List of English prefixes
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| Prefix | Meaning | Examples (http://wiktionary.org/wiki/Example) |
|---|---|---|
| a(n)- | not, without | atonality, asexuality, amoral, anarchyanonymous |
| ab- | away | abduction, absolutism, ablution |
| ac- | ||
| acr(o)- | high, up, hill | Acropolis |
| aden(o)- | ||
| aer(o)- | air | aeronautics, aerodrome, aeroplane, aerodynamics |
| agr(o)- | relating to farming | agriculture |
| an(a)- | out of | anachronism |
| andr- | man | androgyny, androcentrism, android, androgen |
| anem- | ||
| Anglo- | English or British | Anglo-Irish relations |
| ante- | before | antebellum |
| anthrop(o)- | relating to human beings | anthropology, anthropocentrism, anthropomorphic |
| ant(i)- | against | antidote, antibody, anticlockwise |
| aut(o)- | self | autonomy, autobiography, automobile, autopilot |
| bar(o)- | heaviness, heavy | barometer |
| bathy- | deep | Bathyscaphe, Bathysphere |
| be- | completely, thoroughly; excessively; on; around; about; used to form transitive verbs | |
| bene- | well | Benediction |
| bi- | two | bicycle, bijection, bilingual, bicameralism, bisexuality |
| bi(o)- | life | biology, biography, biosphere, biotechnology |
| bibli(o)- | relating to books | bibliophilia, bibliography |
| blast(o)- | ||
| brady- | slow | bradycardia |
| brom(o)- | ||
| bronch(o)- | relating to breathing | bronchitis |
| cac(o)- | ||
| cardi(o)- | heart | cardiovascular |
| cent-, centi- | hundred or hundredth | centenarian, centimeter, centipede |
| cephal(o)- | brain | |
| chrom(o)-, chromat(o)- | colour | chromatic, chromosome |
| chron(o)- | time | chronology |
| circum- | around | circumcision, circumnavigation, circumlocution, circumference |
| cion(o)- | ||
| co- | together | cooperative, co-belligerence |
| colpo- | ||
| com-, con-, col-, cor- | with, together | conference, connotation, context, Congress, congregation |
| contr(a)-, contr(o) | against, opposite | contradiction, contraception, controversy |
| cosm(o)- | cosmology, cosmopolitan, cosmotheism | |
| counter- | against, opposite | counterpoint, counterweight, Counter-Reformation |
| crin(o)- | cry(shed tears) | endocrinology |
| cry(o)- | frost, icy cold | cryogenics, cryoelectronics, cryostorage |
| crypt(o)- | hidden | cryptography, cryptozoology |
| cyt(o)- | hollow, receptacle, cell | cytoplasm, cytology |
| dactyl(o)- | ||
| de- | taking something away, the opposite | decentralisation, deforestation, dehydration, Denazification |
| dec(a)-, dek(a)- | ten | decamerous, December, decimeter |
| deci- | one tenth | deciliter |
| dem(o)- | people, nation | demographics, democracy |
| derm(o)-, derm(a)-, dermat- | skin | dermatology, dermatitis |
| di- | two, double | diurnal |
| dia- | through | diameter, diagnosis, diarrhoea |
| didact(o)- | apt at teaching | didactic |
| dynam(o)- | power, force | dynamic, dynamite, dynamo |
| dis- | reverse, opposite | dissent, discovery, disambiguation |
| dok, dox(o)- | view, teaching | doxology, dogma, orthodox |
| dys- | bad, deformed, abnormal | dyspepsia, dystrophy, dysarthria |
| ec(o)- | house | economy, ecology, ecosystem, ecotourism, ecotage |
| ect(o)- | ectomorphic | |
| edaph(o)- | ||
| electr(o)- | amber, relating to (elementary) electric charge and current | electrocution, electroencephalogram |
| embry(o)- | embryo | |
| encephal(o)- | brain | encephalitis |
| end(o)-, ent(o)- | inside | endoscope. endothermic |
| enne(a)- | nine | enneastyle, enneagram |
| enter(o)- | ||
| eo- | dawn, early | eobacterium |
| ep(i)-, eph- | upon, above | epitaxy |
| erg(o)- | work, labo(u)r | ergonomics synergy, energy |
| erythr(o)- | red | |
| erot(o)- | love | erotic, erotomania |
| stom(o)-, stomat(o)- | stomach | stomach |
| ethn(o)- | folk, people, nation, tribe | ethnology, ethnolinguistics, ethnocentrism |
| eu- | good | eulogy, euthanasia, eugenics, euphemism |
| Euro- | European | Euro-MP (Member of the European Parliament) |
| ex- | former | ex-wife, ex-president |
| ex(o)- | outside | exoskeleton |
| extra- | very, more than usual, outside, beyond | extra-thin, extra-special extraordinary, extraterrestrial |
| flor(i)- | relating to flowers | florist |
| fore- | before, in advance | foreskin, foreshadowing |
| gyn- | female | gynaecology, gynoid |
