SAT Most Common Prefixes/Suffixes

a

without: apathy, amoral, asymmetrical

ab

away: absent, abduct, abnormal, abort

amb

both: ambivalent, ambiguous, ambidextrous

ana

back: anachronism, anabasis

anti (ant)

against, opposite: antagonist, antidote, antibiotics

bi

two: bicycle, biceps, biscotti, biweekly

co

with, together, joint: coauthor, cosign, collaborate, cooperate

con

together, common: connect, convention, concur

contra

against: contraband, contrary

counter

opposing, contrary: counteract, counterintuitive, counteroffer

di

twice, two: dilemma, diverse, dioxide

dia

across, through: dialogue, diameter, diagnosis

eu

good, well: euphemism, euphoria

ex

out, former: exit, ex

extra

beyond: extraordinary, extraterrestrial, extravagance

homo (homeo)

same, alike: homogeneous, homonym, homeopath

hyper

over, beyond: hyperactive, hyperventilate

hypo

under: hypothermic, hypothesis, hypoglycemia

in/im

not: incapable, incomplete, informal, imperfect

infra

beneath: infrastructure, infrared

inter

between: interview, international, interstate

ir

not: irrational, irredeemable, irrelevant, irregular,

iso

equal: isobar, isometric

macro

large, great: macroeconomics, macronutrients, macroevolution

meta

change, beyond, after: metaphysics, metamorphosis, metastasis

micro

small: microscope, micronutrient

min

small: minimum, miniature, miniscule, minute

mis

wrong, bad: mistake, misinterpret, misogynist

mono

one: monotheism, monodiglyceride

neo

new: neophyte, neonatal, neologistic, neocolonialism

ob (op)

in the way, against: object, objection, opposition, obscure

omni

all: omnipotent, omniscient, omnivorous

para

beside, related: parallel, parasite, paramedic

poly

many: polytheistic, polyamorous, polygon

post

after: posterior, postpone, postmortem

pre

before: prevent, predetermined, precaution, preview

re

again: regenerate, reassess, reconfigure

retro

back, backward: retroactive, retrospect, retrograde

se

apart: secede, seclude, serum

sub

below, under: submarine, subpar

super

higher in quality or quantity: superior, supernatural, superfan, superb

trans

across, through: transform, transaction, translate, transport

un

not: unfair, unable, unfriendly, uncontrollable

uni

one: unicycle, united, unison

-cious, -uous

abounding in: vivacious, volumptuous

ceive

take: receive, perceive, reconceive

cracy (crat)

rule: democracy, democrat, theocracy, bureaucracy

ence (ance)

state, condition: performance, conference, insurance

fer

carry, bring: transfer, ferry, conifer, confer

ian

related to: librarian, historian, pedestrian

ous

having: adventurous, hazardous, nauseous, joyous