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Prefixes and Suffixes

Lots of the words we use are formed by adding other parts of words to them to create new words. Let’s look at some terminology before we explore this further:

A stem, sometimes known as the root, is the base part of the word that is usually a complete word on its own. I.e. agree

Prefixes are parts of words that go before the stem to alter or add to the meaning. I.e. disagree.

Suffixes are parts of words that go after the stem to alter or add to the meaning. I.e. disagreement.

Learning what prefixes and suffixes mean can really help you with your spelling, as well as being able to decode the meaning of new words.

PrefixMeaningExample
a-notatypical
anti-againstantifascist
bi-twobiannual
counter-against, oppositecounterfeit
de-remove, reversederegulate
dis-opposite, reverse, notdisagree
extra-beyond, outsideextraterrestrial
fore-beforeforefather
in-notinvisible
inter-betweenintermingle
mal-badmaltreatment
mis-not, wrongmiscomprehend
neo-newneoconservative
non-notnonstarter
over-excessiveoverspend
post-afterpostscript
pre-beforeprecolonial
proto-first, primitiveprototype
re-repeatreread
sub-undersubmarine
tele-distantteleport
trans-acrosstranscontinental
tri-threetricycle
un-remove, reverseuntie
uni-oneunilateral
SuffixMeaningExample
-ablecapable ofinflatable
-anttype of personassistant
-athonlong-lastingmarathon
-cidekillinginfanticide
-domstate of beingfreedom
-erdoer of an actionworker
-erytype of workbakery
-essfemale ofheiress
-esquereminiscent ofpicturesque
-ettesmall version ofkitchenette
-festindulgence inchatfest
-fyto makeelectrify
-hoodstate, qualitychildhood
-ibleabilityreliable
-isha littlesqueamish
-ismcondition or doctrinefeminism
-isttype of personflorist
-lesswithoutpenniless
-lyin a manner ofquickly
-ousfull ofjoyous
-mentaction or processagreement

Subject Vocab Lists

Homophones

Prefixes and Suffixes

Sentence types

A punctuation Guide

Reluctant Reader Tips

Spelling Strategies to try at home