| hemi- | half | hemimetabolous |
| hemo- | of or relating to blood | hemophilia, hemophobia |
| hex(a)- | six | hexapod, hexagonal, hexameter |
| hyper- | excessive, (least to greatest in order: hypo, sub, super, hyper) | hyperactive, hyperthyroidism |
| hyp(o)- | below, (least to greatest in order: hypo, sub, super, hyper) | hypodermic |
| in- | extremely | inflammable, invaluable |
| in-, il-, im-, ir- | not | infallibility, illiteracy, immoral, irrelevant |
| inter- | between, from one to another | intervention, international |
| intra- | within, interior | intramural, intravenous |
| kilo- | thousand | kilogram, kilowatt |
| Luso- | Portuguese | lusophone |
| Mac- or Mc- | "son of" (often used in last names) | McCarthy, Kirsty MacColl |
| macro- | large, very large | macrobiology, macroscopic |
| mal- | bad, badly | malpractice, malnutrition |
| maxi- | most, very, large | maximal, maxi-dress |
| Mc- | McDonalds like (often used in last names) | McJob, McPaper |
| mega-, megal- | million, very large | megabyte, megaphone |
| meso- | middle | mesoamerica, mesoscale |
| meta- | after, beyond | metacarpal, metaphysics |
| micro- | one millionth, very small | microgram, microorganism, micronation |
| mid- | in the middle of | mid-term elections, Mid-Autumn Festival, Mid-Atlantic Ridge |
| milli- | thousandth | milligram, milliliter |
| mini- | small | miniskirt, miniseries |
| mis- | bad, wrong | miscarriage, misanthropy, misogyny |
| mon(o)- | one, single | monolith, monorail, monotony, monocle |
| multi- | many | multiculturalism, multilingual |
| non- | not | nonsense, non-denial denial |
| non- | nine | none, nonagon |
| novem- | nine | November |
| O'- | (son) of (often used in last names) | O'Brian |
| oct(o)-, oct(a)- | eight | octane, octopod, octagon, October |
| oo- ("oo-oh") | egg, ovum | oocyte |
| out- | more, to a greater degree | to outdo, to outrun |
| over- | more than normal, too much | overpopulation, over-consumption |
| pent(a)- | five | pentagon |
| post- | after | Post-Fordism, postpartum depression, postmodernity, postmodernism |
| pre- | before | prediction, preview, precedent, prenatal care |
| pro- | for, in favour of | pro-choice, pro-life |
| quadr-, quart- | four | quadrangle, quadruplet, quartic, quartile |
| quinqu(e)- | five, into five parts | quinquesection, |
| quint(i)- | fifth, five | quintiped, quintet |
| re- | again, repeatedly | reduction, reflection, revolution |
| rect(i)- | proper, straight | rectify, rectangle |
| scler(o)- | hard | scleroderma atherosclerosis |
| semi- | half | semi-automatic, semi-detached |
| sept(a)- | seven | heptachord, September |
| sex(i)- | six | sexivalent |
| Sino- | Chinese | Sino-American relations |
| spasm(o)- | ||
| sper- | seed | sperm |
| spher(o)- | sphere, ball | spherical, atmosphere |
| sphygm(o)- | pulso | sphygmomanometer |
| splen(o)- | ||
| splanchn(o)- | ||
| schiz(o)-, schist(o)- | split | schizophrenia, schistocyte |
| staphyl(o)- | ||
| styl(o)- | pillar | stylus, stylist |
| sub- | below, less than, under,(least to greatest in order: hypo, sub, super, hyper) | subset, subsonic, subway, subtitles |
| super- | extremely, more than,(least to greatest in order: hypo, sub, super, hyper) | superhuman, Superego, supersonic |
| syn- | along with, together, at the same time | synergy, synchronicity |
| tach(y)-, tach(o)- | fast, speed | tachycardia, tachometer |
| tel(e)-, tel(o)- | (the other) end, far, over a long distance | telecommunications, television, telephoto lens, telodynamic |
| tel(o)-, tel(e)- | aim, complete, mature | teloblast |
| trans- | across, beyond | transfer, transubstantiation, transatlantic, Trans-Siberian railway |
| tri- | three | triangle, tricolor, triptych |
| twi- | two | twilight, twig, twin, twitch |
| ultra- | extremely, beyond a certain limit | ultramontanism, ultraviolet |
| un- | not, opposite, take something away | unconstitutional, undelete |
| uni- | one, single | uniform, unification |
| ur- | first, original | urtext |
| zoo- ("zoo-oh") | relating to animals | zoomorphic, zoology |
External Links
- English Grammar - Simple Guide to Prefixes (from LearnEnglish.de) (http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/prefixtext.htm)
Prefixes Meaning Examples Peri- around perianth,pericarp,perichondrial