Prefixes and roots: [Note this spelling rule: Never change the spelling of a word when adding a prefix to
an existing word. pre + existing = preexisting. re + enter = reenter. pre + amble = preamble.]
pre = before
prehistory, preexist
re = again
reheat, reenter
under = beneath/not enough
underwear, underrated
over = above/higher
overpaid, override
co = with/together
copilot, cooperate
com = with/together/fully
combine, compress, commit
con = with/together
conjoin,
col = with/together
collaborate
mis = wrong/bad
mistake, misspell
dis = not
disrespect, disservice
out = away/beyond
outhouse, outtalk
de = off/remove
derail, deescalate, deemphasize
fore = front
forearm, forecast, foreedge
il = not
illegal, illogical
im = not
impossible, immobile
in = not incorrect,
inedible, innumerable
a = not
atypical, asexual
ab = away/from
abnormal, abduct
amphi/ambi = both
amphibian, ambidextrous
anti = against antiwar,
antiinflammatory, antiislamic
ante = before
antebellum, antechamber
be = make
befriend, belittle
contra = against contradict,
contraband
auto = self
automobile, automatic
neo = new
neonatal, neoNazi
nov = new
novice, renovate
sub = beneath, almost
substandard, subbase
hemi = half
hemisphere,
semi = half
semicircle, semicolon
demi = half
demigod
mono = one
monologue, monoplane
uni = one unify,
unity, unite, unicorn, uniform, union
sol = alone
solitary, isolate, solo
liter = letters
literature, alliteration
num = numbers innumerable,
enumerate, numeral
di = two
divide, dioxide
bi = two
bicycle
bin = two
binary, binocular
duo = two
duodecimal
tetra = four
tetragon
quad = four
quadrant, quadruped
quint = five
quintuplets
pent = five
pentagon
hex = six
hexagon
sex = six
sextuplets
sept = seven
septuplets
oct = eight
octopus, octave, octogenarian
dec/deci = ten
decade, decimal
cent = hundred
century
mill = thousand
millennium
kilo = thousand
kilometer
proto = first
prototype
prim = first primary, primitive, primordial
prin = first principal,
prince
pro = for/forward
proAmerican, propel
epi = upon epidermis,
epidemic, epicenter
post = after
posterior, postwar
hypo = under, not enough
hypothermic, hypodermic
trans = across
transport, transmit
dia = across/through
diameter, dialogue
per = through
permit, perspire
hyper = too much
hyperactive, hypersensitive
bene = good benefit,
benevolent, beneficial
eu = good
euphemism, eulogy
mal = bad maladjusted,
malignant, malpractice
dys = bad
dysfunction, dyslexia
pan = all pandemic,
Pandora, panacea
omni = all omnivore,
omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent
counter = opposite
counteract, counterculture
tele = distant television,
teleportation, telescope
poly = many
polytheist, polynomial
multi = many
multipurpose
ultra = beyond
ultrasound, ultraviolet
inter = between
interrupt, interception
ex = away/out/former
exclude, exhale, exboss
micro = tiny
microscopic
retro = backwards
retrospect, retrorocket, retroactive
cosm = universe microcosm,
cosmonaut, cosmopolitan
act = do
activate, action, actor, interact
meter = measure
thermometer
ang = bend
triangle
aud = hear/listen audience,
audible, auditorium
phon = sound telephone,
phonics, symphony
agri/agro = field agriculture,
agronomy
alt = high
Alta, altitude
alter = other
alternative, alterego
hetero = other
heterosexual
homo = same
homogeneous
ali = other
alias, alien
ambul/amble = to walk
amble, ambulance
anim = life/spirit
animate, animal
ami/amo = like, love amiable,
amicable, amorous, enamored
ann/enn = yearly annual,
perennial, anniversary, bicentennial
aqu = water
aquarium
mar/mer = sea mariner,
submarine, mermaid
hydro = liquid
hydroseed, hydraulic
bio = life
biology, antibiotic
geo = earth
geology, geography
terr/terra = earth
territory, terrain
brev = short
abbreviate, brevity
cal = heat calorie,
California, caldron
therm = heat
thermometer, hypothermic
camp = field
campground, campaign
cand = light/shine
candle, incandescent
photo = light
photovoltaic
cap = head capital,
decapitate, captain
cred = believe creed,
credible, incredible, credit
ceiv = get/take
receive, deceive
cept = get/take intercept,
reception, concept, forceps
cert = sure certain,
certificate, ascertain, certify
cis/cise = cut
incise, scissors, circumcision
tom = cut
atom, appendectomy, anatomy
cide = kill herbicide,
insecticide, genocide
clam/claim = shout
exclaim, proclaim, clamor
clin = lean decline,
inclination, thermocline
clude = shut
conclude, exclude, include
cogn = know
recognize, incognito
gnos = know
diagnose, prognosis, agnostic
sci =know
science, conscious
mem = recall memory,
commemorate, memoir
clar = clear
clarify
dict = say/speak contradict, predict, dictionary, verdict, benediction
duct = lead
conductor, aquaduct
corp = body
corporation, corpse
civ = citizen
civil, civics
dem/demo = the people
democracy, epidemic, demography
pop = people
population, populous
poli = city metropolitan,
politics, police
urb = city
urban
cum = heap/pile
accumulate, cumulus
fac = make
factory, manufacture
man = hand
manipulate, human
lab = work labor,
collaborate, laboratory
oper = work
cooperate, operation
migr = wander migrate,
immigrant, emigrant
miss = send
missile, transmission
mob = move
immobile, automobile
mot = move
motor, motion, locomotion
