Word Parts

a/an

without/lack of

Examples: amoral, asymmetrical, anemia, apathy

ab

away from, off of

Examples: abnormal, abstract, abduct

ambi/amphi

both, on both sides, around

Examples: ambidextrous, ambivalent, ambient, amphitheater

anti

against, opposite

Examples: antibiotic, antithesis

ante

before, previous

Examples: antechamber, antebellum, anterior

auto

self

Examples: autobiography, autograph, automobile, automate

ben/bene

good, helpful

Examples: beneficial, benevolent, benefactor

bi

two, double, split, half

Examples: binoculars, bicameral

circum

around

Examples: circumference, circumspect, circumnavigate

con/col/com

together, with

Examples: congregate, concur, collaborate, communicate

de

opposite, reverse

Examples: decompose, deny, deprive

dis

apart, away

Examples: dislodge, disintegrate, dismiss

em/en

to put into, cause to be, or make

Examples: empower, enrich, enlarge, encircle

endo/ind

inside, within

Examples: indigenous, endothermic

equ

equal, same

Examples: equality, equate, equilibrium, equanimity

eu

good, positive

Examples: eulogy, euphoria

ex

out, away

Examples: exodus, expel, extract, exonerate

exo/ecto

outside, external

Examples: exoskeleton, ectoplasm

geo

Earth, ground

Examples: geography, geology, geode

in

in, into, towards

Examples: involve, inspect, induct

in/im/ir

not, opposite

Examples: impossible, indisputable, irresponsible, inauspicious

intro

into, inside

Examples: introspection, introduce

mal

bad, evil

Examples: malicious, maleficent, malcontent

met/meta

changed, different, boundary

Examples: metamorphosis, metaphor

mis

wrong

Examples: mistake, misstep, misfortune

mono

one, singular

Examples: monotone, monolith, monochromatic

ob

against, facing

Examples: obstruct, obstacle, object

pan

every, all

Examples: panorama, pandemic, panacea

par/para

beside, similar

Examples: parallel, paranormal, parody

post

after

Examples: posthumous, posterity, postpone

re

back, again

Examples: revive, revolve, revise, relinquish

sub

under

Examples: subvert, submarine, subliminal

super/sur

over, beyond

Examples: superlative, supervise, surmount, surcharge

syl/sym/syn

together, with, same

Examples: synonym, sympathy, syllable, symmetrical

tele

beyond, afar

Examples: telepathy, telephone, telescope

un

opposite, against

Examples: unethical, unearth, unlit

anim

life

Examples: animation, animal

aud

hearing, listening

Examples: audio, inaudible, audition, audience

bio

life

Examples: biography, biology, antibiotic

chron

time

Examples: chronology, chronic, synchronize

cis/cise

cut, shorten

Examples: scissors, concise, incisive, excise

cred

belief

Examples: credibility, credentials, incredulous

dur

length of time

Examples: duration, endure, durable

fort

strength

Examples: comfort, fortress, fortify, fortitude

graph

writing

Examples: autograph, photograph, bibliography

gress

movement

Examples: progress, regress, congress, egress

ject

throw, cast

Examples: eject, project, reject, inject

laud

praise

Examples: applaud, laudable

loc/loq

speech

Examples: eloquent, loquacious, colloquial

mag/magna

great (big or good)

Examples: magnify, magnificent, magnanimous

nov

new

Examples: renovate, novice, novelty

pac

peace

Examples: pacify, pact

path

feeling

Examples: sympathy, apathy, empathy, pathetic

ped

foot, walk

Examples: pedestal, impediment, pedestrian

phil

love

Examples: philanthropic, philosophy

spec

look at, observe

Examples: inspect, retrospect, introspection, spectacle, suspect

terr

earth, land

Examples: terrain, terrace, terrestrial

ultim

final, end

Examples: ultimatum, penultimate

ver

truth

Examples: verify, aver, veritable

vit/viv

life

Examples: vital, revive, vivacious, vivid

uni/sol/mono

one, singular

Examples: solitary, unanimous, unique, monopoly, monorail

bi/di/du/deu

two, divided

Examples: bisect, binary, dilemma, diverge, duplex

tri/ter

three

Examples: tricycle, tripod, tertiary

quad/tetra

four

Examples: quadrant, quadrilateral, quadruped, tetrahedron

pent/quin

five

Examples: pentagon, pentacle, pentathlon, quintet

hex/sext

six

Examples: hexagon, sextuplet

hept/sept

seven

Examples: heptagon, septuplet

oct

eight

Examples: octopus, octave

nona

nine

Examples: nonagon, nonagenarian

dec

ten

Examples: decade, decimal, decimate

inter

between, among

Examples: international, interact, interconnect, interdisciplinary, interstate