In this post you can find all the English prefixes with their meanings and examples.
English prefixes
English prefixes | Meanings | Examples |
a- | verb > predicative adjective with progressive aspect | afloat, atremble |
a- | not | acyclic, asexual, atonal, atheist |
anti- | against, opposite | anti-freeze, antivirus, anticlimax, Antichrist |
arch- | supreme, highest, worst | arch-rival, archangel |
be- | equipped with, covered with, beset with (pejorative or facetious) | bedeviled, becalm, bedazzle, bewitch |
co- | joint, with, accompanying | co-worker, coordinator, cooperation |
counter- | against, in opposition to | counteract, counterpart |
de- | reverse action, get rid of | de-emphasize |
dis- | not, opposite of | disloyal, disagree |
dis- | reverse action, get rid of | disconnect, disinformation |
en-/em- | to make into, to put into, to get into | enmesh, empower |
ex- | former | ex-husband, ex-boss, ex-colleague, ex-friend |
fore- | before, in front | forearm, forehead, forehand, forerunner |
hind- | after | hindsight, hindquarters |
mal- | bad(ly) | malnourish, maladjusted |
mid- | middle | midstream, midlife |
midi- | medium-sized | midi-length |
mini- | small | minimarket, mini-room, minivan |
mis- | wrong, astray | misinformation, misguide, misfortune |
out- | better, faster, longer, beyond | outreach, outcome |
over- | excessive, above | overreact, overact, overbearing |
post- | after, behind | post-election, post-graduation, post-war |
pre- | before | prevent, previous, pre-election, pre-enter, pre-select |
pro- | for, forward, in favor of | propulsion, propound, pro-life |
re- | again, back | redo, revisit, rerun, reorganize |
self- | self | self-sufficient, self-explanatory |
step- | family relation by remarriage | stepbrother, stepmother |
trans- | across, from one place to another | transatlantic, transSiberian |
twi- | two | twibill, twilight |
un- | not, against, opposite of | unnecessary, unequal, undesirable, unhappy |
un- | reverse action, deprive of, release from | undo, untie, unexpected, unlock |
under- | below, beneath, lower in grade/dignity, lesser, insufficient | underachieve, underground, underpass, underdeveloped, underrated |
up- | greater, higher, or better | upgrade, uplift, upsurge |
with- | against, back, away (from) | withstand, withcall |
Afro- | relating to Africa | Afro-American, Afro-Caribbean |
ambi- | both | ambidextrous, ambitendency |
amphi- | around, two, both, on both sides | amphiaster, amphitheatre, amphibian |
an-/a- | not, without | anemic, asymmetric |
ana-, an- | up, against | anacardiaceous, anode |
Anglo- | relating to England | Anglo-Norman, Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-American |
ante- | before | antenatal, antechamber, antecedent |
anti- | opposite, against | antivenom |
apo-, ap- | away from, detached | aphelion, apogee, apomorphine |
astro- | star | astrobiology, astrology, astronomy |
auto- | self | autobiography, automatic, autonomy, |
bi- | two | bicycle, biped |
bio- | life, biological | biology |
circum- | around, surrounding | circumnavigate |
cis- | on this side of | cislunar |
con-/com-/col-/cor-/co- | together or with | confederation, commingle, colleague, correlation, cohabit |
contra- | opposite | contradict, contraindication |
cryo- | ice | cryogenics |
crypto- | hidden, secret | cryptography |
de- | down | depress, descend |
demi- | half | demigod |
demo- | people | democracy, demography |
deuter- | second | deuteragonist, deuterogamy |
di- | two | dicotyledon, digamy, dioxide |
dia- | through | dialysis, diameter |
dis-/di-/dif- | apart | differ, dissect, divide |
du-/duo- | two | dual, duet |
eco- | ecological | ecosystem |
electro- | electric, electricity | electro-analysis, electromagnetic |
en-, el-, em- | in | ellipsis, emphasis, energetic |
epi-, ep- | upon, at, close upon, in addition | ephemeron, epicentre, epidermis |
Euro- | European | Eurocentric |
ex- | out of | exit, expel, explode, exploit, explore, export |
extra- | outside | extracurricular |
Franco- | French, France | Francophile, Franco-British, Franco-German |
geo- | relating to the earth or its surface | geography, geology, geometry |
gyro- | spinning on an axis | gyrocopter, gyroscope, gyrosphere |
hetero- | different | heterosexual |
hemi- | half | hemimorphic, hemisphere |
homo- | same | homogenous, homologous |
hydro- | relating to water, or using water | hydroelectricity, hydrant |
hyper- | above, over | hyperthermia |
hypo- | under or below something, low | hypothermia |
ideo- | image, idea | ideograph, ideaology |
idio- | individual, personal, unique | idiolect, idiopathic |
in- | in, into | insert, include |
Indo- | relating to the Indian subcontinent | Indo-European |
in-, il-, im-, ir- | not, opposite of | illicit, impossible, inexact, irregular |
infra- | below, beneath | infrared |
inter- | among, between | interact, intercede, international |
intra- | inside, within | intravenous |
iso- | equal | isochromatic, isotherm |
macr- | long | macrobiotic |
maxi- | very long, very large | maxi-skirt |
mega-, megalo- | great, large | megastar, megalopolis |
meta- | after, along with, beyond, among, behind | metabolism, metaphysics |
micro- | small | microbacillus |
mono-, mon- | sole, only | monogamy, monotone, monosyllabic |
multi-, mult- | many | multicultural, multi-storey, multitude |
neo- | new | neolithic, neoclassical |
non- | not | nonexistent |
omni- | all | omnipotent, omnipresent, omnivore |
ortho- | correcting or straightening | orthodontics, orthotropic |
paleo- | old | paleolithic |
pan- | all, worldwide | pan-African, pandemic, panorama |
para- | beside, beyond | parallel, paranormal |
ped- | foot | pedal, pedestrian |
per- | through, completely, wrongly, exceedingly | permeate, permute |
peri- | around, near or adjacent | perihelion, periphrase |
photo- | light | photoelectric, photography |
pod- | foot | podiatrist |
poly- | many | polygon, polyhedron |
post- | after | postfix, postpone, postscript |
pre- | before | predict, prepare, preview |
preter- | beyond, past, more than | preternatural |
pro- | for, substitute, deputy | proconsul |
pro- | before | procambium |
pros- | toward | prosthesis |
proto- | first, original | protoplasm, prototype |
pseudo- | false, imitation | pseudonym |
pyro- | fire | pyrokinetic, pyrotechnic |
quasi- | partly, almost, appearing to be but not really | quasi-religious |
retro- | backwards | retrograde |
semi- | half | semicircle |
socio- | society, social, sociological | sociopath |
sub-, sup- | below, under | submarine, subterranean, suburban, support |
super- | above, over | supervisor, superintendent |
supra- | above, over | suprarenal |
sur- | above, over | surreal, surrender |
syn-, sy-, syl-, sym- | together, with | syllable, symbol, synthesis, system |
tele- | at a distance | telegraph, telephone, telescope, television |
trans- | over, through, across | transverse |
tri- | three | tricycle, tripartite |
ultra- | beyond | ultramagnetic, ultrasonic, ultraviolet |
uni- | one, consisting of only one | unicycle, universal |
vice- | deputy | vice-president, vice-principal, vice-admiral |
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