After you have mastered the word roots and prefixes from my main word roots pages, you can further satisfy you hunger for knowledge without needing to order up a double double hamburger from In-N-Out (a local hamburger and cheeseburger chain).
Root or Prefix | Meaning | Example Words |
agon | to struggle | agony, protagonist, antagonist, agony, agonize, |
alg | pain | neuralgia, analgesic, nostalgic, |
alter | other | alternative, alternator, alteration, altercation, alternate, |
am | friend | amiable, amorous, amity, enamored, paramour, amicable |
ambi | both | ambidextrous, ambivalent, ambiguous, ambient |
anim | alive | animated, animal, inanimate, animator, anime, animation, reanimate |
anthrop | mankind | anthropology, anthropomorphic, philanthrophy, misanthranthropology, anthropomorphic, philanthrophy, misanthropy |
eu | good, well | euphoria, eulogy, euphemism, eugenics, eucalyptus, eukaryote, eurythmics, euthanasia |
fore | before, front | forecast, forefather, foretaste, forehead, foreman, foreboding, forecastle, forearm, forebear, foreclose, foredoom, forego, forefoot, foreground, forehand, foreknowledge, foremost, foreordain, forerunner, foresee, foreshoren, foretell |
ortho | straight | orthodontics, orthodox, orthopedic, orthoscopic, orthostatic |
post | after | postscript, postconsumer, postdoctoral, posterior, postimpact, postfeminism, postgraduate, posthumous, postimpressionism, postlude, postmodernism, postpone, postproduction |
pre | before, in front of | prefix, predict, prelude, predetermined, preamplifier, predestination, prebiotic, preclude, predate, predisposed, preempt, preference, prefigure, prefrontal, preheat, prehistory, presell, presumptuous, prevent, previous, pretext, pretentious, pretend |
pro | forward | propel, proceed, produce, promote, project, proclaim, procession, profess, proffer, professor, proficient, profile, profound, profuse, progenitor, progress, prolapse, prolegomenon, prolific, prologue, prolong, pronation, pronounce, propellant, prophesy, prophecy, proponent, prorate, proscribe, prosecute, prospect, protect, protest, provide, provoke |
proto | first, earliest | prototype, protoplasm, protohistory, protocol, protogalaxy, proton, prototypical, protozoa |
quasi | approximately, resembling, to some degree | quasiperiodical, quasiparticle, quasi-governmental, quasi-scientific, quasi-judicial, quasi-stellar, quasi-public |
ultra | beyond, extremely | ultraviolet, ultrasonic, ultramarine, ultrafine, ultrasensitive, ultrawide, ultrapure, ultraquiet |
under | beneath, below, too little | undercoat, underwear, underestimate, underbid, underexpose, undercut, underclassmen, undernourished, underground, undersized, underhand, underlay, undermine, underneath, underpass, underpowered, underline, understand, undertake, undertone, undertow, undervalue, underwrite |
Learn creatively! See Creative Ways to Learn Vocabulary Words. It’s really fun. I’m not kidding.