Task
Prefixes
A prefix is an element placed at the beginning of a word to adjust or qualify its meaning. Here, we will explore some of the most common prefixes .
Image: Siren Halvorsen / CC BY-SA 4.0
Here are examples of the most common prefixes in English and an indication of their meaning. Study the list.
Knowing the meaning of prefixes may make it easier for you to interpret words you don't know.
| prefix | meaning | word | word with prefix added |
|---|---|---|---|
| anti | opposed to/against | bacterial | antibacterial |
| auto | self | pilot | autopilot |
| de | down/away/completely/removal/reversal | camp | decamp |
| dis | negation/ removal/expulsion | advantage | disadvantage |
| down | reduce/lower | grade | downgrade |
| extra | beyond/more than | ordinary | extraordinary |
| hyper | extreme | active | hyperactive |
| il, im, in, ir | not | probable | improbable |
| inter | between | active | interactive |
| mega | very big/important/one million | city | megacity |
| mid | middle | night | midnight |
| mis | incorrect/badly | align | misalign |
| non | not | fat | nonfat |
| out | go beyond | spend | outspend |
| over | too much/more than enough | cook | overcook |
| post | after | script | postscript |
| pre | before | view | preview |
| pro | in favour of | democracy | pro-democracy |
| re | again | consider | reconsider |
| semi | half | circle | semicircle |
| sub | under/below | marine | submarine |
| super | above/beyond | model | supermodel |
| tele | at a distance | communication | telecommunication |
| trans | across | gender | transgender |
| ultra | extreme /extremely | sound | ultrasound |
| un | remove/reverse/not | moved | unmoved |
| under | less than/beneath | cook | undercook |
| up | make or move higher | grade | upgrade |
Choose four prefixes and find as many words as possible where the prefixes are used.
A suffix is a morpheme attached to the end of a word to modify its meaning or change it into a different word class. Find the most common suffixes in English and place them in a table like the one for prefixes. Make sure you include the meaning of the suffixes, and examples.
Match each word with the correct prefix.