Word Formation (Wortbildung)
Explicação
In the reading paper you will meet words you have never seen. You cannot open a dictionary — but you can take the word apart.
German builds meaning from parts: stem + suffix sets the word class and sense; prefix modifies the verb.
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ung | action → result | lösen → die Lösung |
| -heit / -keit | abstract quality | frei → die Freiheit |
| -bar | can be done | lösen → lösbar |
| -los | without | Arbeit → arbeitslos |
Verbal prefixes
ver- transformation or error · zer- destruction · be- makes transitive
Compounds
The last element sets the gender: das Krankenhaus, der Handschuh.
⚠️ Watch out
✗ Treating essbar and köstlich as synonyms
✓ essbar = edible · köstlich = delicious
-bar means the action is possible; -lich means the thing has that nature.
🧠 Last part sets the gender. -bar = can be done · -los = without · zer- = destroys · ver- = transforms.
Exemplos
Die Lösung des Problems war einfacher als erwartet.
The solution to the problem was simpler than expected.
Das ist leider nicht lösbar.
Unfortunately that cannot be solved.
Nach langer Arbeitslosigkeit fand er endlich eine Stelle.
After long unemployment he finally found a job.
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