Prefixes for English Language Learners

Writing & Language Development Center

Adding prefixes to the base, or root, of existing words to form new words is common in English. The prefix is added in front

of the base word (pre- means before) to create a new word with a different meaning. For example, if you add the prefix dis-

to the word like, you get dislike—the opposite of like. Prefixes usually do not change the part of speech of the base word,

so, for example, adding a prefix to a verb results in a new verb, while adding a prefix to an adjective results in a new

adjective. Prefixes are not words in their own right and cannot stand on their own in a sentence (unless you are writing

about prefixes!); if they are printed on their own, they have a hyphen attached. Note: even though the lists below are sorted

by part of speech, prefixes can attach to almost any word (for example, you’ll see co- listed below as a prefix for verbs,

adjectives, and nouns. Some words using prefixes are hyphenated and some are not, and some that used to be

hyphenated no longer are. Check a dictionary to be sure.

Prefixes with verbs

Adding a prefix to a verb usually results in a new verb. For example, adding dis- to the verb appear results in the verb

disappear. The most common prefixes used to form new verbs in English are re-, dis-, over-, un-, mis-, out-.

Prefix

Meaning

Examples

be-

make or cause

befriend, belittle

co-

together

coexist, cooperate, co-own

de-

do the opposite of

devalue, deselect

dis-

reverses the meaning

disappear, disallow, disarm, disconnect, discontinue

fore-

earlier, before

foreclose, foresee

inter-

between

interact, intermix, interface

mis-

badly or wrongly

mislead, misinform, misidentify, misunderstand

out-

more or better than others

outperform, outbid, outdo

over-

too much

overbook, oversleep, overwork

pre-

before

pre-expose, prejudge, prepay

re-

again or back

restructure, revisit, reappear, rebuild, refinance

sub-

under or below

subcontract, subdivide, subsume

trans-

across or over

transform, transcribe, transplant

un-

reverses the meaning

unbend, uncouple, unfasten

under-

not enough

underfund, underperform, undervalue

Prefixes with adjectives

Adding a prefix to an adjective usually gives you a new adjective. To illustrate, adding the prefix un- to the adjective

comfortable gives you an adjective with an altered meaning: uncomfortable. Common prefixes for adjectives include

negative prefixes un-, in-, and non-.

Prefix

Meaning

Examples

bi-

two

bilingual, bicultural, biweekly

co-

together

codependent, cooperative

dis-

not/reverses the meaning

disloyal, dissimilar

im-, in-, ir-, il-

not/reverses the meaning

impatient, inconvenient, irreplaceable, illegal

mal-

bad

maladjusted, malformed, malfunction

mini-

small

miniature, minimum, minibike

mis-

wrong

misunderstood, misanthropic

non-

not/reverses the meaning

nonfiction, nonpolitical, non-neutral

over-

too much

overexcited, overtired, overworked

pre-

before

prefabricated, prehistoric, premarital, prepaid

sub-

under/below

subconscious, subpar

un-

not/reverses the meaning

unfortunate, uncomfortable, unjust, unlucky

under-

below, too little

unpaid, undervalued, underachieving

Prefixes with nouns

Adding a prefix to a noun usually results in a new noun. For instance, if you add auto- to the noun biography, you get the

new noun autobiography. The most common prefixes used to form new nouns in English are co- and sub-.

Prefix

Meaning

Examples

anti-

against

anticlimax, antithesis

auto-

self

autobiography, automobile

bi-

two

bilingualism, biculturalism

co-

together

cofounder, co-owner, codependent

counter-

against

counterargument, counterexample, counterproposal

dis-

the opposite of

discomfort, dislike, disinformation

electronic

email, e-book, e-commerce, e-tailer

ex-

former

ex-chairman, ex-spouse, ex-boyfriend

hyper-

extreme

hyperinflation, hyperventilation

in-

the opposite of

inattention, incoherence, incompatibility

in-

inside

inpatient, input

inter-

between

interaction, interference

kilo-

thousand

kilobyte, kilogram, kilowatt

mal-

bad

malfunction, maltreatment, malnutrition

mega-

million

megabyte, megawatt, megaton

mini-

small

miniature, minimum, minibike, minivan

mis-

wrong

misconduct, misdeed, misunderstanding

mono-

one

monosyllable, monograph, monogamy

neo-

new

neocolonialism, neoimpressionism

out-

separate

outbuilding, outpatient

poly-

many

polyglot, polygamy, polytheist

pre-

before

prejudice

pseudo-

false

pseudo-expert, pseudonym

re-

again

reorganization, reassessment, reexamination

semi-

half

semicircle, semidarkness

sub-

below

subset, subdivision

super-

more than, above

superimposition, superpower

sur-

over and above

surtax, surcharge

tele-

distant

telecommunications, television

tri-

three

tricycle, tripod

ultra-

beyond

ultrasound

under-

below, too little

underpayment, underdevelopment, undergraduate

vice-

deputy

vice-president, vice chancellor

Contributed by Kelly Cunningham

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