Prefixes and Suffixes
Grade 4 · English · Study Guide
Discover how adding word parts to the beginning or end of a word can completely change its meaning.
A prefix is a group of letters added to the BEGINNING of a word to change its meaning. For example, the prefix 'un-' means 'not,' so adding it to 'happy' gives you 'unhappy,' which means not happy. The prefix 're-' means 'again,' so 'rewrite' means to write again.
A suffix is a group of letters added to the END of a word to change its meaning or part of speech. The suffix '-ful' means 'full of,' so 'helpful' means full of help. The suffix '-less' means 'without,' so 'hopeless' means without hope. Suffixes can also change a word from a noun to an adjective, or from a verb to a noun.
Knowing common prefixes and suffixes is like having a secret code for vocabulary. When you come across a word you don't know, you can often figure out its meaning by breaking it apart. If you see 'prehistoric,' you know 'pre-' means before and 'historic' relates to history — so prehistoric means before recorded history.
Some common prefixes include: 'un-' (not), 're-' (again), 'pre-' (before), 'mis-' (wrongly), 'dis-' (not or opposite), and 'over-' (too much). Some common suffixes include: '-ful' (full of), '-less' (without), '-er' (one who), '-tion' (act of), '-ly' (in a certain way), and '-able' (able to).
The base word (also called the root word) is the main part of the word before any prefixes or suffixes are added. Understanding the base word helps you unlock the full meaning of longer, more complex words.
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| un- | not | unhappy, unfair |
| re- | again | rewrite, redo |
| pre- | before | preview, prehistoric |
| mis- | wrongly | misspell, mislead |
| dis- | not / opposite | disagree, disappear |
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ful | full of | helpful, colorful |
| -less | without | hopeless, careless |
| -er | one who | teacher, writer |
| -tion | act of | action, creation |
| -ly | in a way | quickly, kindly |
Key terms
- Prefix
- A word part added to the beginning of a base word to change its meaning
- Suffix
- A word part added to the end of a base word to change its meaning or part of speech
- Base word
- The main word before any prefixes or suffixes are added
- Root word
- The core word from which other words are formed
- Affix
- A collective term for prefixes and suffixes
Flashcards
- Prefix
- Letters added to the BEGINNING of a word to change its meaning
- Suffix
- Letters added to the END of a word to change its meaning
- un-
- Prefix meaning 'not' — unhappy, unclear, unkind
- re-
- Prefix meaning 'again' — reread, redo, rewrite
- -ful
- Suffix meaning 'full of' — beautiful, thankful, powerful
- -less
- Suffix meaning 'without' — careless, hopeless, fearless
Practice questions
What does the prefix 're-' mean?
- Not
- Again
- Before
- Without
Show answer
Answer: Again
'Re-' means again — rewrite means to write again, redo means to do again.
A suffix is added to the beginning of a word.
Show answer
Answer: False
A suffix is added to the END of a word. A prefix is added to the beginning.
The word 'unhappy' uses the prefix 'un-' which means ___.
Show answer
Answer: not
The prefix 'un-' means 'not' — unhappy means not happy.
What does the suffix '-less' mean?
- Full of
- Again
- Without
- One who
Show answer
Answer: Without
'-Less' means without — careless means without care, hopeless means without hope.
The word 'teacher' uses the suffix '-er' meaning 'one who teaches.'
Show answer
Answer: True
The suffix '-er' added to 'teach' makes 'teacher' — one who teaches. The suffix creates a noun meaning a person who does something.
Fun facts
- About 75% of English words have a prefix or suffix — learning just 20 common ones can help you understand thousands of new words!
- The prefix 'un-' is the most common prefix in the English language and appears in over 1,000 words.
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