This list contains some of the common roots and prefixes that
make up
the building blocks of numerous English words. Following the table of
general
roots and prefixes is a table of number prefixes.
The very words prefix and suffix are good examples, too. Pre means before and fix means to fasten or attach, so a quite literally, a prefix is something attached to the beginning of something else. Suf is a variant of sub, below or under, so a suffix is something fastened underneath something else (in this case, behind the root).
By learning the common roots and prefixes (and a few suffixes) you will be able to discern the meaning of many new words almost immediately. (But do look them up for confirmation.)
| Root or Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
| a, an | not, without | atheist, anarchy, anonymous apathy, aphasia, anemia, atypical, anesthesia |
| ab | away from | absent, abduction, aberrant, abstemious, abnormal, abstract, absorb |
| acro | high, tip, top | acrobat, acrophobia, acronym, acromegaly |
| ad | to, toward | admit, addition, advertisement, adherent, admonish, address, adhesive, adept, adjust |
| alt | high | altitude, altimiter, alto, contralto, altocumulus |
| ambul | to walk | ambulatory, amble, ambulance, somnambulist, perambulate, preamble |
| ante | before | anteroom, antebellum, antedate antecedent, antediluvian |
| anti, ant | against, opposite | antisocial, antiseptic, antithesis, antibody, antichrist, antinomies, antifreeze, antipathy, antigen, antibiotic, antidote, antifungal, antidepressant |
| audi | to hear | audience, auditory, audible, auditorium, audiovisual, audition, audiobook |
| auto | self | automobile, automatic, autograph, autonomous, autoimmune, autopilot, autobiography |
| be | thoroughly | bedecked, besmirch, besprinkled, begrudge, begrime, belie, bemoan |
| bell | war | belligerent, antebellum, bellicose, rebel |
| bene | good, well | benefactor, beneficial, benevolent, benediction, beneficiary, benefit |
| bi | two | bicycle, bifocals, biceps, billion, binary, bivalve, bimonthly, bigamy, bimetal, biathlete, bicarbonate |
| cede, ceed, cess | to go, to yield | succeed, proceed, precede, recede, secession, exceed, succession, excess |
| chron | time | chronology, chronic, chronicle, chronometer, anachronism |
| cide, cis | to kill, to cut | fratricide, suicide, incision, excision, circumcision, precise, concise, precision |
| circum | around | circumnavigate, circumflex, circumstance, circumcision, circumference, circumorbital, circumlocution, circumvent, circumscribe, circulatory |
| clud, clus claus | to close | include, exclude, clause, claustrophobia, enclose, exclusive, reclusive, conclude, preclude |
| con, com | with, together | convene, compress, contemporary, converge, compact, confluence, concatenate, conjoin, combine, convert, compatible, consequence |
| contra, counter | against, opposite | contradict, counteract, contravene, contrary, counterspy, contrapuntal, contraband |
| cred | to believe | credo, credible, credence, credit, credential, credulity, incredulous, creed, incredible |
| commun | to share | commune, community, communism, communicable, communication, commonality, incommunicado |
| cycl | circle, wheel | bicycle, cyclical, cycle, encliclical, motorcycle, tricycle, cyclone |
| de | from, down, away | detach, deploy, derange, deodorize, devoid, deflate, degenerate, deice, descend, derail, depress, depart, decompose, destruction |
| dei, div | God, god | divinity, divine, deity, divination, deify |
| demo | people | democracy, demagogue, epidemic, demographic |
| dia | through, across, between | diameter, diagonal, dialogue, dialect, dialectic, diagnosis, diachronic, diagram, diaphragm |
| dict | speak | predict, verdict, malediction, dictionary, dictate, dictum, diction, indict, contradict |
| dis, dys, dif | away, not, negative | dismiss, differ, disallow, disperse, dissuade, disconnect, dysfunction, disproportion, disrespect, distemper, distaste, disarray, dyslexia |
| duc, duct | to lead, pull | produce, abduct, product, transducer, viaduct, aqueduct, induct, deduct, reduce, induce |
| dyn, dyna | power | dynamic, dynamometer, heterodyne, dynamite, dynamo, dynasty |
| ecto | outside, external | ectomorph, ectoderm, ectoplasm, ectopic, ectothermal |
| endo | inside, within | endotoxin, endoscope, endogenous |
| equi | equal | equidistant, equilateral, equilibrium, equinox, equitable, equation, equator |
| e, ex | out, away, from | emit, expulsion, exhale, exit, express, exclusive, enervate, exceed, explosion |
