There are many different ways to form new words in the English language. One of the ways is with the use of prefixes.
This article will define what a prefix is, provide plenty of examples of the different prefixes used in the English language, and explain how and when you should use them.
What is a Prefix?
A prefix is a type of affix attached to the beginning of a base word (or root) to change its meaning.
Affix - Letters that are added to the base form of a word to give it a new meaning.
The word prefix itself actually contains a prefix! The letters 'pre' is a prefix that means before or in front of. It is attached to the root word fix, which means attach.
Prefixes are always derivational, meaning once a prefix is used, it creates a new word with a different meaning from the base word.
When the prefix 'un ' is added to the base word 'happy ', it creates the new word 'unhappy'.
This new word (unhappy) has the opposite meaning of the base word (happy).
What is Prefix as a Verb?
As a verb, the term prefix means placing in front of
Redo: Here, the letters 're' are prefixed to the base word 'do'. This creates a new word with a new meaning.
What is Prefix as a Noun?
As a noun, a prefix is a type of affix that is attached to the beginning of a base word to alter its meaning.
Polyglot: the prefix 'poly' (meaning: many ) is attached to the base word 'glot' (meaning: speaking or writing in a language ), to form a new word - polyglot - which is used to refer to a person who knows and can speak in more than one language.
What are some examples of Prefixes?
The following table shows a comprehensive but not complete list of prefixes used in the English language.
Examples of prefixes that negate a word:
Certain prefixes create a new word with the opposite or nearly opposite meaning of the base word. In many cases, the word changes from something positive to something more negative. Here is a list of prefixes that negate (make negative) a word:
| Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
| a / an | lack of, without, not | asymmetric, atheist, anaemic |
| ab | away, not | abnormal, absent |
| anti | contrary to, against | anti-inflammatory, antisocial |
| counter | contrary to, against | counter-argument, counterproposal |
| de | undo, remove | deter, deactivate |
| ex | previous, former | ex-husband |
| il | not, without | illegal, illogical |
| im | not, without | improper, impossible |
| in | no, lacking | injustice, incomplete |
| ir | not | irreplaceable, irregular |
| non | not, lacking | non-fiction, nonnegotiable |
| un | not, lacking | unkind, unresponsive |
Fig 1. The prefix 'il' can be added to the word 'legal' to form a new word
Examples of common prefixes in English:
Some prefixes don't necessarily negate the meaning of a base word but alter it to express the word's relationship with time, place, or manner.
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
| ante | before, prior to | anterior, antebellum |
| auto | self | autobiography, autograph |
| bi | two | bicycle, binomial |
| circum | around, to go around | circumnavigate, circumvent |
| co | jointly, together | copilot, coworker |
| di | two | diatomic, dipole |
| extra | beyond, more | extracurricular |
| hetero | different | heterogeneous, heterosexual |
| homo | same | homogeneous, homosexual |
| inter | in between | intersect, intermittent |
| mid | middle | midpoint, midnight |
| pre | before | preschool |
| post | after | post-workout |
| semi | partial | semicircle |
Using hyphens with prefixes
There are no fixed and complete rules regarding when you should and should not use a hyphen to separate a base word from its prefix. However, there are a few things you should be aware of to help you use prefixes and hyphens correctly.
Use a hyphen with a proper noun
You must use a hyphen if a prefix is attached to a proper noun.
- Pre-World War I
- Anti-American
Use a hyphen to avoid ambiguity
A hyphen should be used with a prefix in cases where it may lead to confusion over meaning or spelling. Confusion most commonly arises when the base word plus a prefix creates a word that already exists.
Re-cover vs Recover
Adding the prefix 're' to the word 'cover' creates a new word 'recover', which means to cover again.
However, this may cause confusion as the word recover already exists (a verb meaning to return to health).
Adding a hyphen makes it more apparent that 're' is a prefix.
Use a hyphen to avoid double vowels
If a prefix ends with the same vowel that the base word starts with, use a hyphen to separate the two.
- Re-enter
- Ultra-argumentative
There may be exceptions to this rule with the vowel "o". For example, 'coordinate' is correct, but 'coowner' is incorrect. In such cases, using a spellchecker may prove to be helpful.
Use a hyphen with 'ex' and 'self'
Certain prefixes such as 'ex' and 'self' are always followed by a hyphen.
What is the Importance of prefixes in English?
Knowing how to use prefixes will make you more proficient in the language and improve your vocabulary. It will also allow you to convey information in a more concise and precise manner.
Using the word 'reestablish' instead of 'establish it again' will allow for more concise communication.
Prefix - Key takeaways
- A prefix is a type of affix attached to the beginning of a base word (or root) to change its meaning.
- The word prefix itself is the combination of the prefix - pre and the base word - fix.
- Some examples of prefixes are - ab, non, and ex.
- A hyphen must be used alongside a prefix for several reasons, such as to prevent ambiguity, when the root word is a proper noun, when the last letter of the prefix is the same as the first letter of the root word, and when the prefix is either ex or self.
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