interpersonal
UK[ˌɪntəˈpɜːs(ə)n(ə)l]US[ˌɪntərˈpɜːrs(ə)n(ə)l]
adj
Relating to relationships or communication between people.
Morpheme Breakdown
inter
person
al
inter
between
person
human being
al
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'interpersonal' is a modern English formation built from classical Latin components. The prefix 'inter-' (between) is a direct borrowing from Latin, a key spatial and relational term in the language. It is combined with 'person', which entered English via Old French from Latin 'persona', originally referring to a theatrical mask and later to an individual's character or a human being. The suffix '-al' is a productive adjectival ending from Latin '-alis'. Thus, the literal construction "relating to between persons" elegantly captures the modern psychological and sociological sense of connections existing or occurring between individual people.
Analysis
Structure: inter (between) + person (human being) + al (adjective suffix)
- inter: From Latin inter, meaning "between, among". A prefix indicating reciprocal or mutual relation.
- person: From Latin persona, meaning "human being, individual". The core noun denoting a human.
- al: From Latin -alis, an adjective-forming suffix meaning "of, relating to".
Examples
Strong interpersonal skills are essential for success in management roles.
The course focuses on improving interpersonal communication within teams.
Their interpersonal conflict was affecting the morale of the entire office.