Common Roots and Affixes
Many English words have Greek and Latin prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Learning these can greatly expand your vocabulary.
Roots and Affixes | Meanings | Examples |
-able, -ible | capable of | comfortable, flexible |
-al | relating to | natural, historical |
-ance, -ence | state, action or quality of | assistance, persistence |
-an, -ian | of or belonging to | historian, musician |
anti- | against | antisocial, antibacterial |
audi-, audio- | connecting with hearing | audiobook, audience |
auto- | by oneself or by itself | automobile, autograph |
bi- | two | bicycle, bilingual |
bio- | of life and living things | biology, biography |
cent-, centi- | hundred or hundredth | century, centimeter |
counter- | opposite, against | counteract, counterclockwise |
dic- | say, speak | dictate, dictionary |
dis- | not, negative | dislike, disagree |
en- | put into; cause to be | enable, enrich |
-en | make or cause to be | widen, strengthen |
-er, -or | a person or thing that does an action | teacher, actor |
-ent, -ant | that is or does sth | student, assistant |
-ese | nationality or language | chinese, japanese |
ex- | former | ex-wife, ex-president |
-ful | full of; having the qualities of; an amount that fills sth | joyful, careful |
-fy, -ify | make or become | magnify, clarify |
geo- | of the earth | geography, geology |
-graph | something written or drawn | photograph, autograph |
-hood | state or quality of | childhood, neighborhood |
homo- | same, like | homogeneous, homonym |
il- | not, negative, against | illegal, illegible |
im- | not, into | impossible, immature |
in- | not, into | inactive, incorrect |
inter- | between, among | international, interaction |
intra- | inside, within | intranet, intravenous |
ir- | not, negative | irregular, irresponsible |
-ish | having the nature of; from the country mentioned | childish, foolish |
-ism | principles or teaching of | realism, capitalism |
-ist | a person who is skilled in an area | artist, scientist |
-ive, -tive | having the nature of | active, creative |
-ize, -ise | cause to be or become | organize, advertise |
kilo- | 1000 | kilometer, kilogram |
-less | lack of, without | careless, homeless |
-logy, -ology | the science or study of | biology, geology |
-ly | in the manner of | quickly, happily |
mal- | bad or badly | malfunction, malpractice |
-ment | the action or condition of | enjoyment, development |
milli- | 1000th part of | millimeter, milliliter |
mini- | very small or short | miniskirt, miniature |
mis- | bad, wrong or badly, wrongly | misbehave, misunderstand |
mono- | one, single | monologue, monochrome |
multi- | many | multicultural, multipurpose |
-ness | the condition of | happiness, kindness |
non- | not, lack of | nonexistent, nonverbal |
-ous | having the nature of | dangerous, famous |
out- | do more than, greater, better | outperform, outshine |
over- | too much | overeat, overwork |
-phon- | sound, voice | telephone, microphone |
-port- | carry, movement | transport, export |
post- | after | postgraduate, postscript |
pre- | before | predict, prehistoric |
re- | back, again | rewrite, return |
semi- | half; happening twice | semicircle, semifinal |
-sens- | feel | sensation, sensitive |
-ship | the quality or state of | friendship, leadership |
-spect- | look, see | inspect, spectacle |
sub- | under, less important | submarine, substandard |
super- | over; more than usual | superstar, supernatural |
tele- | over a distance | television, telegraph |
thermo– | related to heat | thermometer, thermodynamic |
-tion, -sion, -ion, -ation, -ition, -xion | the action or process of | action, invitation |
trans- | across | transport, transfer |
tri- | three | triangle, trilogy |
un- | not, negative | unhappy, unclear |
uni- | one, single | uniform, unicycle |
under- | not enough | underdeveloped, underestimate |
vis- | see | vision, visible |
-ward, -wards | in the direction of | forward, upwards |
-y | in the condition of | sunny, windy |
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