50 Common English Prefixes & Suffixes

Understanding prefixes and suffixes is one of the fastest ways to improve your English vocabulary!

For example, if you know that un- means “not,” you can easily understand words like unhappy, unfair, and unusual.

And if you know that -less means “without,” you can understand words like hopeless and careless.

These word parts are called prefixes and suffixes, and they’re extremely useful for expanding your English vocabulary.

Today you’ll learn 50 common English prefixes and suffixes and what they mean, with 250 example words.

What Is a Prefix?

A prefix is added to the beginning of a word. It changes the meaning of the base word. For example:

  • happy → unhappy (not happy)

What Is a Suffix?

A suffix is added to the end of a word. It can change the word’s meaning or even its word form (noun, adjective, etc.) For example:

  • teach → teacher (person who teaches)

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25 Common English Prefixes

The examples range from basic everyday vocabulary to more advanced words.

Prefix Meaning 5 Example Words
1. un- not; opposite of unhappy, unfair, unusual, uncertain, unprecedented
2. re- again; back rewrite, reread, rebuild, reconsider, restructure
3. dis- not; opposite of; reverse disagree, dislike, disconnect, discourage, disapprove
4. pre- before preschool, preheat, preview, precaution, prerequisite
5. mis- wrongly; incorrectly misspell, misunderstand, misbehave, misinterpret, misconstrue
6. over- too much; excessively overeat, oversleep, overwork, overestimate, overcompensate
7. under- too little; below underpaid, undercooked, underestimate, underdeveloped, underutilized
8. non- not; without nonstop, nonfiction, nonstick, nonverbal, nonnegotiable
9. in- / im- not incorrect, incomplete, impossible, impatient, imperceptible
10. ir- not irregular, irrelevant, irresponsible, irreversible, irrefutable
11. il- not illegal, illogical, illegible, illiterate, illegitimate
12. anti- against; opposing antivirus, antiwar, antibacterial, antisocial, anticlimactic
13. inter- between; among international, interact, interview, interconnected, interdisciplinary
14. sub- under; below submarine, subway, subtitle, subconscious, subordinate
15. super- above; beyond; extremely superhero, superstar, superhuman, supernatural, superimpose
16. trans- across; through transport, transfer, transform, transcontinental, transatlantic
17. auto- self autobiography, autograph, autopilot, autoimmune, autonomous
18. bi- two bicycle, bilingual, biweekly, bilateral, bipartisan
19. tri- three triangle, tripod, tricycle, trimester, trilateral
20. multi- many; multiple multicolored, multitask, multicultural, multinational, multifaceted
21. post- after postwar, postgame, postgraduate, postnatal, postindustrial
22. ex- former ex-boyfriend, ex-wife, ex-president, ex-employee, ex-colleague
23. co- together; jointly coworker, coauthor, copilot, cooperate, coexist
24. semi- half; partly semicircle, semifinal, semisweet, semiconscious, semiformal
25. micro- small microwave, microscope, microchip, microorganism, microeconomics

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25 Common English Suffixes

Noun Suffixes (Person / Thing / State)

Suffix Meaning / Function 5 Example Words
1. -er person who does something teacher, worker, driver, photographer, researcher
2. -or person who does something actor, visitor, director, inventor, mediator
3. -ist person who practices or specializes in something artist, dentist, scientist, journalist, environmentalist
4. -ian person associated with a field or activity musician, magician, historian, politician, mathematician
5. -ment action, process, or result payment, movement, agreement, achievement, disillusionment
6. -ness state or quality of sadness, kindness, happiness, awareness, assertiveness
7. -ity state or quality of ability, activity, equality, reliability, accountability
8. -tion action, process, or result action, education, celebration, communication, implementation
9. -sion action, process, or state decision, discussion, confusion, expansion, comprehension
10. -ship state, status, or relationship friendship, membership, leadership, partnership, entrepreneurship
11. -hood state or condition childhood, adulthood, parenthood, neighborhood, likelihood

Adjective Suffixes

Suffix Meaning / Function 5 Example Words
12. -able capable of being; suitable for readable, washable, enjoyable, affordable, sustainable
13. -ible capable of being possible, visible, flexible, reversible, comprehensible
14. -ful full of; having helpful, careful, thankful, thoughtful, resourceful
15. -less without; lacking careless, hopeless, useless, harmless, relentless
16. -ous full of; having a quality famous, dangerous, nervous, courageous, contentious
17. -ive having a quality or tendency active, creative, attractive, persuasive, counterproductive
18. -al relating to personal, natural, musical, cultural, environmental
19. -ic relating to; characterized by basic, artistic, historic, scientific, systematic
20. -y having; characterized by rainy, sunny, dirty, cloudy, wealthy
21. -ish somewhat; resembling childish, selfish, reddish, foolish, amateurish

Verb Suffixes

Suffix Meaning / Function 5 Example Words
22. -ize (American) -ise (British) make; become; cause to be organize, modernize, memorize, prioritize, conceptualize
23. -ify make; cause to become simplify, clarify, purify, intensify, exemplify
24. -en make; become strengthen, widen, shorten, brighten, broaden
25. -ate make; cause; perform an action activate, motivate, validate, differentiate, substantiate

Why Prefixes and Suffixes Matter

When you learn word parts, you can often guess new vocabulary.

For example, consider the word unpredictable:

  • un- = not

  • predict = say what will happen

  • -able = capable

So the word unpredictable describes a situation where we cannot say what will happen in the future.

Even if you’ve never seen the word before, you can use its parts to understand it!

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