Building Vocabulary: Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes

Building Vocabulary: Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes Page 1

Building Vocabulary: Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes

Many studies show the importance of building children’s vocabulary. One study has shown that a
set of 20 prefixes and 14 roots, and knowing how to use them, will unlock the meaning of over
100,000 words. A similar study showed that a set of 29 prefixes and 25 roots will give the
meaning to over 125,000 words. Imagine adding suffixes! Below are lists of prefixes, suffixes, and
roots – with their meanings and example words.∗ Reviewing these also can help many ELL
students to see relationships between and among languages. Many prefixes have a basis in Latin
– also the basis for Spanish, French, and Italian – or Greek.

Table 1: 32 Prefixes

Prefix Meaning Example words and meanings

a, ab, abs away from ƒ absent ƒ not to be present, away
ƒ abscond ƒ abscond – to run away

ad, a, ac, af, ƒ adapt ƒ to fit into
ag, an, ar, at, ƒ adhere
as to, toward ƒ annex ƒ to stick to
ƒ to add or join
ƒ attract ƒ to draw near

anti against ƒ antifreeze ƒ a substance to prevent freezing
ƒ antisocial ƒ refers to someone who’s not social

bi, bis ƒ bicycle ƒ two wheeled cycle
two ƒ biannual ƒ twice each year
ƒ biennial ƒ every two years

circum, cir around ƒ circumscribe ƒ to draw around
ƒ circle ƒ a figure that goes all around

com, con, co, ƒ combine ƒ to bring together
col ƒ contact
de with, together ƒ collect ƒ to touch together
dis, dif, di away from, down, the ƒ to bring together
opposite of ƒ co-worker ƒ co-worker
apart
ƒ depart ƒ to go away from
ƒ decline ƒ to turn down

ƒ dislike ƒ not to like
ƒ dishonest ƒ not honest
ƒ distant ƒ away

epi upon, on top of ƒ epitaph ƒ writing upon a tombstone
equ, equi equal ƒ epilogue ƒ speech at the end, on top of the rest

ƒ equalize ƒ to make equal
ƒ equitable ƒ fair, equal

ex, e, ef out, from ƒ exit ƒ to go out
ƒ eject ƒ to throw out
ƒ exhale ƒ to breathe out

in, il, ir, im, en in, into ƒ inject ƒ to put into
ƒ impose ƒ to force into

ƒ inactive ƒ not active
ƒ ignoble ƒ not noble
in, il, ig, ir, im not ƒ irreversible ƒ not reversible

ƒ irritate ƒ to put into discomfort

∗ This document revised from Gary Gruber’s work on increasing children’s test scores: Dr. Gary Gruber's Essential Guide to
Test Taking for Kids, Grades 3, 4, & 5. (1986); Dr. Gary Gruber's Essential Guide to Test Taking for Kids, Grades 6, 7, 8, & 9.
(1986); and Gruber's Complete Preparation for the SAT (9th Edition, 2001) -- all published by Collins, New York City.

Developed by Judith Wilde, PhD for Beta Group – Albuquerque, NM and Arlington, VA (rev 8/06). Reprinted by NCELA with
permission. Multiple copies permitted for educational purposes and with this credit line.

Building Vocabulary: Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes Page 2

Prefix Meaning Example words and meanings
inter between, among
mal, male bad, ill, wrong ƒ international ƒ among nations
mis wrong, badly ƒ interpose ƒ to put between

mono one, alone, single ƒ malpractice ƒ bad practice
ƒ malfunction ƒ fail to function, bad function
non not, the reverse of
ob in front, against, in ƒ mistreat ƒ to treat badly
omni front of, in the way of ƒ mistake ƒ to get wrong
per everywhere, all ƒ misplace ƒ to put in wrong place
poly through
post many ƒ monopoly ƒ one ownership
pre after ƒ monotone
before, earlier than ƒ monologue ƒ one note
pro forward, going ahead ƒ speech by one person
of, supporting ƒ monosyllable ƒ one syllable
re again, back
se apart ƒ nonsense ƒ not making sense
sub under, less than ƒ nonprofit ƒ not making a profit
super over, above, greater
trans across ƒ obstacle ƒ something that stands in the way of
un, uni one ƒ obvious ƒ right in front of, apparent
ƒ obviate ƒ to do away with, make unnecessary
un not
ƒ omnipresent ƒ always present, everywhere
ƒ omnipotent ƒ all powerful

ƒ pervade ƒ to pass through, to spread through
ƒ perceive ƒ to become aware through sight

