Morphology: Prefixes and Suffixes

Vocabulary practice cards defining key prefixes, suffixes, and derived words covered in the morphology and word-building lessons.

Affix

A word part, such as a prefix or suffix, attached to a root or base word to modify its meaning or grammatical function.

Prefix

A morpheme added to the beginning of a base word or root that alters its meaning.

Suffix

A morpheme added to the end of a base word or root that modifies its meaning or changes its part of speech.

-ate

A suffix forming verbs meaning "to cause to be" or "to make."

-ion

A suffix that creates a noun denoting the act, process, or result of an action.

-ule

A diminutive suffix signifying a small thing.

-al

A suffix forming adjectives from nouns, meaning "related to" or "connected with."

-er

A suffix denoting a person who performs a specific action.

-able

A suffix forming adjectives with the meaning "capable of being."

-ment

A noun-forming suffix denoting the result or outcome of an action or process.

-ic

A suffix forming adjectives meaning "person or thing characterized by" or "related to."

Information

The act of giving knowledge, formed by adding the suffix -ion to the root inform.

Informative

Giving knowledge; an adjective formed by adding the suffix -ive to the root inform.

Government

A system of ruling and decision-making.

Fictional

An adjective describing something imaginary.

Calculate

A verb meaning to figure something out using numbers.

Minuscule

A word denoting a very small thing.

Teacher

A person who instructs others.

Scientific

An adjective describing something based on systematic study.

trans-

A prefix meaning across, change, or beyond.

uni-

A prefix meaning one.

ad-

A prefix meaning to or toward.

sub-

A prefix meaning under or beneath.

re-

A prefix meaning again or back.

de-

A prefix meaning down or away.

con-

A prefix meaning together or with.

in-

A prefix meaning not or into.

Transform

To change something's shape, built from the prefix trans- (across/change) and the root form (shape).