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Grammar EnchantedLearning.com
Prefixes and Suffixes
Writing Prompts
Prefixes and Suffixes List of Common Prefixes List of Common Suffixes Worksheets, Activities

Common Prefixes

A prefix is a group of letters placed before the root of a word. For example, the word "unhappy" consists of the prefix "un-" [which means "not"] combined with the root word "happy"; the word "unhappy" means "not happy."

Some Common Prefixes:
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLES
a- not, without achromatic, asymmetric, asymptomatic, atyptical
ab- away, from abduct, abnormal
acro- high or top acrobat, acronym, acrophobia
ambi- both ambidextrous, ambiguous, ambivalence
amphi- both, on two sides amphibian, amphitheater
ante- before anterior, antediluvian (before the flood)
anti- against, opposite antibody, antisocial, antifreeze, antivirus
aqua- water aquamarine, aquarium
arch- highest, worst archangel, archenemy, archetype
astro- star astrology, astronomer, astrophysics
auto- self autobiography, automatic, automobile, autonomy
be- covered with, equipped with bedazzle, bedevil, bewitch
bi- two biannual, bicycle, bifocals, bisect, bivalve, biweekly
bio- life biology, biography
centi- one hundredth, hundred centigrade, centimeter, centipede
co- with, joint coordinate, cooperate, co-worker
com- with, together combine, command, commend
con- with, together concord, condemn, condescend, confide, conserve
contra- against, opposite contradict
counter- against, in opposition to counteract, counterclockwise, counterpart, counterproductive
de- from, down, away reverse, opposite decode, decrease, deflate, degenerate, depress
dec- ten decade, decathlon, December
deci- one tenth deciliter, decimal, decimate
demi- half demigod, demilune, demitasse
di- two dicot, dioxide
dia- across, between, through diagnose, diagonal, dialogue, dialect, diameter
dis- not, opposite, reverse, away disagree, disallow, disarray, disconnect, disloyal, disrespect
dodeca- twelve dodecahedron
dorm- sleep dormant, dormitory
ec- out of, outside eclectic, eclipse
eco- relating to the economy or the environment ecology, economics, ecosphere
en- to make into, to put into encrypt, enmesh
em- to make into, to put into empower
epi- above, upon, in addition epicenter, epidemic, epidermis, epigraph, episode, epitome
equi- equal equidistant, equilateral, equinox
ex- out of, away from, lacking, former exceed, exclusive, exhale, explosion, ex-wife
extra- beyond extracurricular, extraordinary, extrapolate
exo- external, outside of exoskeleton, exosphere
fin- end final, finale, finish
fore- before forearm, forecast, forerunner, foresee
geo- earth geocentric, geography, geology, geometry
giga- billion, giant gigabyte
hemi- half hemisphere
hemo- blood hemophilia, hemorrhage
hept- seven heptagon
hex-/hexa- six hexagon, hexahedron, hexapod
hydro- water hydrocarbon, hydroelectric, hydrofoil, hydrology
hyper- above hyperactive, hyperbole, hyperthermia
hypo- below hypodermic, hypoglycemia, hypothermia
il- not illegal, illogical
im- not, without impossible, improper, impure
in- not, without inaction, incapable, invisible
inter- between, among interact, interchange, interstate
ir- not irregular, irrelevant, irradiate
iso- equal isobar, isosceles
macro- huge macrobiotic, macroscopic
magn- great magnify, magnanimous, magnificent, magnum
mal- bad malady, malicious, malnourished
mega- great, million megaphone, megabyte, megalomania, megalopolis, megaton
micro- tiny, one millionth microcosm, micrometer, microscope, microwave
mid- middle midlife, midnight
milli- one thousandth, thousand milliliter, millimeter, millipede
mini- small minicam, miniskirt
mis- bad, wrong misinform, misinterpret, mislead, misplace, mistake
mono- one monocle, monologue, monopoly, monorail, monotone
multi- many, much multifaceted, multilingual, multinational, multitudes
nano- one billionth nanosecond, nanometer
neo- new neolithic, neonate, neophyte
non- not nondescript, nonexistent, nonfat, nonfiction, nonsense
nona- nine nonagon
nov- new nova, novel, novice
oct- eight octagon, octave, octopus
out- better, beyond outbound, outcome, outpost, outrun
omni- all, every omnipotent, omniscient, omnivorous
over- excessive overcoat, overcome, overdo, overeat, overpass, overreact, overtime, overwork
para- beside, beyond, distinct from paradox, paragraph, parallel, paramedic, paranormal, paraphrase
ped- foot pedal, pedestrian, pedigree, peduncle
penta- five pentagon, pentameter, pentathlon
per- through, completely percent, percussion, perfect, perturb, pervade
peri- around perihelion, periscope, perimeter
philo- love philanthropy, philosophy
photo- light photograph, photosynthesis, photon
pod- foot podiatry, podium
poly- many polyglot, polyhedron, polygon, polymer, polymorphous
post- after postpone, postoperative
pre- before prefix, preheat, prehistory, premature
pro- for, forward, before proactive, produce, profess, program, progress, propel
proto- first protocol, protoplasm, prototype
pseudo- false pseudonym, pseudoscience
pyro- fire pyroclastic, pyromaniac, pyrotechnics
quadr- four quadrangle, quadratic, quadruple, quadruplet
quasi- almost, partly quasiparticle
quint- five quintet, quintuplet
re- again, back react, reappear, reform, report, rerun, retrieve, revert, revise
retro- backwards retrograde, retrospect
semi- half, partial semiannual, semicircle
sept- seven septillion
sub- below, under submarine, submerge, substandard
suf- before, beyond, from under suffix, suffocate, suffuse
super- over, beyond superintendent, supersonic, supervisor, superpower
sur- above, beyond surface, surreal, surrender
sym- together symbiosis, symbol, symmetry, symphony
tele- from afar telegraph, telephone, telepathy, telescope
tetra- four tetrahedron
therm- heat thermal, thermometer, thermostat
trans- across transatlantic, transcribe, transfer, transform
tri- three triangle, triathlon, tricycle, trilateral
ultra- beyond ultramarine, ultraviolet
un- against, not, opposite unable, undo, unequal, unusual, untie
under- below, insufficient underachieve, underfed, underground, underpass
uni- one unicycle, uniform, universe
up- greater, higher upgrade, uplift, upturn
with- against withdraw, withhold, without, withstand

