English Prefixes

un-

not, opposite of (unhappy)

re-

again, back (redo)

pre-

before (preview)

post-

after (postwar)

anti-

against (antisocial)

pro-

for, in favor of (proactive)

sub-

under, below (submarine)

super-

above, beyond (superhuman)

inter-

between, among (international)

intra-

within (intracellular)

trans-

across, through (transport)

over-

too much (overreact)

under-

too little (underpaid)

mis-

wrong, incorrectly (misjudge)

non-

not (nonfiction)

dis-

not, opposite of (disagree)

en-/em-

cause to (empower)

de-

remove, reverse (deactivate)

co-

together (cooperate)

bi-

two (bicycle)

tri-

three (triangle)

mono-

one (monologue)

poly-

many (polygamy)

circum-

around (circumference)

contra-

against (contradict)

extra-

beyond (extraordinary)

hyper-

over (hyperactive)

hypo-

under (hypothermia)

auto-

self (autobiography)

bio-

life (biology)

geo-

earth (geology)

micro-

small (microscope)

macro-

large (macroeconomics)

tele-

far (telephone)

semi-

half (semicircle)

multi-

many (multitask)

neo-

new (neonatal)

pan-

all (panorama)

peri-

around (perimeter)

retro-

backward, past (retroactive)

mid-

middle (midpoint)

fore-

before (foretell)

out-

beyond (outperform)

self-

oneself (selfmade)

ex-

out of, former (exhale)

in- / im-

not (impossible)

ab-

away from (abnormal)

ad-

toward (adhere)

ob-

against (obstruct)

per-

through, completely (permeate)