mov = move
remove
ped = foot
quadruped, pedal, impede
pod = foot
tripod, podiatrist
port = carry
portable, transport
rupt = break
interrupt, rupture
sign = mark
signature, insignia, signal
typ = mark
typical, type
pict = draw
picture, depict
spec = look/see spectator,
spectacle, inspect, retrospect
scope = see
telescope, microscopic
vid = see
vivid, video
vis = see
visual
junct = join
conjunction, junction
tract = pull/drag attract,
extract, detract, tractor
vac = empty
vacuum, vacation, vacant
loc = place
location, allocate, local
circ = around
circumnavigate, circulate
peri = around
perimeter, periscope
volv = roll, turn
revolve, evolve
chrom = color monochromatic,
polychromatic
chron = time synchronize,
chronic, chronology
temp = time contemporary,
tempo, temporarily
ject = throw
project, eject, interject
tect = cover
protect, detect
tact = touch
tactile, contact
min = small
minute, minor
mon = warn/remind admonish,
monument, monitor
mort = death
mortal, mortician
lat = side
lateral, latitude
para = beside/almost paragraph,
paramedic, paralegal
mat = mother
maternal, matron
pat = father
paternity, paternal, patriot
path = feeling
sympathy, apathy
pass = feeling compassion,
passion, passive
dent/dont = tooth
dental, orthodontist
derm = skin
epidermis, hypodermic
zo = animal
protozoa, zodiac, zoology
vor = eat
omnivore, devour
voc = call
vocation, vocal
voke = call
revoke, evoke, provoke
viv = alive
revive, survive, vivid
vit = alive
vital, vitamin, revitalize
vict = conquer
victory, convict, evict
vert = change/turn
vertigo, convert, invert
meta = change
metaphor, metamorphosis, metabolism
morph = shape
metamorphosis
fig = shape
figure, effigy
form = shape conform, format
ver = true
verify, verdict, very
vent = come invent, event, circumvent, prevent
acu = sharp acute,
accurate, acupuncture
aer/aero =air
aerial, aerosol
arch = chief
archangel, monarchy
aster/astr = star asterisk,
asteroid, astronomy
val = worth value,
valid, evaluate, equivalent
vade = go
evade, invade
ultima = last
ultimate
turb = disturb
turbulent, turmoil
trib = pay/give contribute,
tributary, retribution
belli = war
rebellion, belligerent
bibl = book
bibliography, Bible
carn = flesh incarnate,
carnal, carnivore
cau = burn caustic,
cauldron, cauterize
crat = rule
democrat, theocrat
cracy = rule
theocracy
the/theo = God
atheism
div = God
divine, divinity
dei = God
deity
tox = poison
toxin, toxic
tort = twist
contort, torture, distort
test = to bear witness detest,
testimony, attest, testify
crit = choose critic,
criticize, critical, criteria, hypocrite
cur = run
cursive, concur, current
cur = care
manicure, curator
doc = teach/prove
document
doct = teach/prove
doctor, doctrine
domin = master
dominate
don = give
donate
dorm = sleep
dormant
dur = lasting
durable, endure
dynam = power dynamite,
hydrodynamics
term = end
terminate, terminal
tend = stretch
extend, pretend, intend
ten = hold tenacious,
detention, untenable
tain = hold
contain, abstain
fall/fals = deceive
fallacy, falsify
fer = carry/hold transfer,
ferry, fertile, defer
fide = trust
confide, fidelity
fin = end
final, finite, refine, finish
flex = bend
reflex, flexible
flect = bend
reflect, deflect
flict = hit
conflict, inflict
flu = flow fluid,
flush, reflux, fluctuate
fort = strong
fortitude, fortify, effort
fract = break
fracture, fraction
frag = break
fragment, fragile
fuse = pour transfusion,
confuse, confusion
struct = build destruction,
structure, instruct
spir = breath inspire,
expire, spirit, respiratory
soph = wise sophisticated,
sophomore, philosophy
soci = join
social, society
serv = keep/save
reserve, conserve, observe
sent = feel sentimental,
resent, consent
sens = feel
sensory, sensitive
sen = old
senile, senior
paleo = old
paleontology
juven = young
juvenile
sid = sit
reside, president
scrib = write
inscribe, scribble
script = write
manuscript
graph = write
paragraph
gram = write grammar
sat = enough
satisfy, saturate
sanct = holy
sanctuary
gam = marriage
monogamy
gen = birth genetics,
generate, genesis
gest = carry/hold ingest,
congestion, gestation
grat = pleasing
grateful, gratuity
grav = heavy
gravity
greg = group congregate,
segregate, gregarious
hemo/hema = blood
hemostats
ridi = laugh
ridicule, ridiculous
quip = ship
equipment
pute = think
compute
punct = point
punctuate, acupuncture
pysch = mind
psychology
neur = nerve
neurologist
prehen = grasp
apprehend, comprehend
plore = cry out implore,
exploration, deplore
phil = love
philosopher, philanthropy
anthro = people
anthropology
phe = speak
philosopher
pel = push
propeller, propel, expel
puls = push pulse,
expulsion, repulsive
pare = assemble
compare, prepare
pair = assemble
repair
pac = peace
pacify, pacifist
igni = fire
ignite, ignition, igneous
infra = beneath
infrared, infrastructure
intra = within
intrapersonal, intranet
leg = law
illegal, legislate
levi = light
levity, alleviate
liber = free
liberty, liberal
liver = free
deliverance
luc = light
translucent
lust = light
luster, illustrate
lum = light
luminary, illuminate
magn = great
magnify, magnum
ortho = straight
orthodontist, orthopedic
nom = name
nominate, nomenclature
nym = name
synonym, pseudonym
pseudo = false
pseudoscience
sequ = follow
sequel, sequence