Prefix and Suffix Activities and Worksheets
Prefix worksheet

Match Prefixes to Root Words #1
Match each prefix to a root word to make a common word. Then circle the prefixes and define them. Or go to the answers.

Prefix worksheet

Match Prefixes to Root Words #2
Match each prefix to a root word to make a common word. Then circle the prefixes and define them. Or go to the answers.

Prefix worksheet

Match Prefixes to Root Words #3
Match each prefix to a root word to make a common word. Then circle the prefixes and define them. Or go to the answers.

Prefix worksheet
Fill in the Prefixes #1

Use the bank of prefixes to complete each word. There may be more than one answer for some words. The prefixes are: de-, dis-, ex-, il-, im-, in-, mis-, non-, pre-, re-, un-, and with-. Or go to the answers.
Prefix worksheet
Fill in the Prefixes #2

Use the bank of prefixes to complete each word. There may be more than one answer for some words. The prefixes are: de-, dis-, ex-, im-, in-, mis-, non-, pre-, pro-, re-, un-, and uni-. Or go to the answers.
Prefix worksheet
Fill in the Prefixes and Suffixes #1

Use the bank of prefixes and suffixes to complete each word. There may be more than one answer for some words. Or go to the answers.
Prefix worksheet
Fill in the Prefixes and Suffixes #2

Use the bank of prefixes and suffixes to complete each word. There may be more than one answer for some words. Or go to the answers.
Prefix worksheet
Write Words Given Prefixes #1

For each prefix, write a word or words that begins with that prefix. Write as many as you can! The prefixes are: anti-, de-, dis-, ex-, il-, im-, in-, non-, over-, pre-, re-, sub-, tri-, un-, with-. Or go to sample answers.
Prefix worksheet
Write Words Given Prefixes #2

For each prefix, write a word or words that begins with that prefix. Write as many as you can! The prefixes are: con-, com-, geo-, inter-, mal-, mega-, micro-, mis-, para-, poly-, over-, post-, tele-, therm-, trans-. Or go to sample answers.
Prefix worksheet
Write Words Given Prefixes #3

For each prefix, write a word or words that begins with that prefix. Write as many as you can! The prefixes are: auto-, bi-, bio-, centi-, counter-, fore-, inter-, mid-, milli-, out-, para-, photo-, semi-, under-, uni-. Or go to sample answers.
numbers prefix worksheet
Write Words Given Prefixes

For each prefix, write its definition, and find as many words as you can that begin with that prefix. The prefixes are: anti-, auto-, counter-, de-, dis-, ex-, il-, in-, mis-, non-, over-, pre-, pro-, re-, un-. Or go to sample answers.
numbers prefix worksheet
Write Words Given Number Prefixes

For each number prefix, write its definition, and find as many words as you can that begin with that prefix. The prefixes are: bi-, centi-, dec-, deci-, hexa-, milli-, mono-, multi-, nona-, penta-, poly-, quadra-, quint-, tri-, uni-. Or go to sample answers.


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