| exter, extra | outside of | external, extrinsic, exterior, extraordinary, extrabiblical, extracurricular, extrapolate, extraneous, exterminator, extract, extradite, extraterrestrial, extrasensory, extravagant, extreme |
| flu, flux | flow | effluence, influence, effluvium, fluctuate, confluence, reflux, influx |
| flect, flex | to bend | flexible, reflection, deflect, circumflex, inflection, reflex |
| graph, gram | to write | polygraph, grammar, biography, graphite, telegram, autograph, lithograph, historiography, graphic, electrocardiogram, monogram |
| hetero | other | heterodox, heterogeneous, heterosexual, heterodyne |
| homo | same | homogenized, homosexual, homonym, homophone |
| hyper | over, above | hyperactive, hypertensive, hyperbolic, hypersensitive, hyperventilate, hyperkinetic, hyperlink, hypertext, hypersonic, hypertrophy |
| hypo | below, less than | hypotension, hypodermic, hypoglycemia, hypoallergenic, hypothermia, hypothesis |
| in, im | not | inviolate, innocuous, intractable, innocent, impregnable, impossible |
| infra | beneath | infrared, infrastructure, infrasonic |
| inter, intro | between | international, intercept, intermission, interoffice, internal, intermittent, introvert, introduce |
| intra | within, into | intranet, intracranial, intravenous, intramural, intramuscular, intraocular |
| jac, ject | to throw | reject, eject, project, trajectory, interject, dejected, inject, ejaculate |
| mal | bad, badly | malformation, maladjusted, dismal, malady, malcontent, malfeasance, maleficent, malevolent, malice, malaria, malfunction, malignant |
| mega | great, million | megaphone, megalomaniac, megabyte, megalopolis |
| meso | middle | mesomorph, mesoamerica, mesosphere |
| meta | beyond, change | metaphor, metamorphosis, metabolism, metahistorical, metainformation, metacognitive |
| meter | measure | perimeter, micrometer, ammeter, multimeter, altimeter, geometry, kilometer |
| micro | small | microscope, microprocessor, microfiche, micrometer, micrograph |
| mis | bad, badly | misinform, misinterpret, mispronounce, misnomer, mistake, misogynist |
| mit, miss | to send | transmit, permit, missile, missionary, remit, admit, missive, mission |
| morph | shape | polymorphic, morpheme, amorphous, metamorphosis, morphology, morphing |
| multi | many | multitude, multipartite, multiply, multipurpose, multicolored, multimedia, multinational |
| neo | new | neologism, neonate, neoclassic, neophyte |
| non | not | nonferrous, nonabrasive, nondescript, nonfat, nonfiction, nonprofit, nonsense, nonentity |
| omni | all | omnipotent, omnivorous, omniscient, omnibus, omnirange, omnipresent |
| pan | all, whole, general, completely | pantheism, pandemic, panacea, panoply, pan-American, panchromatic, pandemonium, panorama |
| para | beside | paraprofessional, paramedic, paraphrase, parachute, paralegal, parallel, comparison |
| per | through, intensive | permit, perspire, perforate, persuade, perceive, perfect, permit, perform |
| peri | around | periscope, perimeter, perigee, periodontal |
| phon | sound | telephone, phonics, phonograph, phonetic, homophone, microphone |
| phot | light | photograph, photosynthesis, photon |
| poly | many | polytheist, polygon, polygamy, polymorphous |
| port | to carry | porter, portable, report, transportation, deport, import, export |
| re | back, again | report, realign, retract, revise, regain, reflect, rename, restate, recombine, recalculate, redo |
| retro | backwards | retrorocket, retrospect, retrogression, retroactive |
| sanct | holy | sanctify, sanctuary, sanction, sanctimonious, sacrosanct |
| scrib, script | to write | inscription, prescribe, proscribe, manuscript, conscript, scribble, scribe |
| sect, sec | cut | intersect, transect, dissect, secant, section |
| semi | half | semifinal, semiconscious, semiannual, semimonthly, semicircle |
| spect | to look | inspect, spectator, circumspect, retrospect, prospect, spectacle |
| sub | under, below | submerge, submarine, substandard, subnormal, subvert, subdivision, submersible, submit |
| super, supra | above | superior, suprarenal, superscript, supernatural, supercede, superficial, superhero, superimpose |
| syn | together | synthesis, synchronous, syndicate, synergy, snyopsis, syncretism |
| tele | distance, from afar | television, telephone, telegraph, telemetry, telepathy |
| theo, the | God | theology, theist, polytheist, pantheism, atheist |
| therm, thermo | heat | thermal, thermometer, thermocouple, thermodynamic, thermoelectric |
