Prefixes
A prefix is a group of letter at the beginning of a word which changes the word’s meaning.
| PREFIX | MEANING(S) | EXAMPLES |
| anti- | opposed or preventing/destroying | anti-racist laws, anti-aircraft missile |
| auto- | independently or of yourself | autopilot, autobiography |
| bi- | two | bilingual |
| co- | with or together | co-author, coexist |
| counter- | opposing or as a reaction to | counterattack, counterculture |
| dis- | not or the opposite of | dishonest, disagree |
| de- | to take something away | deforestation |
| hyper- | having a lot of or too much of a quality | hyperactive, hypersensitive |
| ill- | poorly, in an unsuitable way | ill-judged, ill-matched |
| il- | not | illegal, illegible |
| im- | not | impossible, implausible |
| in- | not | incorrect, indecisive |
| ir- | not | irregular, irresponsible |
| inter- | between or among | international, interlock, intermingle |
| mega- | a very large amount or huge | mega-rich, megacity |
| micro- | very small | microchip, microscopic |
| mini- | small | miniskirt, minuscule |
| mono- | one or single | monolingual, monotone |
| multi- | many | multi-talented, multicultural |
| out- | 1. more than or better than others 2. far away from 3. beyond a limit or beyond normal | outnumber, outdo, outwit outstretch, outlying, outpost outgrow, outstay, outsize |
| over- | too much | overeat, overpopulated |
| pre- | before or earlier than | pre-tax profits, pre-school |
| pro- | supporting or in favour of | pro-democracy, pro-biotic |
| re- | again | redo, reusable, reforestation |
| sub- | 1. under, below or less than 2. lesser or smaller part of a larger whole | sub-zero temperatures, subhuman subsection, subculture |
| super- | more than usual, extreme of its kind | supermodel, super-rich, superbug |
| trans- | 1. change one form to another 2. movement from one place to another | transform, translate transatlantic flights |
| ultra- | extremely | ultra-modern, ultra-careful |
| under- | 1. not enough 2. below | undercooked, underprivileged underpass, underwear |
Suffixes
A suffix is a group of letters at the end of a word which can change the word’s meaning, or its part of speech, or both. This list contains only those suffixes with special meanings.
| SUFFIX | MEANING | EXAMPLES |
| -aholic -oholic | who is addicted to | workaholic, chocoholic |
| -able -ible | can do | avoidable, edible |
| -centric | focussed exclusively on | egocentric, Eurocentric |
| -ed | having this thing | aged, beard |
| -ee | who something is done to | employee, interviewee |
| -en | become or make become | thicken, fatten |
| -er -or | who or what does this | coordinator, timer |
| -hood | state of being and period of time | childhood, motherhood |
| -ish | 1. slightly 2. in the way of 3. approximately | greyish, smallish childish, devilish fiftyish |
| -ise -ize | to make become | modernise / modernize |
| -less | without | homeless, thoughtless |
| -like | similar to | childlike, lifelike |
| -ly | 1. every time 2. in the way of or similar to | daily, monthly motherly, cowardly |
| -ology | the study of | psychology, sociology |
| -phile | who likes, loves or is obsessed with | technophile, Francophile, bibliophile |
| -phobe | who fears | technophobe |
| -phobia | fear of | xenophobia, claustrophobia |
| -proof | protecting against or not damaged by | bulletproof, tamper-proof |
| -ship | 1. involvement between people or things 2. skill, quality | friendship, ownership sportsmanship |
| -ward | in the direction of | backward, Northward |
| -wards | in the direction of | inwards, homewards |
| -y | having a lot of (often negative) | noisy, dirty, smelly |
