Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
English borrows heavily from Latin and Greek. Learning a few hundred roots unlocks thousands of words.
Common prefixes (front of the word)
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a-, an- | not, without | amoral, anonymous |
| anti- | against | antibiotic, antithesis |
| auto- | self | autograph, autonomous |
| bene- | good, well | benefit, benevolent |
| bi- | two | bicycle, bilateral |
| circum- | around | circumvent, circumference |
| co-, con-, com- | with, together | coexist, converge, compose |
| contra-, counter- | against | contradict, counterattack |
| de- | down, away, reverse | descend, deactivate |
| dis- | not, apart | disagree, disperse |
| ex- | out, former | exit, exhale |
| extra- | beyond | extraordinary, extracurricular |
| hyper- | over, excessive | hyperactive |
| hypo- | under, below | hypothermia |
| in-, im-, il-, ir- | not | invisible, impossible, illegal, irregular |
| inter- | between | interstate, intervene |
| intra- | within | intramural |
| mal- | bad, ill | malicious, malady |
| micro- | small | microscope |
| mis- | wrong, badly | misjudge, misplace |
| mono- | one | monotone, monopoly |
| multi- | many | multitude, multilingual |
| neo- | new | neonatal |
| non- | not | nonfiction |
| omni- | all | omnipotent, omnivore |
| pan- | all | pandemic |
| post- | after | postpone, postwar |
| pre- | before | preview, prevent |
| pro- | forward, for | progress, propel |
| re- | again, back | reread, return |
| semi- | half | semicircle |
| sub- | under | submarine, subordinate |
| super- | above, beyond | supervise, supersonic |
| trans- | across | transport, translate |
| un- | not, reverse | unable, unfold |
Common roots (heart of the word)
| Root | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| aud | hear | audible, auditorium |
| bio | life | biology, biography |
| chron | time | chronological, synchronize |
| cred | believe | credible, incredible |
| dict | speak, say | dictate, contradict |
| duc, duct | lead | conduct, induce |
| fac, fact, fect | make, do | factory, manufacture, defect |
| graph, gram | write, drawing | autograph, diagram |
| ject | throw | eject, project |
| log, logy | word, study of | dialogue, biology |
| man, manu | hand | manual, manufacture |
| mit, miss | send | transmit, dismiss |
| path | feeling, suffering | sympathy, pathology |
| phon | sound | telephone, symphony |
| port | carry | transport, portable |
| scrib, script | write | describe, transcript |
| sens, sent | feel | sensitive, consent |
| spec, spect | look, see | inspect, spectator |
| ten, tain | hold | tenant, contain |
| tract | pull, drag | attract, retract |
| vert, vers | turn | invert, reverse |
| vid, vis | see | video, visible |
| voc | voice, call | vocal, advocate |
Common suffixes (end of the word — usually signals part of speech)
| Suffix | Indicates | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -able, -ible | capable of | readable, flexible |
| -al | relating to | natural |
| -ance, -ence | state of | importance, patience |
| -ation, -tion | action or result | creation |
| -ed | past tense | walked |
| -er, -or | one who | teacher, actor |
| -ful | full of | hopeful |
| -ic | relating to | poetic |
| -ify | to make | clarify |
| -ism | belief, condition | capitalism |
| -ist | one who practices | artist |
| -ity | quality of | purity |
| -ize | to make | modernize |
| -less | without | fearless |
| -ly | in a manner (adverb) | quickly |
| -ment | action or result | movement |
| -ness | state of | kindness |
| -ous | full of | dangerous |
| -tion | action of | invention |
Putting roots together. Benevolent = bene- (good) + vol- (will, wish) + -ent (adj.) = "well-wishing." Circumspect = circum- (around) + spec- (look) = "looking around carefully" — cautious. Even if you have never seen the word, decoding it leaves only one or two plausible answer choices.