affix − a word part that is added to the root to change its meaning or function prefix 

−
an affix that is added to the beginning of a word
root − the main part of the word, the part that carries the most meaning
suffix − an affix that is added to the end of a word

COMMON ROOTS

Root Meaning Examples

aud to hear; listen audible; auditorium

bio life biology; biosphere

cede to go precede; secede

chron time chronology; synchronous

dem people demographics; democracy

geo earth geosphere; geography

graph writing; drawing biography; pictograph

hydr water hydrate; hydroelectricity

ject to throw project; reject

scrib/scri
to write scribble; inscription
p

spec to look inspect; spectator

vid/vis see evidence; video

As you read the list of common prefixes and example words, you should have noticed that a prefix is
added to the beginning of a word to change or affect the word’s meaning in some way. For instance, the
word potent means “powerful,” and when the prefix omni– is added to the beginning of the word, the
meaning changes to “all-powerful.” In the same way, when the prefix un– is added to the word
expected, the meaning becomes “not expected.”

As mentioned earlier, a suffix is an affix that is added to the end of a word. A suffix can change a word’s
meaning or its part of speech. For example, the suffix –ous means “full of,” and it also changes a word
from a noun to an adjective. The word joy is a noun, and the word joyous is an adjective meaning “full of
joy.” Study the list of common suffixes and the parts of speech they form

COMMON PREFIXES

Prefix Meaning Examples

bene– good benefit; benevolent

dis– not; the opposite of disobey; dissimilar

em–, en– cause to be empower; enrich

il–, im–, in–, illegal; impossible; incomplete;

not
ir– irresponsible

inter– between; among intercollegiate; interstate

mal– bad; wrongful; ill malicious; malignant

mis– wrong; bad mislead; mistake

omni– all; every omnipotent; omnivore

pre– before pregame; prepare

pro– before; in favor of proactive; proponent

re– again; back reexamine; review

sub– under subfloor; submarine

super– above; beyond supervisor; superpower

trans– across transatlantic; transfer

ultra– beyond the ordinary ultraviolet; ultrasonic

un– not unattractive; unexpected

COMMON SUFFIXES

Part of Speech Suffix Meaning Examples

–able/–
worthy or capable of expandable; sensible
ible

–al relating to comical; viral

–ful having qualities of beautiful; resourceful

adjective
pertaining to; having
–ish British; childish
characteristics of

–less without cheerless; colorless

–ous full of; having nervous; spacious

–ance/–
action, state, or quality resemblance; dependence
ence

–ist one who does something activist; chemist

–logy the study of something musicology; theology

noun
–ment act of; result commitment; fragment

–ness state; condition happiness; darkness

–tion action or state revolution; temptation

–fy to make or form into beautify; liquefy

verb
–ize to make; to subject to modernize; terrorize

adverb –ly in the manner of immediately; slowly