ƒ polysyllable ƒ many syllables
ƒ polygon ƒ figure with many sides

ƒ postpone ƒ to do after
ƒ postmortem ƒ after death

ƒ preview ƒ a viewing earlier than another
ƒ prehistoric ƒ before written history
ƒ preface ƒ a statement before an article or book

ƒ proceed ƒ to go forward
ƒ prowar ƒ supporting the war
ƒ promote ƒ to raise or move forward

ƒ retell ƒ to tell again
ƒ recall ƒ to call back
ƒ recede ƒ to go back

ƒ secede ƒ to withdraw, become apart
ƒ seclude ƒ to stay apart from others

ƒ submarine ƒ under water
ƒ subway ƒ a path or way to move under ground
ƒ subliminal ƒ below the level of consciousness

ƒ superstar ƒ a start greater than other stars
ƒ superimpose ƒ to put over something else

ƒ transcontinental ƒ across the continent
ƒ transverse ƒ to lie or go across

ƒ unidirectional ƒ having one direction
ƒ unanimous ƒ sharing one view
ƒ unilateral ƒ having one side

ƒ uninterested ƒ not interested
ƒ unhelpful ƒ not helpful
ƒ unethical ƒ not ethical

Developed by Judith Wilde, PhD for Beta Group – Albuquerque, NM and Arlington, VA (rev 8/06). Reprinted by NCELA with
permission. Multiple copies permitted for educational purposes and with this credit line.

Building Vocabulary: Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes Page 3

Table 2: 27 Roots Meaning Example words & meanings
Root

act, ag to do, to act ƒ Agent ƒ One who acts as a representative
ƒ Activity ƒ Action

apert open ƒ Aperture ƒ An opening

bas low ƒ Basement ƒ Something that is low, at the bottom
ƒ Basement ƒ A room that is low

cap, capt, cip, ƒ Captive ƒ One who is held
cept, ceive ƒ Receive
to take, to hold, to seize ƒ Capable ƒ To take
ƒ Able to take hold of things
ƒ Recipient ƒ One who takes hold or receives

ced, cede, ƒ Precede ƒ To go before
ceed, cess to go, to give in ƒ Access ƒ Means of going to
ƒ Proceed ƒ To go forward

to believe ƒ Credible ƒ Believable
cred, credit ƒ Incredible ƒ Not believable
ƒ Credit ƒ Belief, trust

curr, curs, ƒ Current ƒ Now in progress, running
cours to run ƒ Precursory ƒ Running (going) before
ƒ Recourse ƒ To run for aid

ƒ Dictionary ƒ A book explaining words (sayings)
dic, dict to say ƒ Indict ƒ To say or make an accusation
ƒ Indicate ƒ To point out or say by demonstrating

ƒ Induce ƒ To lead to action
duc, duct to lead ƒ Conduct ƒ To lead or guide
ƒ Aqueduct ƒ Pipe that leads water somewhere

equ equal, even ƒ Equality ƒ Equal in social, political rights
ƒ Equanimity ƒ Evenness of mind, tranquility

fac, fact, fic, ƒ Facile ƒ Easy to do
fect, fy ƒ Fiction
to make, to do ƒ Factory ƒ Something that is made up
ƒ Place that makes things
ƒ Affect ƒ To make a change in

fer, ferr to carry, bring ƒ Defer ƒ To carry away
graph write ƒ Referral ƒ Bring a source for help/information
mit, mis to send
par equal ƒ Monograph ƒ A writing on a particular subject
plic to fold, to bend, to turn ƒ Graphite ƒ A form of carbon used for writing

ƒ Admit ƒ To send in
ƒ Missile ƒ Something sent through the air

ƒ Parity ƒ Equality
ƒ Disparate ƒ No equal, not alike

ƒ Complicate ƒ To fold (mix) together
ƒ Implicate ƒ To fold in, to involve

pon, pos, posit, ƒ Component ƒ A part placed together with others
pose ƒ Transpose ƒ A place across
to place ƒ Compose ƒ To put many parts into place

ƒ Deposit ƒ To place for safekeeping

scrib, script ƒ Describe ƒ To write about or tell about
to write ƒ Transcript ƒ A written copy
ƒ Subscription ƒ A written signature or document

sequ, secu ƒ Sequence ƒ In following order
to follow ƒ Sequel ƒ A second, following, book
spec, spect, ƒ Consecutive ƒ One that follows another
spic to appear, to look, to see
sta, stat, sist, to stand, or make stand ƒ Specimen ƒ An example to look at
ƒ Aspect ƒ One way to see something

ƒ Constant ƒ Standing with

Developed by Judith Wilde, PhD for Beta Group – Albuquerque, NM and Arlington, VA (rev 8/06). Reprinted by NCELA with
permission. Multiple copies permitted for educational purposes and with this credit line.

