Ever wonder what those prefixes and suffixes we link up to words actually mean? Native English speakers use these letters that go before and after words all day long, usually without a thought to their definitions. But we do use them for a reason: they alter the meaning of the word.
For instance, if someone is being careless, a native English speaker would be quick to say, “Hey, stop acting carelessly,” without hesitating to recall that the suffix –ly means “in the matter of.”
But, oh those poor English learners. It takes time to memorize all of our prefixes and suffixes and learn which to attach to what word. (A unicycle is quite different from a tricycle, you know.) It also doesn’t help that English, being that it is the bastard child of multiple European languages, adopted its prefixes and suffixes from Latin, Greek, and Old French.
But, alas, here we are.
To brush up on your skills, below is a collection of prefixes and suffixes and their meanings.
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
| a- | not | atypical |
| anti- | against | antifascist |
| bi- | two | biannual |
| counter- | against, opposite | counterfeit |
| de- | remove, reverse | deregulate |
| dis- | opposite, reverse, not | disagree |
| extra- | beyond, outside | extraterrestrial |
| fore- | before | forefather |
| in- | not | invisible |
| inter- | between | intermingle |
| mal- | bad | maltreatment |
| mis- | not, wrong | miscomprehend |
| neo- | new | neoconservative |
| non- | not | nonstarter |
| over- | excessive | overspend |
| post- | after | postscript |
| pre- | before | precolonial |
| proto- | first, primitive | prototype |
| re- | repeat | reread |
| sub- | under | submarine |
| tele- | distant | teleport |
| trans- | across | transcontinental |
| tri- | three | tricycle |
| un- | remove, reverse | untie |
| uni- | one | unilateral |
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
| -able | capable of | inflatable |
| -ant | type of person | assistant |
| -athon | long-lasting | marathon |
| -cide | killing | infanticide |
| -dom | state of being | freedom |
| -er | doer of an action | worker |
| -ery | type of work | bakery |
| -ess | female of | heiress |
| -esque | reminiscent of | picturesque |
| -ette | small version of | kitchenette |
| -fest | indulgence in | chatfest |
| -fy | to make | electrify |
| -hood | state, quality | childhood |
| -ible | ability | reliable |
| -ish | a little | squeamish |
| -ism | condition or doctrine | feminism |
| -ist | type of person | florist |
| -less | without | penniless |
| -ly | in a manner of | quickly |
| -ous | full of | joyous |
| -wash | changing the appearance of | whitewash |
Erin Servais is the founder of Dot and Dash, LLC, an author-services company focusing on women writers and offering a range of editing, coaching, and social media packages.
Sign up for the Dot and Dash newsletter to get writing tips and tricks and exclusive deals.
Follow Dot and Dash on social media.
Twitter: @GrammarParty
Instagram: @dot_and_dash_llc
Facebook: facebook.com/dotanddashllc
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/dotanddashllc
Click here: https://www.dotanddashllc.com/newsletter-signup
Grammar Party 
To add to the confusion, let’s not forget that “ante” means “before” as in “ante-natal” (which is quite different than “anti”).
LikeLiked by 2 people
Okay thanks
LikeLike
hi
LikeLike
bruh
LikeLike
bruh
LikeLike
Bruh
LikeLike
why say bruh so much
LikeLike
This is interesting! Thank you so much for the great blog.
LikeLike
This is nice
LikeLike
Who are you
LikeLike
hello
LikeLike
this is good
LikeLike
bruh
LikeLike
Bruh
LikeLike
good bruh
LikeLike
…
LikeLike
I guess this was helpful. (speaking that my teacher asighned this to me)
LikeLike
bs
LikeLike
bing bong
LikeLike
hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
LikeLike
This made grammer a little easier thx
LikeLike
Py5AwVII
LikeLike
1*1
LikeLike
1*845*840*0
LikeLike
(851-845-5)
LikeLike
1*753*748*0
LikeLike
(759-753-5)
LikeLike
if(now()=sysdate(),sleep(15),0)
LikeLike
0’XOR(if(now()=sysdate(),sleep(15),0))XOR’Z
LikeLike
-1; waitfor delay ‘0:0:15’ —
LikeLike
-1); waitfor delay ‘0:0:15’ —
LikeLike
I5OmlAfz’; waitfor delay ‘0:0:15’ —
LikeLike
-5) OR 95=(SELECT 95 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))–
LikeLike
-1)) OR 600=(SELECT 600 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))–
LikeLike
eFtLdtdp’ OR 625=(SELECT 625 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))–
LikeLike
bvs1MRAN’) OR 223=(SELECT 223 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))–
LikeLike
YaTMTjpH’)) OR 337=(SELECT 337 FROM PG_SLEEP(15))–
LikeLike
1′”
LikeLike
1%2527%2522
LikeLike
@@r3vUS
LikeLike
Very useful for making made-up words thx.
LikeLike
hi
LikeLike
you ugly
LikeLike
stupid
LikeLike
boooooooyou dumb
LikeLike
Thank you so much for this app
LikeLike
ok
LikeLike
hi
LikeLike
m
LikeLike