Suffixes

A suffix is an affix which is placed at the end of a compound word modifying the meaning of the word as a whole or indicating grammatical properties such as case, gender, or number.
The most common suffixes are the Latin word endings: -us, -a, and -um, representing gender – masculine, feminine, and neuter.

The table below lists some of the more frequently encountered suffixes along with examples of names featuring them.

See also Eponyms.

Suffix

Language

Meaning

Species

Common name

-aceus -a -um

Latin

indicates resemblance

Acanthurus olivaceus

Orangespot surgeonfish

-alis

Latin

of or pertaining to

Meiacanthus atrodorsalis

Forktail blenny

-arius -a -um

Latin

connected to or possessed by

Serranus tabacarius

Tobaccofish

-aris

Latin

of or pertaining to (after stems ending in l)

Gobiodon acicularis

Needlespine coral goby

-ascens

Latin

indicates process of becoming

Cypho purpurascens

Oblique-lined dottyback

-atus -a -um

Latin

like, similar to

Istigobius decoratus

Decorated goby

-ella

Latin

diminutive suffix

Dascyllus albisella

Hawaiian dascyllus

-ensis

Latin

of, from (a place)

Pteroidichthys amboinensis

Ambon scorpionfish

-escens

Latin

becoming, turning to

Zebrasoma flavescens

Yellow tang

-etta

Italian

diminutive suffix

Koumansetta rainfordi

Old glory

-eus -a -um

Latin

indicates resemblance in colour or material

Parablennius marmoreus

Seaweed blenny

-icans

Latin

indicates process of becoming or resembling

Hypoplectrus nigricans

Black hamlet

-icus

Latin

belonging to

Parupeneus indicus

Indian goatfish

-ineus -a -um

Latin

indicates material or colour

Antennatus coccineus

Scarlet frogfish

-inus -a -um

Latin

indicates possession or resemblance

Serranus tigrinus

Harlequin bass

-iosa

Latin

most, very

Lotilia graciliosa

Whitecap goby

-issimus -a -um

Latin

superlative suffix, most, very

Centropyge flavissima

Lemonpeel angelfish

-oides, -oideus -a -um, -odes

Greek

similar to, resembling

Bodianus anthioides

Lyretail hogfish

-ops, -opsis

Greek

appearance

Centropyge acanthops

Orangeback angelfish

-osus -a -um

Latin

indicating quantity or size

Synanceia verrucosa

Stonefish

-otus -a -um

Latin

indicates resemblance or possession

Acreichthys tomentosus

Bristle-tail file-fish

-utus -a -um

Latin

indicates possession

Lactoria cornuta

Longhorn cowfish