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French · Vocabulary · A2 to C1

French word formation: -tion, -ment, re- and words you can guess

Add an ending · pick one
-tionMakes a feminine noun from a verb, like English -tion.

Short answer: French builds words from a root plus prefixes (at the start) and suffixes (at the end). Many match English exactly: -tion (la nation), -ité = -ity (l’université), -ment = -ly (rapidement), -eux = -ous (délicieux). Re- means again (refaire), dé- or dés- reverses (défaire, undo). Suffixes also fix the gender: -tion and -ité are feminine, -ment and -age nouns are masculine.

The ending tells you the gender

La nation, le village

la · femininele · masculine -tion-ité-ure-ence-ment-age-isme-eau la nation, la qualité, la culturele moment, le village, le tourisme
A reliable shortcut. Exceptions exist (la plage, l’eau is feminine), but these endings are right most of the time.
Prefixes

Re-, dé-, in-, pré-

re- / ré-again, backfaire → refaire · venir → revenir
JeIrelisre-readla lettre.the letter
zhuh ruh-LEE la LETR · “I’m rereading the letter.”Why: re- before a consonant, ré- or r- before a vowel: réécrire, rentrer.
dé- / dés-undo, oppositefaire → défaire · agréable → désagréable
JeIdéfaisundoma valise.my suitcase
zhuh day-FAY ma va-LEEZ · “I’m unpacking my suitcase.”Why: dés- before a vowel: désordre (disorder).
in- / im- / il- / ir-notpossible → impossible · légal → illégal
C’estit-isillégal.illegal
say tee-lay-GAL · “It’s illegal.”Why: The n changes to match the next letter, as in English.
pré-beforevoir → prévoir · venir → prévenir
Il fautit is-neededprévoirto-plan-forla pluie.the rain
eel FOH pray-VWAR la PLWEE · “You need to allow for rain.”Why: prévoir = to foresee, to plan for. prévenir = to warn.
The person and the place

Boulanger, boulangère, boulangerie

Trades often come in threes: the man, the woman and the shop. -ier / -er becomes -ière / -ère for a woman; the shop takes -erie.

ProductHeSheShop
le painle boulangerla boulangèrela boulangerie · bakery
la viandele boucherla bouchèrela boucherie · butcher’s
le laitle laitierla laitièrela laiterie · dairy
le pâtéle pâtissierla pâtissièrela pâtisserie · cake shop
le livrele librairela librairela librairie · bookshop
Putting it together

Read a word you’ve never seen

in + oubli + able
C’estit-isinoubliable.unforgettable
say tee-noo-blee-ABL · “It’s unforgettable.”Why: in (not) + oublier (forget) + able (can be).
dés + espoir
Quelwhatdésespoir !despair
kel day-zes-PWAR · “What despair!”Why: dés (un-) + espoir (hope) = hopelessness.
re + trouv + ailles
Lestheretrouvaillesreunion
lay ruh-troo-VAI · “the reunion”Why: re (again) + trouver (find) + -ailles (a collective ending): finding each other again.
im + prévu
unanimprévuunforeseen-event
an nan-pray-VÜ · “something unexpected”Why: im (not) + prévu (foreseen). Used as a noun: J’ai un imprévu = something came up.
Making verbs

-iser, -ifier, a- / en-

One root, many words

Terre, terrain, atterrir

la terre · earth
L’avionthe planeatterrit.lands
la-VYON a-te-REE · “The plane is landing.”Why: à + terre: atterrir = to come to earth.
le pied · foot
Onwey vathere goà pied.on foot
on nee va a PYAY · “We’re walking there.”Why: Also le piéton (pedestrian).
la main · hand
C’estit-isfaitmadeà la main.by hand
say FAY a la MAN · “It’s handmade.”Why: Also manuel, la manche (sleeve).
le jour · day
un journala newspaper
an zhoor-NAL · “a newspaper”Why: Literally a “daily”. Also la journée, aujourd’hui.
Keep going

Related guides

la nationArticles →Gender in practice: le, la, l’.la librairieFalse friends →When a familiar shape misleads.la réalisationNominalisation →Turning verbs into nouns for formal writing.faireCore vocabulary →The roots worth knowing first.