Prefix
A prefix is a group of letters placed before the root of a word. For example, the word "unhappy" consists of the prefix "un-" [which means "not"] combined with the root (stem) word "happy"; the word "unhappy" means "not happy."
Suffix
A suffix is a group of letters placed after the root of a word. For example, the word flavorless consists of the root word "flavor" combined with the suffix "-less" [which means "without"]; the word "flavorless" means "having no flavor."
A Short List of Prefixes:
A Short List of Suffixes:
A prefix is a group of letters placed before the root of a word. For example, the word "unhappy" consists of the prefix "un-" [which means "not"] combined with the root (stem) word "happy"; the word "unhappy" means "not happy."
Suffix
A suffix is a group of letters placed after the root of a word. For example, the word flavorless consists of the root word "flavor" combined with the suffix "-less" [which means "without"]; the word "flavorless" means "having no flavor."
A Short List of Prefixes:
PREFIX | MEANING | EXAMPLES |
---|---|---|
de- | from, down, away reverse, opposite | decode, decrease |
dis- | not, opposite, reverse, away | disagree, disappear |
ex- | out of, away from, lacking, former | exhale, explosion |
il- | not | illegal, illogical |
im- | not, without | impossible, improper |
in- | not, without | inaction, invisible |
mis- | bad, wrong | mislead, misplace |
non- | not | nonfiction, nonsense |
pre- | before | prefix, prehistory |
pro- | for, forward, before | proactive, profess, program |
re- | again, back | react, reappear |
un- | against, not, opposite | undo, unequal, unusual |
A Short List of Suffixes:
SUFFIX | MEANING | EXAMPLES |
---|---|---|
-able | able to, having the quality of | comfortable, portable |
-al | relating to | annual, comical |
-er | comparative | bigger, stronger |
-est | superlative | strongest, tiniest |
-ful | full of | beautiful, grateful |
-ible | forming an adjective | reversible, terrible |
-ily | forming an adverb | eerily, happily, lazily |
-ing | denoting an action, a material, or a gerund | acting, showing |
-less | without, not affected by | friendless, tireless |
-ly | forming an adjective | clearly, hourly |
-ness | denoting a state or condition | kindness, wilderness |
-y | full of, denoting a condition, or a diminutive | glory, messy, victory, |