Common Roots and Prefixes

Prefixes

a/an

  • Meaning: without/lack of
  • Example Words: amoral, asymmetrical, anemia, apathy

ab

  • Meaning: away from, off of
  • Example Words: abnormal, abstract, abduct

ambi/amphi

  • Meaning: both, on both sides, around
  • Example Words: ambidextrous, ambivalent, ambient, amphibious, amphitheater

anti

  • Meaning: against, opposite
  • Example Words: antibiotic, antithesis

ante

  • Meaning: before, previous
  • Example Words: antechamber, antebellum, anterior

auto/auth

  • Meaning: self
  • Example Words: autobiography, autograph, automobile, automate, authentic, authorize

ben/bene

  • Meaning: good, helpful
  • Example Words: beneficial, benevolent, benefactor

bi

  • Meaning: two, double, split, half
  • Example Words: binoculars, bicameral

circum

  • Meaning: around
  • Example Words: circumference, circumspect, circumnavigate

con/col/com

  • Meaning: together, with
  • Example Words: congregate, concur, collaborate, communicate

de

  • Meaning: opposite, reverse
  • Example Words: decompose, deny, deprive

dis

  • Meaning: apart, away
  • Example Words: dislodge, disintegrate, dismiss

em/en

  • Meaning: within/put inside
  • Example Words: empathy, empower, enthrall, enchant

endo/ind

  • Meaning: inside, within
  • Example Words: indigenous, endothermic

equ

  • Meaning: equal, same
  • Example Words: equality, equate, equilibrium, equanimity

eu

  • Meaning: good, positive
  • Example Words: eulogy, euphoria

ex

  • Meaning: out, away
  • Example Words: exodus, expel, extract, exonerate

exo/ecto

  • Meaning: outside, external
  • Example Words: exoskeleton, ectoplasm

geo

  • Meaning: Earth, ground
  • Example Words: geography, geology, geode

in

  • Meaning: in, into, towards
  • Example Words: involve, inspect, induct

in/im/ir

  • Meaning: not, opposite
  • Example Words: impossible, indisputable, irresponsible, inauspicious

intro

  • Meaning: into, inside
  • Example Words: introspection, introduce

mal

  • Meaning: bad, evil
  • Example Words: malicious, maleficent, malcontent

met/meta

  • Meaning: changed, different, boundary
  • Example Words: metamorphosis, metaphor

mis

  • Meaning: wrong
  • Example Words: mistake, misstep, misfortune

mono

  • Meaning: one, singular
  • Example Words: monotone, monolith, monochromatic

ob

  • Meaning: against, facing
  • Example Words: obstruct, obstacle, object, oblique

pan

  • Meaning: every, all
  • Example Words: panorama, pandemic, panacea

par/para

  • Meaning: beside, similar
  • Example Words: parallel, paranormal, parody

post

  • Meaning: after
  • Example Words: posthumous, posterity, postpone

re

  • Meaning: back, again
  • Example Words: revive, revolve, revise, relinquish

sub

  • Meaning: under
  • Example Words: subvert, submarine, subliminal

super/sur

  • Meaning: over, beyond
  • Example Words: superlative, supervise, surmount, surcharge

syl/sym/syn

  • Meaning: alongside, same, together
  • Example Words: synonym, sympathy, syllable, symmetrical

tele

  • Meaning: beyond, afar
  • Example Words: telepathy, telephone, telescope

un

  • Meaning: opposite, against
  • Example Words: unethical, unearth, unlit

Roots/Stems

anim

  • Meaning: life
  • Example Words: animation, animal

aud

  • Meaning: hearing, listening
  • Example Words: audio, inaudible, audition, audience

bio

  • Meaning: life
  • Example Words: biography, biology, antibiotic

chron

  • Meaning: time
  • Example Words: chronology, chronic, synchronize

cis/cise

  • Meaning: cut/shorten
  • Example Words: scissors, concise, incisive, excise

cred

  • Meaning: belief
  • Example Words: credibility, credentials, incredulous

dur

  • Meaning: length of time
  • Example Words: duration, endure, durable

fort

  • Meaning: strength
  • Example Words: comfort, fortress, fortify, fortitude

graph

  • Meaning: writing
  • Example Words: autograph, photograph, bibliography

gress

  • Meaning: movement
  • Example Words: progress, regress

congress

  • Meaning: movement
  • Example Words: congress, egress, aggressive

ject

  • Meaning: throw, cast
  • Example Words: eject, project, reject, inject

laud

  • Meaning: praise
  • Example Words: applaud, laudable

loc/loq

  • Meaning: speech
  • Example Words: eloquent, loquacious, colloquial

mag/magna

  • Meaning: great (big or good)
  • Example Words: magnify, magnificent, magnanimous

nov

  • Meaning: new
  • Example Words: renovate, novice, novelty

pac

  • Meaning: peace
  • Example Words: pacify, pact

path

  • Meaning: feeling
  • Example Words: sympathy, apathy, empathy, pathetic

ped

  • Meaning: foot, walk
  • Example Words: pedestal, impediment, pedestrian

phil

  • Meaning: love
  • Example Words: philanthropic, philosophy

spec

  • Meaning: look at, observe
  • Example Words: inspect, retrospect, introspection, spectacle, suspect

terr

  • Meaning: earth, land
  • Example Words: terrain, terrace, terrestrial, inter

ultim

  • Meaning: final, end
  • Example Words: ultimatum, penultimate

ver

  • Meaning: truth
  • Example Words: verify, aver, veritable

vit/viv

  • Meaning: life
  • Example Words: vital, revive, vivacious, vivid

Numerical Prefixes

uni, sol, mono

  • Meaning: one, singular
  • Example Words: solitary, unanimous, unique, monopoly, monorail

bi, di, du/deu

  • Meaning: two, divided
  • Example Words: bisect, binary, dilemma, diverge, duplex

tri, ter

  • Meaning: three
  • Example Words: tricycle, tripod, tertiary

quad, tetra

  • Meaning: four
  • Example Words: quadrant, quadrilateral, quadruped, tetrahedron

pent, quin

  • Meaning: five
  • Example Words: pentagon, pentacle, pentathlon, quintet

hex, sext

  • Meaning: six
  • Example Words: hexagon, sextuplet

hept, sept

  • Meaning: seven
  • Example Words: heptagon, septuplet

oct

  • Meaning: eight
  • Example Words: octopus, octave

nona

  • Meaning: nine
  • Example Words: nonagon, nonagenarian

dec

  • Meaning: ten
  • Example Words: decade, decimal, decimate