B-3 Common Prefixes

a-, an-

Denotes absence or negation (without/not).

ab-

Indicates movement away from something.

amb-, ambi-

Refers to both sides.

auto-

Means self.

bi-

Indicates two or double.

brady-

Refers to something that is slow.

dys-

Denotes bad, difficult, or painful.

epi-

Means on, upon, or above.

hemi-

Refers to half.

hyper-

Indicates excessive.

hypo-

Means below or under.

inter-

Refers to between.

intra-

Means within.

macro-

Denotes large.

micro-

Refers to small.

neo-

Means new.

para-

Refers to near, beside, or around.

peri-

Means around.

poly-

Indicates many or much.

post-

Means after or behind.

pre-

Indicates before.

quadri-

Refers to four.

sub-

Means below or under.

supra-

Indicates above.

tachy-

Means rapid or fast.

tri-

Refers to three.