A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word to form a new word. A suffix, on the other hand, is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a base word to create a new word.
In this concise lesson, you will discover the main prefixes and suffixes in English, their meanings, and examples to help you understand them better.
English Prefixes
A prefix is one or more letters added to the beginning of a word to create a new word with a different meaning.
For example, prefixes can change a word to mean the opposite of its original meaning. They can also provide information related to space or time. Adding the prefix im- to the adjective possible turns it into impossible.
What are the different prefixes in English?
The list of prefixes in English is extensive. However, the Cambridge Dictionary highlights the most common ones. Here is a list of these frequently used prefixes for you to explore:
| Prefix | Meaning | Example | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| anti- | Against or opposed to | anti-war | Many people joined the anti-war protests. |
| auto- | Self or oneself | autobiography | She wrote an autobiography about her life. |
| de- | Reverse or change | demotivate | Criticism can demotivate employees. |
| dis- | Reverse or remove | disqualify | Breaking the rules may disqualify a player. |
| down- | Reduce or lower | downhearted | He felt downhearted after the bad news. |
| extra- | Beyond or outside | extraterrestrial | The movie is about extraterrestrial life. |
| hyper- | Extreme | hyperactive | The child was hyperactive after eating candy. |
| il-, im-, in-, ir- | Negation or opposite | illegal | It is illegal to drive without a license. |
| inter- | Between or connection | international | They attended an international conference. |
| mega- | Very large or important | megaton | The explosion released energy equivalent to a megaton. |
| mid- | In the middle | midnight | She woke up at midnight. |
| over- | Too much | overcook | Be careful not to overcook the pasta. |
| out- | Go beyond | out-perform | The team managed to outperform their competitors. |
| post- | After | post-election | There were many discussions in the post-election period. |
| pre- | Before | prehistoric | Dinosaurs lived in prehistoric times. |
| pro- | In favor of | pro-democracy | The group is actively pro-democracy. |
| re- | Again | reconsider | You should reconsider your decision. |
| semi- | Half or partially | semi-retired | He is semi-retired and works only part-time. |
| sub- | Under or below | submarine | The submarine dove deep into the ocean. |
| super- | Above or beyond | superhero | Her favorite superhero is Spider-Man. |
| tele- | At a distance | television | They watched the news on television. |
| trans- | Across | transfer | Please transfer the files to this folder. |
| ultra- | Extremely | ultrasound | The doctor performed an ultrasound scan. |
| un- | Remove or reverse | undo | You can undo the last action on your computer. |
| under- | Below or less than | underestimate | Don’t underestimate the complexity of this task. |
| up- | Higher | uphill | The cyclist struggled on the uphill climb. |
When should we put a hyphen between the prefix and the initial word?
In English, some prefixes are followed by a hyphen (e.g., de-classify), while others are directly attached to the base word (e.g., decontaminate). The rule for this? There isn’t a strict one!
If you’re unsure about how a prefixed word is spelled, it’s best to consult a dictionary, such as the Cambridge Dictionary. This will clarify whether a hyphen is needed or not. For example:
You will learn that de-classify (to make public) uses a hyphen but that decontaminate (to remove contamination), on the contrary, does not.
English Suffixes
A suffix is one or more letters added to the end of a word to form a new word. Unlike prefixes, which often change the meaning of a word, suffixes tend to alter its grammatical category.
For instance, adding the suffix -ful to the verb forget changes it into the adjective forgetful (meaning absent-minded).
What are the different suffixes in English?
Like prefixes, there are many suffixes in English. The Cambridge Dictionary has identified the most commonly used ones. Here are the main suffixes, categorized by grammatical function: nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs.
