Recognizing prefixes and suffixes
Contents:
Prefixes
Suffixes
Prefixes
Originally individual words, prefixes are groups of letters added to the beginning of words or to roots to create new words. Prefixes modify or extend the meaning of the original word or root. Recognizing common prefixes can help you decipher the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Prefixes of negation or opposition
| PREFIX | MEANING | EXAMPLES |
| a-, an- | without, not | amoral, anemia |
| anti- | against | antibody, antiphonal |
| contra- | against | contravene, contradict |
| de- | from, take away from | demerit, declaw |
| dis- | apart, away | disappear, discharge |
| il-, im-, in-, ir- | not | illegal, immature, indistinct, irreverent |
| mal- | wrong | malevolent, malpractice |
| mis- | wrong, bad | misapply, misanthrope |
| non- | not | nonentity, nonsense |
| un- | not | unbreakable, unable |
Prefixes of quantity
| PREFIX | MEANING | EXAMPLES |
| bi- | two | bipolar, bilateral |
| milli- | thousand | millimeter, milligram |
| mono- | one, single | monotone, monologue |
| omni- | all | omniscient, omnipotent |
| semi- | half | semicolon, semiconductor |
| tri- | three | tripod, trimester |
| uni- | one | unitary, univocal |
Prefixes of time and space
| PREFIX | MEANING | EXAMPLES |
| ante- | before | antedate, antebellum |
| circum- | around | circumlocution, circumnavigate |
| co-, col-, com-, con-, cor- | with | coequal, collaborate, commiserate, contact, correspond |
| e-, ex- | out of | emit, extort, expunge |
| hyper- | over, more than | hypersonic, hypersensitive |
| hypo- | under, less than | hypodermic, hypoglycemia |
| inter- | between | intervene, international |
| mega- | enlarge, large | megalomania, megaphone |
| micro- | tiny | micrometer, microscopic |
| neo- | recent | neologism, neophyte |
| post- | after | postwar, postscript |
| pre- | before | previous, prepublication |
| pro- | before, onward | project, propel |
| re- | again, back | review, re-create |
| sub- | under, beneath | subhuman, submarine |
| super- | over, above | supercargo, superimpose |
| syn- | at the same time | synonym, synchronize |
| trans- | across, over | transport, transition |
Suffixes
Like prefixes, suffixes modify and extend meanings. Suffixes, which are attached to the end of words or roots, often alter the grammatical function or part of speech of the original word—for example, turning the verb create into a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
| VERB | create |
| NOUNS | creator/creation/creativity/creature |
| ADJECTIVE | creative |
| ADVERB | creatively |
Noun suffixes
| SUFFIX | MEANING | EXAMPLES |
| -acy | state or quality | democracy, privacy |
| -al | act of | dismissal, refusal |
| -ance, -ence | state or quality of | maintenance, eminence |
| -dom | place or state of being | freedom, kingdom |
| -er, -or | one who | trainer, investor |
| -ism | doctrine or belief characteristic of | liberalism, Taoism |
| -ist | one who | organist, physicist |
| -ity | quality of | veracity, opacity |
| -ment | condition of | payment, argument |
| -ness | state of being | watchfulness, cleanliness |
| -ship | position held | professorship, fellowship |
| -sion, -tion | state of being or action | digression, transition |
Verb suffixes
| SUFFIX | MEANING | EXAMPLES |
| -ate | cause to be | concentrate, regulate |
| -en | cause to be or become | enliven, blacken |
| -ify, -fy | make or cause to be | unify, terrify, amplify |
| -ize | cause to become | magnetize, civilize |
Adjective suffixes
| SUFFIX | MEANING | EXAMPLES |
| -able, -ible | capable of being | readable, edible |
| -al | pertaining to | regional, political |
| -esque | reminiscent of | picturesque, statuesque |
| -ful | having much of a quality | colorful, sorrowful |
| -ic | pertaining to | poetic, mythic |
| -ious, -ous | of or characterized by | famous, nutritious |
| -ish | having the quality of | prudish, clownish |
| -ive | having the nature of | festive, creative, massive |
| -less | without | endless, senseless |