What Are Prefixes and Suffixes?
A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. A suffix is added to the end of a word. Together, prefixes and suffixes are called affixes. Learning them helps you decode thousands of unfamiliar words.
Common Prefixes
Remember: A prefix changes the meaning of a word but does not change its part of speech.
un- (not)
unhappy = not happy, unknown = not known, unfair = not fair
re- (again)
rewrite = write again, rebuild = build again, reread = read again
dis- (not, opposite)
disagree = not agree, disappear = opposite of appear, disconnect = undo connection
pre- (before)
preview = view before, prehistoric = before history, preheat = heat before
mis- (wrong)
misspell = spell wrong, misunderstand = understand wrong, mislead = lead wrong
over- (too much)
overcook = cook too much, overreact = react too much, overflow = flow too much
sub- (under)
submarine = under the sea, subway = underground way, subtitle = under the title
inter- (between)
international = between nations, interact = act between, interview = view between
Common Suffixes
Remember: A suffix often changes the part of speech. For example, adding -tion to a verb makes it a noun.
-tion / -sion (noun)
education, decision, celebration, permission — turns verbs into nouns
-ment (noun)
enjoyment, achievement, government, movement — turns verbs into nouns
-able / -ible (adjective)
comfortable, visible, washable, flexible — means "can be done"
-ful (adjective)
beautiful, helpful, wonderful, grateful — means "full of"
-less (adjective)
hopeless, careless, endless, fearless — means "without"
-ly (adverb)
quickly, carefully, happily, quietly — turns adjectives into adverbs
-er / -or (noun)
teacher, actor, worker, visitor — means "one who does"
-ness (noun)
happiness, kindness, darkness, sadness — turns adjectives into nouns
Practice: Break Down These Words
Try breaking each word into its prefix/suffix and root. Click to check your answer.
uncomfortable
un- (not) + comfort (root) + -able (can be) = not able to be comfortable
disagreement
dis- (not) + agree (root) + -ment (noun) = the state of not agreeing
prehistoric
pre- (before) + historic (root) = before recorded history
misspelling
mis- (wrong) + spell (root) + -ing (action) = spelling something wrong
international
inter- (between) + nation (root) + -al (adjective) = between nations
reusable
re- (again) + use (root) + -able (can be) = can be used again