| tract | to drag, draw | attract, tractor, traction, extract, retract, protract, detract, subtract, contract, intractable |
| trans | across | transoceanic, transmit, transport, transducer |
| un | not | uncooked, unharmed, unintended, unhappy |
| veh, vect | to carry | vector, vehicle, convection, vehement |
| vert, vers | to turn | convert, revert, advertise, versatile, vertigo, invert, reversion, extravert, introvert |
| vita | life | vital, vitality, vitamins, revitalize |
| Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
| mono, uni | one | monopoly, monotype, monologue, mononucleosis, monorail, monotheist, unilateral, universal, unity, unanimous, uniform |
| bi, di | two | divide, diverge, diglycerides, bifurcate, biweekly, bivalve, biannual, billion |
| tri | three | triangle, trinity, trilateral, triumvirate, tribune, trilogy, tricycle, trillion |
| quat, quad | four | quadrangle, quadruplets, quaternary, quarter, quadrillion |
| quint, penta | five | quintet, quintuplets, pentagon, pentane, pentameter, quintillion |
| hex, ses, sex | six | hexagon, hexameter, sestet, sextuplets, sextillion |
| sept | seven | septet, septennial, septillion |
| oct | eight | octopus, octagon, octogenarian, octave, octillion |
| non | nine | nonagon, nonagenarian, nonillion |
| dec | ten | decimal, decade, decalogue, decimate, decillion |
| cent | hundred | centennial, century, centipede, centillion |
| mill, kilo | thousand (10^3) | millennium, kilobyte, kiloton |
| mega | million (10^6) | megabyte, megaton, megaflop |
| giga | billion (10^9) | gigabyte, gigaflop |
| tera | trillion (10^12) | terabyte, teraflop |
| peta | quadrillion (10^15) | petabyte |
| exa | quintillion (10^18) | exabyte |
| zetta | sextillion (10^21) | zettabyte |
| yotta | septilion (10^24) | yottabyte |
| milli | thousandth (10^-3) | millisecond, milligram, millivolt |
| micro | millionth (10^-6) | microgram, microvolt |
| nano | billionth (10^-9) | nanosecond, nanobucks |
| pico | trillionth (10^-12) | picofarad, picocurie |
| femto | quadrillionth (10^-15) | femtosecond |
| atto | quintillionth (10^-18) | attosecond, attometer |
| zepto | sextillionth (10^-21) | zeptosecond |
| yocto | septillionth (10^-24) | yoctosecond |
| Suffix | Meaning | Examples |
| able, ible | able to be, capable of being | pourable, drinkable, readable, washable, curable, visible, flexible, collectible |
| ance, ancy | state of, process of | performance, reliance, defiance, radiance, acceptance, ascendancy, discrepancy, infancy |
| dom | condition, office, state | kingdom, freedom, wisdom, sheikdom, fiefdom, sheikdom |
| ee | one who receives | payee, mortgagee, employee, appointee, abductee, examinee, referee, refugee |
| er, or | one who does [the verb] | driver, hiker, reader, manager, polisher, speaker, counselor, author, creator, director, sculptor |
| ful | filled with | frightful, delightful, wonderful, cupful, wakeful, bashful, bountiful, beautiful, cheerful, colorful, dreadful, fateful |
| ify | to make into | purify, deify, simplify, clarify, petrify |
| ification | process of making into | purification, deification, simplifiction, clarification, petrification |
| ish | the nature of, resembling | Cornish, Irish, bookish, freakish, foolish, boorish, selfish, sluggish, priggish |
| ism | doctrine, system, characteristic quality | capitalism, heroism, optimism, skepticism, realism, patriotism, communism, idealism, conservatism |
| ist | one who performs; an adherent of an ism | tympanist, cellist, idealist, communist, realist, moralist, pharamacist, pragmatist |
| ize | to make into | rationalize, normalize, realize, capitalize |
| ization | the process of making into | rationalization, normalization, realization, capitalization |
| less | without | loveless, fearless, worthless, nameless, baseless, bottomless, effortless, friendless, noiseless, harmless |
End note: In my second year of
Latin in high school, we
were required to find twenty-five Latin word roots and for each root to
find five English words containing the root. This exercise not only
helped
to increase my vocabulary, but it gave me a valuable insight into the
way
many English words are constructed. As technology advances, new words
are
coined to cover some new idea or thing, and often these words are
created
from existing roots. A little root knowledge here can therefore help us
to begin to understand a new word even before we read about its meaning.
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