Suffixes that form nouns
| Suffix | Example | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| -age | baggage | She carried her baggage through the airport. |
| -al | arrival | The train’s arrival was delayed by an hour. |
| -ance | reliance | He placed too much reliance on his friends. |
| -dom | freedom | Freedom of speech is a fundamental right. |
| -ee | employee | The company hired a new employee last week. |
| -ence | insistence | Her insistence on honesty was admirable. |
| -er | driver | The driver stopped at the red light. |
| -hood | childhood | She has fond memories of her childhood. |
| -ism | capitalism | Capitalism encourages private ownership. |
| –ist | socialist | The socialist leader proposed new reforms. |
| -ity | brutality | The movie depicted the brutality of war. |
| -ment | disappointment | His failure to show up caused disappointment. |
| -ness | kindness | Kindness can make a big difference in someone’s day. |
| -or | director | The director guided the actors during rehearsals. |
| -ry | robbery | The police investigated the bank robbery. |
| -ship | membership | Her gym membership expires next month. |
| -sion | expression | His expression of gratitude was heartfelt. |
| -tion | population | The population of the city has grown rapidly. |
| -ty | cruelty | The cruelty towards animals was shocking. |
| -xion | complexion | She had a clear and glowing complexion. |
Suffixes that form adjectives
| Suffix | Example | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| -able | drinkable | The water from the stream is drinkable. |
| -al | brutal | The movie showed a brutal fight scene. |
| -en | golden | She wore a necklace with a golden pendant. |
| -ese | Japanese | The Japanese garden was peaceful and beautiful. |
| -ful | helpful | The guide was very helpful during the trip. |
| -i | Iraqi | The Iraqi artist displayed her work at the gallery. |
| -ian | Canadian | The Canadian athlete won a gold medal. |
| -ible | flexible | This material is both durable and flexible. |
| -ic | poetic | Her speech was full of poetic expressions. |
| -ish | childish | His childish behavior annoyed the adults. |
| -ive | passive | She took a passive approach to the situation. |
| -less | homeless | The charity helps homeless individuals find shelter. |
| -ly | monthly | They have a monthly meeting to discuss progress. |
| -ous | famous | The city is famous for its historical landmarks. |
| -y | rainy | It’s a rainy day; don’t forget your umbrella. |
Suffixes that form verbs
| Suffix | Example | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| -ate | dominate | The team managed to dominate the competition. |
| -en | soften | Use cream to soften your skin. |
| -ify | identify | Can you identify the person in this photo? |
| -ise | realise | He didn’t realise the mistake until it was too late. |
| -ize | industrialize | Many countries began to industrialize in the 19th century. |
Suffixes that form adverbs
| Suffix | Example | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| -ly | easily | She solved the puzzle easily. |
| -ward | homeward | After a long day, they headed homeward. |
| -wards | downwards | The ball rolled downwards into the valley. |
| -wise | clockwise | Turn the key clockwise to open the door. |
Common spelling changes when adding suffixes
When adding a suffix, the original word may undergo a spelling change. If you are unsure, always check a dictionary—either online or in print. Here are three common examples of spelling modifications:
Example 1: The letter y changes to i
When adding the suffix -ful to a noun ending in -y, replace the -y with -i. The same rule applies when adding the suffix -ness to an adjective ending in -y.
Examples :
- beauty → beautiful (The sunset was beautiful.)
- heavy → heaviness (The heaviness of the box made it hard to carry.)
Example 2: The ending -le becomes -il
When adding the suffix -ity to an adjective ending in -le, change -le to -il.
Example :
- possible → possibility (There is a possibility of rain tomorrow.)
Example 3: The letter t becomes -ss
When adding the suffix -ion to a verb ending in -t, change the -t to -ss.
Example :
- permit → permission (You need permission to enter the restricted area.)
Exercise on prefixes and suffixes in English
Practice makes perfect! Try these exercises and check your answers afterward.
Exercise 1: Add the correct prefix or suffix to the word in parentheses
- Help me, doctor: I’m (able) to sleep.
- It’s only (day) and I already want to go to bed.
- My (king) for a horse!
- (Brother) is one of the bases of relationship in Islam.
- Nevermind, it’s a (hope) case.
Correction for exercise 1
- Help me, doctor: I’m unable to sleep.
- It’s only midday and I already want to go to bed.
- My kingdom for a horse!
- Brotherhood is one of the bases of relationship in Islam.
- Nevermind, it’s a hopeless case.
Exercise 2:
Below are some incomplete sentences. Complete each sentence by choosing the correct word formed with a prefix or suffix from the words provided in parenthesis.
- My daughter is considered to be the greatest _ in her school. (violin)
- It would be _ for me not to go to his funeral. (respectful)
- Julia’s kids have been really _ today. (noise)
- Turn the key in a _ direction. (clock)
- Never _ an old man with an axe! (estimate)
Correction for exercise 2
- My daughter is considered to be the greatest violinist in her school!
- It would be disrespectful for me not to go to his funeral.
- Julia’s kids have been really noiseless.
- Turn the key in a clockwise direction.
- Never underestimate an old man with an axe!
