General Roots and Prefixes
Root or Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
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, postscript, transcript |
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, teleconference |
theo, the | God | theology, theist, polytheist, pantheism, atheist, monotheist, theophany |
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, transit, intransitive |
un | not | uncooked, unharmed, unintended, unhappy, unenlightened, unremarkable |
veh, vect, vey | to carry | vector, vehicle, convection, vehement, convey, conveyance, conveyor |
vert, vers | to turn | convert, revert, advertise, versatile, vertigo, invert, reversion, extravert, introvert |
ven, vent | to come | convention, prevent, intervention, convent, Advent, invent, inventory |
verm | worm | vermin, vermicelli, vermiculite, vermicide, vermiform, vermilion |
vita | life | vital, vitality, vitamins, revitalize |
vol | to will | benevolent, volition, voluntary, malevolent |
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Number Prefixes
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, September |
oct | eight | octopus, octagon, octogenarian, octave, octillion, October |
non | nine | nonagon, nonagenarian, nonillion |
dec | ten | decimal, decade, decalogue, decimate, decillion, December |
cent | hundred | centennial, century, centipede, centillion |
mill, kilo | thousand (10^3) | millennium, kilobyte, kiloton |
mega | million (10^6) | megabyte, megaton, megaflop, megawatt |
giga | billion (10^9) | gigabyte, gigaflop, gigahertz, gigawatt |
tera | trillion (10^12) | terabyte, teraflop, terawatt |
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, milliwatt, millimeter, millipede |
micro | millionth (10^-6) | microgram, microvolt, microwave, microsecond |
nano | billionth (10^-9) | nanosecond, nanobucks, nanofarad, nanometer, nanomachine, nanotube, nanotechnology, nanogram, nanoscale |
pico | trillionth (10^-12) | picofarad, picocurie, picogram, picomole, picosecond |
femto | quadrillionth (10^-15) | femtosecond |
atto | quintillionth (10^-18) | attosecond, attometer |
zepto | sextillionth (10^-21) | zeptosecond |
yocto | septillionth (10^-24) | yoctosecond
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