suffix

/ˈsʌfɪks/

//ˈsʌfɪks// noun

"suffix" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“suffix” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #27,302 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#27,302
frequency rank, English
6
letters
7
tracked misspellings
3
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A morpheme added at the end of a word to modify the word's meaning.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

suffix vs Sufi
50% similar
suffix vs suffer
67% similar
suffix vs suffice
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for suffix
PropertyValue
Headwordsuffix
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈsʌfɪks/
Letters6
Frequency rank#27,302
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs3
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “suffix” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). suffix lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for suffix is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈsʌfɪks/. Corpus data places it at rank #27,302 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for suffix, with forms such as "sfufix", "ssuffix", and "suffixx". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 3 confusable-pair relationships, "Sufi", "suffer", "suffice", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin suffīxus (“suffix”), from sub- (“under”) + fīxus (perfect passive participle of fīgere (“to fasten, fix”)), equivalent to sub- + -fix. The correct English form is suffix, spelled S-U-F-F-I-X.

Definition

  1. 1
    A morpheme added at the end of a word to modify the word's meaning.
  2. 2
    A subscript.
  3. 3
    A final segment of a string of characters.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin suffīxus (“suffix”), from sub- (“under”) + fīxus (perfect passive participle of fīgere (“to fasten, fix”)), equivalent to sub- + -fix.

This word in other languages

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: sfufix,ssuffix,suffixx,suffxi,sufifx,sufix,usffix

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of suffix - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

sfufix2ssuffix1suffixx1suffxi2sufifx2sufix1usffix2
Edit distance from "suffix"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "suffix"?
"suffix" is spelled S-U-F-F-I-X. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈsʌfɪks/.
What does "suffix" mean?
As a noun, "suffix" means: A morpheme added at the end of a word to modify the word's meaning.
What words are commonly confused with "suffix"?
"suffix" is commonly confused with "Sufi", "suffer", "suffice". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "suffix"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "suffix" is /ˈsʌfɪks/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "suffix"?
Borrowed from Latin suffīxus (“suffix”), from sub- (“under”) + fīxus (perfect passive participle of fīgere (“to fasten, fix”)), equivalent to sub- + -fix. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “suffix”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is S-U-F-F-I-X - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈsʌfɪks/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Sufi” - see the side-by-side comparison. suffix vs Sufi
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list