-ista
Portuguese, suffix/ˈis.tɐ/
-ista is spelled I-S-T-A (4 letters). -ista is a Portuguese feminine suffix meaning “-ist (person with a particular creative or academic role), appended to the name of this role, or its corresponding adjective” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The Portuguese Wiktionary (Wikcionário) defines it as “que segue um princípio”.
What does -ista mean in English?
suffix
- 1
femininemasculine-ist (person with a particular creative or academic role), appended to the name of this role, or its corresponding adjective
ambiental (“environmental”) + -ista → ambientalista (“environmentalist”)
- 2
femininemasculine-ist; -man (person who uses or works with a particular tool, instrument or technique), appended to the name of the tool
flauta (“flute”) + -ista → flautista (“flautist”)
- 3
femininemasculine-ist (one who follows a particular doctrine), appended to the etymon of the doctrine’s name
Calvino (“(John) Calvin”) + -ista → calvinista (“Calvinist”)
- 4
Brazilfemininemasculinesomeone from a location
Norte (“North region of Brazil”) + -ista → nortista (“someone from the North”)
- 5
femininemasculinea supporter of a sports team
Grêmio (“Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense”) + -ista → gremista (“a supporter of Grêmio”)
suffix
- 1
femininemasculine-istic, -ist (of or relating to a particular doctrine), appended to the etymon of the doctrine’s name
Marx (“(Karl) Marx”) + -ista → marxista (“Marxist, relating to Marxism”)
- 2
Brazilfemininemasculineof or relating to a location
Norte (“North region of Brazil”) + -ista → nortista (“of or relating to the North”)
Source: English Wiktionary, Portuguese section, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0).
How Portuguese dictionaries define it
suffix: 1. que segue um princípio 2. que é estudioso ou profissional de um assunto 3. que usa algo 4. que tem uma visão preconceituosa
The definition in the Portuguese Wiktionary (Wikcionário), in Portuguese.
Source: Portuguese Wiktionary (Wikcionário), dump of September 1, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org.
How do you pronounce -ista?
- Brazil /ˈis.tɐ/
- /ˈiʃ.tɐ/
- Portugal /ˈiʃ.tɐ/
Sources: English Wiktionary, Portuguese Wiktionary (Wikcionário) (dumps of September 2, 2026 and September 1, 2026); recordings from Wikimedia Commons.
English words that translate to -ista
Source: the translation tables of the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026.