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When you come across unfamiliar words without context, breaking those words into their parts can help you determine their meaning.
A good knowledge of prefixes and suffixes is essential to building an effective vocabulary. The more familiar you are with these fundamental word parts, the easier it will be to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.
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There are dozens of prefixes and suffixes in the English language. Learning prefixes and suffixes in another language may seem like a daunting task, but the job may be easier than you think.
PREFIXES
Prefixes are syllables attached to the beginning of words to change or add to the meaning of the root word in some way. For example, the word prefix itself uses the prefix pre-, meaning before.
The following table lists the most common English language prefixes, their meanings, and examples of words with each prefix.
S.No. | Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
---|---|---|---|
1 | a-, an- | not, without | atypical, anarchy, amorphous |
2 | ab-, abs- | from, away, off | abnormal, abduct, abscond |
3 | ante- | prior to, in front of, before | antedate, antecedent, antebellum |
4 | ant-, anti- | opposite, opposing, against | antidote, antagonist, antipathy |
5 | bi- | two, twice | bisect, bilateral, bicameral |
6 | circum- | around, about, on all sides | circumference, circumnavigate, circumspect |
7 | co-, com-, con- | with, together, jointly | cooperate, community, consensus |
8 | contra- | against, contrary, contrasting | contradict, contraindication |
9 | counter- | contrary, opposite or opposing; complementary | counterclockwise, countermeasure, counterpart |
10 | de- | do the opposite or reverse of; remove from, reduce | deactivate, dethrone, detract |
11 | dis- | away from, apart, reversal, not | disperse, dismiss, disinterested |
12 | duo- | two | duo, duet, duality |
13 | ex- | out, out of, away from | expel, exclaim, exorbitant |
14 | in- (also il-, im- ir-) | in, into, within | induct, impart, inculcate |
15 | in- (also il-, im-, ir-) | not | invariable, incessant, illicit, inept, impervious |
16 | inter- | between, among, within | intervene, interact, intermittent |
17 | intra- | within, during | intramural, intravenous |
18 | intro- | in, into, within | introvert, introduction |
19 | mal- | bad, abnormal, evil, wrong | malfunction, malpractice, malign |
20 | mis- | bad, wrong, ill; opposite or lack of | misspell, miscreant, misanthrope |
21 | mono- | one, single, alone | monologue, monogamy, monocle |
22 | multi- | many, multiple | multiple, multimillionaire, multifarious |
23 | neo- | new, recent, a new form of | neologism, neonatal, neophyte |
24 | non- | not | nonconformist, nonentity, nonchalant |
25 | over- | exceeding, surpassing, excessive | overabundance, overstimulate |
26 | poly- | many, much | polytechnic, polyglot |
27 | post- | after, subsequent, later (than), behind | postpone, postpartum, postoperative |
28 | pre- | before | precaution, precede, presage |
29 | pro- | (a) earlier, before, prior to; in front of (b) for, supporting, in behalf of (c) forward, projecting | proceed, proclivity, profess |
30 | pseudo- | false, fake | pseudonym, pseudoscience |
31 | re- | back, again | recall, reconcile, rescind |
32 | semi- | half, partly, incomplete | semiannual, semiconscious |
33 | sub- | under, beneath, below | subconscious, subdue, subjugate |
34 | super- | above, over, exceeding | superhero, superficial, supercilious |
35 | trans- | across, beyond, through | transmit, translate, translucent |
36 | tri- | three, thrice | triangle, tricycle, triumvirate |
37 | un- | not | unable, uninterested, unorthodox |
38 | uni- | one | unite, uniform, unilateral |
SUFFIXES
Suffixes are syllables added to the end of words to change or add to their meaning. They often change a word’s part of speech, thereby also changing how the word functions in a sentence. Suffixes tell you whether a word is a person, place, or thing (a noun); an action or state of being (a verb); or a modifier, which is a word that describes (an adjective or adverb).
The following table lists the most common English language suffixes, their meanings, and examples of words with each suffix.
Noun Endings | |||
---|---|---|---|
S.No. | Suffix | Meaning | Examples |
1 | -age | (a) action or process (b) house or place of (c) state, rank | drainage, orphanage, marriage |
2 | -al | action or process | rehearsal, disposal, reversal |
3 | -an, -ian | of or relating to; a person specializing in | guardian, pediatrician, historian |
4 | -ance,-ence | action or process; state of | adolescence, benevolence, renaissance |
5 | -ancy, -ency | quality or state | agency, vacancy, latency |
6 | -ant, -ent | one that performs, promotes, or causes an action; being in a specified state or condition | disinfectant, dissident, miscreant |
7 | -ary | thing belonging to or connected with | adversary, dignitary, library |
8 | -cide | killer, killing | suicide, pesticide, homicide |
9 | -cy | action or practice; state or quality of | democracy, legitimacy, supremacy |
10 | -er, -or | one that is, does, or performs | builder, foreigner, sensor |
11 | -ion, -tion | act or process; state or condition | attraction, persecution, denunciation |
12 | -ism | act, practice, or process; state or doctrine of | criticism, anachronism, imperialism |
13 | -ist | one who (performs, makes, produces, believes, etc.) | anarchist, feminist, imperialist |
14 | -ity | quality, state, or degree | clarity, amity, veracity |
15 | -ment | action or process; result, object, means, or agent of an action or process | entertainment, embankment, amazement |
16 | -ness | state, condition, quality or degree | happiness, readiness, goodness |
17 | -ology | doctrine, theory, or science; oral or written expression | biology, theology, eulogy |
18 | -or | condition, activity | candor, valor, succor |
19 | -sis | process or action | diagnosis, dialysis, metamorphosis |
20 | -ure | act or process; office or function | exposure, legislature, censure |
21 | -y | state, condition, quality; activity or place of business | laundry, empathy, anarchy |
Adjective Endings | |||
S.No. | Suffix | Meaning | Examples |
1 | -able, -ible | capable or worthy of; tending or liable to | flammable, culpable, inscrutable |
2 | -al, -ial, -ical | having the quality of; of, relating to, or characterized by | educational, peripheral, ephemeral |
3 | -an, -ian | one who is or does; related to, characteristic of | human, American, agrarian |
4 | -ant, -ent | performing (a specific action) or being (in a specified condition) | important, incessant, preeminent |
5 | -ful | full of; having the qualities of; tending or liable to | helpful, peaceful, wistful |
6 | -ic | pertaining or relating to; having the quality of | fantastic, chronic, archaic |
7 | -ile | tending to or capable of | fragile, futile, servile |
8 | -ish | having the quality of | Swedish, bookish, squeamish |
9 | -ive | performing or tending towards (an action); having the nature of | sensitive, cooperative, pensive |
10 | -less | without, lacking; unable to act or be acted on (in a specified way) | endless, fearless, listless |
11 | -ous, -ose | full of, having the qualities of, relating to | adventurous, glorious, egregious |
12 | -y | characterized by, full of; tending or inclined to | sleepy, cursory, desultory |
Verb Endings | |||
S.No. | Suffix | Meaning | Examples |
1 | -ate | to make, to cause to be or become | violate, tolerate, exacerbate, emanate |
2 | -en | to cause to be or have; to come to be or have | quicken, lengthen, frighten |
3 | -ify, -fy | to make, form into | beautify, electrify, rectify |
4 | -ize | to cause to be or become; to bring about | colonize, plagiarize, synchronize |
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