Suffix: schaft

schaft:

A Common German Noun Suffix

The German suffix -schaft is used to form nouns and is similar to the English suffixes -ship or -hood. It often denotes a state, condition, or collective group.

The German suffix “-schaft” is a versatile tool that can be used to create nouns from various word stems, primarily adjectives and verbs. It typically conveys the idea of a state, quality, group, or association.

Formation of Words with -schaft

Words that use the suffix -schaft are typically formed by adding -schaft to a base noun or adjective. This transforms the base word into a noun that represents a state, quality, or collective group associated with the base word.

Here’s a breakdown of how words using “-schaft” are formed:

Adjective + -schaft:

Alt (old) becomes Alterschaft (old age)

This pattern is commonly used to form nouns describing states or qualities.

Verb stem + -schaft:

Lieben (to love) becomes Liebeschaft (love affair)

This pattern is often used to form nouns related to actions, relationships, or associations.

Noun stem + -schaft:

Freund (friend) becomes Freundschaft (friendship)

This pattern is less common but can still be used to create nouns, especially when the noun refers to a group or association.

Key points to remember:

The suffix “-schaft” is typically used to form feminine nouns.
The meaning of the resulting noun depends on the context and the specific word stem used.
The suffix can be combined with other suffixes, such as “-lich” or “-los,” to create more complex words.

Examples of Words with -schaft

These examples illustrate how the suffix -schaft can be used to create nouns that describe various states, qualities, or groups, enriching the German language with nuanced meanings.

Freundschaft (friendship)

Ihre Freundschaft hat viele Jahre überdauert.
(Their friendship has lasted many years.)
Ihre Freundschaft hat viele Jahre überdauert.
(Their friendship has lasted many years.)
Die Freundschaft zwischen den beiden Ländern ist stark.
(The friendship between the two countries is strong.)
Er schätzt die Freundschaft mit seinen Kollegen sehr.
(He greatly values the friendship with his colleagues.)
Freundschaft ist eine der wichtigsten Beziehungen im Leben.
(Friendship is one of the most important relationships in life.)
Sie haben ihre Freundschaft durch dick und dünn bewahrt.
(They have maintained their friendship through thick and thin.)

Gesellschaft (society, company)

Die Gesellschaft hat sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten stark verändert.
(Society has changed significantly in recent decades.)
Die Gesellschaft verändert sich ständig.
(Society is constantly changing.)

Wissenschaft (science)
Die Wissenschaft hat große Fortschritte gemacht.
(Science has made great progress.)

Elternschaft (parenthood)
Die Elternschaft bringt viele Herausforderungen mit sich.
(Parenthood brings many challenges.)

Leidenschaft (passion)
Seine Leidenschaft für Musik ist unübertroffen.
(His passion for music is unmatched.)

Gemeinschaft (community)
Die Gemeinschaft hat zusammengearbeitet, um das Problem zu lösen.
(The community worked together to solve the problem.)

Landschaft (landscape)
Die Landschaft hier ist atemberaubend.
(The landscape here is breathtaking.)

Eigenschaft (characteristic, property)
Geduld ist eine wichtige Eigenschaft eines Lehrers.
(Patience is an important characteristic of a teacher.)

Mannschaft (team)
Die Mannschaft hat das Spiel gewonnen.
(The team won the game.)

Staatsbürgerschaft (citizenship)
Er hat die deutsche Staatsbürgerschaft beantragt.
(He applied for German citizenship.)

Freundlichkeit (friendliness)
Ihre Freundlichkeit wird von allen geschätzt.
(Her friendliness is appreciated by everyone.)

The suffix -ung is used to form nouns from verbs, typically indicating the action or the result of the action. These nouns are always feminine and often describe processes or states.

NOUN –> SUFFIX