Common Prefixes
This prefix means "before" and is found in words like "predict" and "precede."
What is pre-?
This suffix means "one who does" and is found in "artist" and "scientist."
What is -ist?
This root means "life" and is found in "biology" and "biography."
What is bio?
This Latin root means "see" and appears in "video" and "vision."
What is vid or vis?
This prefix means "not" and is found in "impossible" and "inactive."
What is in- or im-?
This prefix means "one" and appears in "unicorn" and "unicycle."
What is uni-?
Meaning "able to," this suffix appears in "breakable" and "adaptable."
What is -able or -ible?
Meaning "write," this root is seen in "autograph" and "telegraph."
What is graph?
Meaning "hear," this root is found in "auditory" and "audible."
What is aud?
Meaning "across," this prefix is used in "transfer" and "transportation."
What is trans-?
Meaning "against," this prefix is found in "antibiotic" and "antifreeze."
What is anti-?
This suffix, meaning "the study of," is used in "biology" and "geology."
What is -ology?
This root means "star" and is found in "astronomy" and "asteroid."
What is Astro?
This root means "light" and appears in "luminous" and "illuminate."
What is lum?
This suffix makes a word an adjective, meaning "full of," as in "joyous" and "nervous."
What is -ous?
This prefix means "half" and is used in "semicircle" and "semisweet."
What is semi-?
A suffix that makes a word a noun, it means "act or state of" and is found in "happiness" and "darkness."
What is -ness?
Meaning "sound," this root appears in "telephone" and "symphony."
What is phon?
Meaning "carry," this root is used in "transport" and "portable."
What is port?
A Greek root meaning "heat," it appears in "thermometer" and "thermostat."
What is therm?
Meaning "many," this prefix is seen in "polygon" and "polytheistic."
What is poly-?
Meaning "without," this suffix is used in "fearless" and "painless.
What is -less?
This root means "far" or "distance" and is used in "telescope" and "television."
What is tele?
This Latin root means "write" and appears in "scribble" and "manuscript."
What is scrib or script?
This Latin root means "hand" and is found in "manual" and "manuscript."
What is man?