Prefixes and Suffixes

Prefixes and suffixes (Free PDF included)
Prefixes and suffixes in English: what is it?
These are letters that attach to a basic word to transform it into a new word (it can be a noun, an adjective, a
verb or an adverb). Prefixes go in front, and suffixes go behind that word.
The same word can have one or more translations depending on the prefix or suffix that is added to it, and
there are many of them!
⚠ Prefixes and suffixes each have a meaning, for example:
 les préfixes dis-, il-, im-, ir- ont une valeur négatives, d'opposé: appear → disappear
 le préfixe un- signifie l'inverse: friendly → unfriendly
 le préfixe mis- signifie 'de manière fausse': understand → misunderstand
 le suffixe -ity a une valeur d'exagération: brutal → rutality
 le suffixe -wards implique la direction: back → a kwards
and so on....
The prefixes
Here are the main English prefixes in a table.
Prefixes Example
co- co-worker, co-pilot, co-operation
de- devalue, defrost, derail, demotivate
dis- disagree, disappear, disintegrate, disapprove
em-, en- embrace, encode, embed, enclose, engulf
ex- ex-president, ex-boyfriend, exterminate, ex-wife
extra- extracurricular, extraordinary, extra-terrestrial
fore- forecast, forehead, foresee, foreword, foremost
il- illegal
im- import, impossible, impolite
in- inside, insert, indefinite
inter-, intra- interact, intermediate, intergalactic, intranet
ir- irresponsible
micro- microscope, microbiology, microfilm, microwave
©Englishfornoobs.com
mid- middle, midway, midsummer
mis- misbehave, mistake, misunderstand, misread
mono- monotone, monobrow, monolithic
out- outpatient, outive sb
over- overstate, overrated
post- post-mortem, postpone, post-natal, post-war
pre- prepaid, preschool
re- return, rediscover, refresh, reunite
sub- submerge, submarine, sub-category, subtitle
super- superfood, superstar, supernatural, supermarket
trans- transport, transnational, transatlantic, transparent
tri- triangle, tripod, tricycle
un- unfinished, unfriendly, undone, unknown, unable, unhappy
under- undergournd, underestimate
uni- unicycle, universal, unilateral, unanimous
up- uproot, upgrade
mini- minivan, minimarket
⚠ We use im- instead of in- with words that start with the letter m or p: There are a few rules to remember:
 impolite
 impossible
⚠ Many words with a prefix or suffix have a base that does not exist by itself, for example immediate (the
word mediate alone does not exist).
Suffixes
It's the same as for prefixes except that they are added at the end!
⚠ The same word can have different meanings depending on the suffixes assigned to it, and can transform
it into a noun or adjective:
 read + er = reader
 read + able = readable
⚠ you can also put both a prefix and a suffix to certain words!
 un + read + able = unreadable
Suffix Example
SUFFIX TO A NAME
-acy democracy, accuracy, lunacy
-al remedial, denial, trial, criminal
-ance, -ence nuisance, ambience, tolerance
-dom freedom, boredom, kingdom
-ee employee, trainee
-er, -or reader, creator, interpreter, inventor, collaborator, teacher
-holic alcoholic
-hood brotherhood, childhood, neighbourhood
-ism communism, scepticism, socialislm
-ist geologist, protagonist, sexist, scientist, theorist, communist
-ity, -ty brutality, equality, cruelty
-ment government, argument
-ness happyness, highness, sickness
-ship friendship, hardship, internship, relationship
-sion, -tion position, promotion, cohesion
SUFFIX TO A VERB
-ate irritate, collaborate, create, complicate
-en sharpen, strengthen, loosen, harden, soften
-ify, -fy justify, simplify, magnify, satisfy, clarify
-ise, -ize publicise, synthesise, hypnotise
ADJECTIVE SUFFIXES
-ible edible, incredible, audible
-able, -ible usable, laughable
-al fiscal, thermal, herbal, colonial
-ese Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese
-en broken, golden, wooden
-esque picturesque, burlesque, grotesque
-ful handful, playful, hopeful, skilful, armful, useful
-ic, classic, Islamic, poetic
-ical psychological, hypocritical, methodical, nonsensical, musical
-ious, -ous jealous, religious, ridiculous
-ish spanish, british, childish
-ive inquisitive, informative, attentive
-less meaningless, hopeless, homeless
-ly daily, monthly, weekly
-y dainty, beauty, airy, jealousy
-est biggest
ADVERB SUFFIXES
-ly softly, slowly, happily, crazily, madly, easily
-ward, -wards towards, afterwards, backwards, inward
-wise otherwise, likewise, clockwise

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Prefixes and suffixes (Free PDF included)

Prefixes and suffixes in English: what is it?

⚠ Prefixes and suffixes each have a meaning, for example:

Here are the main English prefixes in a table.

co- co-worker, co-pilot, co-operation

de- devalue, defrost, derail, demotivate

dis- disagree, disappear, disintegrate, disapprove

em-, en- embrace, encode, embed, enclose, engulf

ex- ex-president, ex-boyfriend, exterminate, ex-wife

extra- extracurricular, extraordinary, extra-terrestrial

fore- forecast, forehead, foresee, foreword, foremost

im- import, impossible, impolite

in- inside, insert, indefinite

inter-, intra- interact, intermediate, intergalactic, intranet

micro- microscope, microbiology, microfilm, microwave

mis- misbehave, mistake, misunderstand, misread

mono- monotone, monobrow, monolithic

out- outpatient, outive sb

over- overstate, overrated

post- post-mortem, postpone, post-natal, post-war

pre- prepaid, preschool

re- return, rediscover, refresh, reunite

sub- submerge, submarine, sub-category, subtitle

super- superfood, superstar, supernatural, supermarket

trans- transport, transnational, transatlantic, transparent

tri- triangle, tripod, tricycle

un- unfinished, unfriendly, undone, unknown, unable, unhappy

under- undergournd, underestimate

uni- unicycle, universal, unilateral, unanimous

up- uproot, upgrade

mini- minivan, minimarket

 un + read + able = unreadable

-acy democracy, accuracy, lunacy

-al remedial, denial, trial, criminal

-ance, -ence nuisance, ambience, tolerance

-dom freedom, boredom, kingdom

-ee employee, trainee

-er, -or reader, creator, interpreter, inventor, collaborator, teacher

-hood brotherhood, childhood, neighbourhood

-ism communism, scepticism, socialislm

-ist geologist, protagonist, sexist, scientist, theorist, communist

-ity, -ty brutality, equality, cruelty

-ment government, argument

-ness happyness, highness, sickness

-ship friendship, hardship, internship, relationship

-sion, -tion position, promotion, cohesion

-ate irritate, collaborate, create, complicate

-en sharpen, strengthen, loosen, harden, soften

-ify, -fy justify, simplify, magnify, satisfy, clarify

-ise, -ize publicise, synthesise, hypnotise

-ible edible, incredible, audible

-able, -ible usable, laughable

-al fiscal, thermal, herbal, colonial

-ese Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese

-en broken, golden, wooden

-esque picturesque, burlesque, grotesque

-ful handful, playful, hopeful, skilful, armful, useful

-ic, classic, Islamic, poetic

-ical psychological, hypocritical, methodical, nonsensical, musical

-ious, -ous jealous, religious, ridiculous