Building Vocabulary: Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes Page 4

Root Meaning Example words & meanings
stit, sisto ƒ Social standing
ƒ Status ƒ Steady (standing)
tact to touch ƒ Stable ƒ To stand away from
ƒ Desist ƒ To touch together
ten, tent, tain to hold ƒ Contact ƒ To be able to be touched
ƒ Tactile ƒ Able to be held, holding
tend, tens, tent to stretch ƒ Tenable ƒ Holding
ƒ Retentive ƒ To keep or hold up
tract to draw ƒ Maintain ƒ To stretch or draw out
ƒ Extend ƒ Stretched
ven, vent to come ƒ Tension ƒ To draw together
ƒ Attract ƒ An agreement drawn up
ver, vert, vers to turn ƒ Contract ƒ To come together
ƒ Convene ƒ A coming
ƒ Advent ƒ To turn away
ƒ Avert ƒ To turn back
ƒ Revert ƒ To turn around
ƒ Reverse

Table 3: 23 Suffixes

Suffix Meaning Example words & meanings

able, ible, ble able to ƒ Edible ƒ Able to be eaten
ƒ Salable ƒ Able to be sold

acious, cous, al like, having the quality of ƒ Nocturnal ƒ Of the night
ƒ Vivacious ƒ Having the quality of being lively

ance, ancy the act of, a state of being ƒ Performance ƒ The act of performing
ƒ Truancy ƒ The act of being truant

ƒ Occupant ƒ One who occupies
ƒ Respondent ƒ One who responds or answers
ant, ent, er, or one who ƒ Teacher ƒ One who teaches

ƒ Creator ƒ One who creates

ar, ary connected with, related to ƒ Ocular ƒ Related to the eye
ƒ Beneficiary ƒ Connected with one who receives benefits
ence quality of, act of
ful full of ƒ Existence ƒ The act of existing or being
ƒ Fearful ƒ Full of fear
ic, ac, il, ile of, like, pertaining to ƒ Cardiac ƒ Pertaining to the heart
ƒ Civil ƒ Pertaining to citizens
ion the act or condition of ƒ Infantile ƒ Pertaining to infants
ism the practice of, support of ƒ Acidic ƒ Like acid
ist one who makes, does ƒ Correction ƒ The act of correcting
ƒ Patriotism ƒ Support of one’s country
ity, ty, y the state of, character of ƒ Artist ƒ One who creates art
ƒ Unity ƒ The state of being one
ive having the nature of ƒ Shifty ƒ State of shifting around
less lacking, without ƒ Showy ƒ State of always showing oneself
logy the study of ƒ Active ƒ Having the nature of acting or moving
ment the act of, the state of ƒ Heartless ƒ Without a heart
ness the quality of ƒ Biology ƒ The study of life processes
ory having the nature of, a ƒ Retirement ƒ State of being retired
place or thing for ƒ Eagerness ƒ The quality of being eager

ƒ Laboratory ƒ A place where work is done

Developed by Judith Wilde, PhD for Beta Group – Albuquerque, NM and Arlington, VA (rev 8/06). Reprinted by NCELA with
permission. Multiple copies permitted for educational purposes and with this credit line.

Building Vocabulary: Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes Page 5

Suffix Meaning Example words & meanings
ous, ose
full of, having ƒ Dangerous ƒ Full of danger
ship ƒ Verbose ƒ Full of words, or wordy
some the art or skill of, the ability
tude to ƒ Leadership ƒ The ability to lead
full of, like
y the state of quality of, the ƒ Troublesome ƒ Full of trouble
ability to
ƒ Aptitude ƒ The ability to do
Full of, somewhat,
somewhat like ƒ Musty ƒ Having a stale oror
ƒ Chilly ƒ Somewhat cold
ƒ Willowy ƒ Like a willow

Table 4: Taking words apart

Word Prefix Root Suffix Meaning
curr: run ence: act of Act of running with, happening
Concurrence con: with ag: to do, act --- at same time
vers: turning ible: able to To act out
Exaggerate ex: out
Irreversible ir: not dict: to say --- Not able to turn back
re: again curs: to run or: one who
--- ty: state of To say bad things, a negative
Malediction male: bad ten: holding able: able to statement
Something that comes before
Precursor pre: before State of being one, a single
thing or being
Unity uni: one Not able to hold on

Untenable un: not

Developed by Judith Wilde, PhD for Beta Group – Albuquerque, NM and Arlington, VA (rev 8/06). Reprinted by NCELA with
permission. Multiple copies permitted for educational purposes and with this credit line.