PREFIXES

Prefixes are groups of letters added before a word,

which then creates new words

There are many prefixes in English, some of which are quite common and some of which
are used less frequently. In some cases, the same prefix may have more than one
meaning. If you learn prefixes, your ability to comprehend new words will greatly
improve.
Negative and Positive Prefixes
Negative Prefixes
Un, in, im, il, ir Non

◦ Meaning: not, opposite of, without ◦ Meaning: not, lack of, absence

◦ Unaware, unused, Intolerable, ◦ Nonsense, nonsmoker, nonverbal,

Immortal, immovable, Illogical, nonstandard
irresponsible
Negative Prefixes
Mis Mal

◦ Meaning: bad, failure, wrong ◦ Meaning: bad, wrong, poor

◦ Misspell, misdirect, misbehave, ◦ Maladjusted, malnutrition, maltreat

misunderstand
Negative Prefixes
Dis Anti

◦ Meaning: opposite from/of, lack of, not ◦ Meaning: opposite of, against

◦ Disagree, disappear, disconnect, ◦ Anti-aging, antibacterial, antivirus,

disorder, displace antislavery, antiseptic
Negative Prefixes
De- Under-

◦ Meaning: opposite of, reduce, reverse, ◦ Meaning: below, too little, not enough
out of

◦ Underage, undercook, underweight,

◦ Devalue, deactivate, dehydrated, undervalue, underrate
decode, decompose
Positive Prefixes
Re- Over-

◦ Meaning: back, again ◦ Meaing: too much, above, beyond

◦ Reread, retell, remix, reverse, rewrite, ◦ Overdress, overact, overjoy, overheat,

redo overeat
Prefixes of Size
Prefixes of Size
Semi- Equi-

◦ Meaning: partially, half ◦ Meaning: same, equal

◦ Semicircle, semipro, semifinal, ◦ Equidistant, equivalent, equilibrium,

semiskilled, semiformal equitable
Prefixes of Size
Mini- Micro-

◦ Meaning: small, ◦ Meaning: very small, tiny

◦ Minibus, minimart, minicar, miniskirt, ◦ Microprocessor, microphone,

minivan microscope, microbiology,
Prefixes of Size
Macro- Mega-

◦ Meaning: large ◦ Meaning: very large, huge

◦ Macroeconomics, macrostructure, ◦ Megaphone, megabucks,

macrocosm, macro-vascular megastructure, megastar, megamall
Prefixes of Location
Prefixes of Location
Inter- Super-

◦ Meaning: in the midst of, between, ◦ Meaning: above, beyond, over

among

◦ Supernatural, superpower, superman,

◦ Interact, international, interstate, superstar, superhuman
intermediate, interlock, interconnect
Prefixes of Location
Trans- Ex-

◦ Meaning: on the other side, across, ◦ Meaning: out of, lacking, former, older
move between

◦ Export, exhale, external, excentral,

◦ Transatlantic, transcontinental, exterior, ex-wife, ex-president, ex-
transoceanic, transform, transport employer
Prefixes of Location
Extra- Sub-

◦ Meaning: more than, beyond ◦ Meaning: under, below

◦ Extracurricular, extraordinary, ◦ Submarine, substandard, subdivide,

extramarital, extravagant, subway, subfreezing, subtitle
extraterrestrial
Prefixes of Location
Infra- Peri-

◦ Meaning: beneath, under, below, after ◦ Meaning: about, around, near

◦ Infraorbital, infrasternal, infracostal, ◦ Perimeter, periscope, pericardium,

infrapubic periarticular, periodontal
Prefixes of Time and Order
Prefixes of Time and Order
Ante- Pre-

◦ Meaning: before ◦ Meaning: before

◦ Antedate, antemeridian, antebellum, ◦ Pre-write, pre-read, premade, pre-

anteroom, antechamber intermediate, predetermine, preschool
Prefixes of Time and Order
Prime- Post-

◦ Meaning: first ◦ Meaning: after

◦ Prim-minister, primary, primer ◦ Postwar, postgraduate, postcard,

postoperative,
Prefixes of Time and Order
Retro-

◦ Meaning: behind, backward

◦ Retrograde, retrospective, retrorocket,

retrogress
Prefixes of Numbers
Prefixes of Numbers
Mono- Bi-

◦ Meaning: one ◦ Meaning: two

◦ Monochrome, monoxide, monotone, ◦ Bilingual, bicycle, biannual, biplane,

monograph, monoculture bipola
Prefixes of Numbers
Tri- Quad-

◦ Meaning: three ◦ Meaning: four

◦ Triathlon, tricycle, tripod, trichord, ◦ Quadrant, quadricepts, quadrilateral,

triceratops quadruplex, quadriplegic
Prefixes of Numbers
Penta- Hex-

◦ Meaning: five ◦ Meaning: six

◦ Pentameter, pentagon, pentaprism ◦ Hexagon, hexagram, hexadecimal

Prefixes of Numbers
Sept (em)- Oct-

◦ Meaning: seven ◦ Meaning: eight

◦ Septennial, September, septagon, ◦ Octet, octopus, octagon

septuplets
Prefixes of Numbers
Dec- Multi-

◦ Meaning: ten ◦ Meaning: many

◦ Decade, decathlon, decimal ◦ Multinational, multivitamin,

multipurpose, multiculture
Other Prefixes
Other Prefixes
Pro- Auto-

◦ Meaning: ahead, forward ◦ Meaning: self

◦ Proactive, produce, promote, ◦ Autonomous, automatic, autopilot,

proceed, provoke autobiography, autofocus
Other Prefixes
Co- Con-

◦ Meaning: together, with ◦ Meaning: together, with, jointly

◦ Copilot, coworker, coexist, co-author, ◦ Connect, construct, concentrate,

cooperate conflict, conserve, condmn
End!