidden). -end-, which ReVo calls a non-fundamental suffix whose only sense is obligation, is the clearer choice when you mean "must".

Stacking

These suffixes combine. kredemeco is kred + em + ec + o: believe + tendency + quality + noun, which is credulity. Reverse the middle and you get nonsense, so keep the order the meaning needs.

📖 A Short Text — Mallonga teksto

Find each suffix and say what it adds.

La filmo

Hieraŭ mi vidis belegan filmon. La muziko estis tre bela, kaj la fino estis memorinda. Tiu filmo estas vere vidinda!

Show a translation

Yesterday I saw a wonderful film. The music was very beautiful, and the ending was memorable. That film is really worth seeing!

✏️ Try It Yourself — Ekzercoj

Say the answer first, then click to check.

1. Which suffix means a very high degree, and which a noticeably low one?

Show answer

-eg- is very high; -et- is low.

2. Build: a small chair; a large gate; a heavy downpour.

Show answer

seĝeto, pordego, pluvego.

3. Why is pluvego not just "more rain"?

Show answer

Because ReVo says -eg- often creates a word with its own sense, not just a bigger version: pluvego is a downpour. For plain intensity use tre.

4. What does -aĉ- add to domo, and what does malaĉa mean in today's slang?

Show answer

domaĉo is a shabby, ugly house. malaĉa is slang for "cool", according to ReVo.

5. Make the quality noun from bela, bona, certa.

Show answer

beleco, boneco, certeco.

6. Explain the difference between dormema and dormemo.

Show answer

ReVo: with -a, -em- suggests a lasting tendency (a sleepy type); with -o a passing one (dormemo, drowsiness).

7. Take apart kredemeco and say what it means.

Show answer

kred + em + ec + o: credulity.

8. Which suffix would you use in each, with leg-: "worth reading", "can be read", "must be read"?

Show answer

leginda (-ind-), legebla (-ebl-), legenda (-end-).

9. A sign says Manĝebla next to a plant. Is it recommended or merely safe?

Show answer

It says it can be eaten (-ebl-), that is, it is edible. For "worth eating" you would use -ind-.

10. Write one sentence recommending a book or film, using -ind- and one other suffix from this chapter.

Show answer

One possibility: Tiu libro estas belega kaj leginda. (That book is wonderful and worth reading.)

Words used in this chapter

monteto small hill · pluvego downpour · domaĉo shabby house · boneco goodness · laborema hardworking · dormemo sleepiness · leginda worth reading · manĝebla edible · uzenda to be used · filmo film · muziko music · fino end

Coming up in Chapter 6: Tools and Actions. The suffixes -il-, -ad-, -ig- and -iĝ-.