Hilinqwo supports a rich variety of word transformations, most of which take place via prefixes and suffixes. Some of the supported transformations include:

• Comparative expressions, superlative expressions, extremitive expressions
• Opposites and negation
• Lack (-less) and surfeit (-ful)
• Like and dislike
• Relation by place or ancestry
• Weaking of meaning (-ish)
• Strengthening of meaning
• Adverb form

Both prefix and suffix modifiers can change the class of a base. The general rule is that functional transformation should occur from suffixes and semantic transformation should come from prefixes. Exceptions to this general rule should have some etymological basis.