Table of Contents
Prefixes in English Grammar:
A PREFIX is a syllable added to a root word in the beginning to make a new word.
Example- unwell, disable, disagree, inconvenience, illegal, mistake, dethrone, improper, etc.
Negative Prefixes:
In, un, dis, non, anti, im, ir, il, ig, contra, counter, etc. When added at the beginning of the root word, they make new words having opposite or contrary meanings, called Antonyms.
| In….. | Inaccessible, inactive, incomplete, incorrect, indifferent, indispensable, indefinite, indefensible, indigestible, ineligible, insoluble, invincible, insecure, infuse, etc. |
| Un….. | Unbelievable, unbearable, uncertain, uncommon, undesirable, undo, unusual, unequal, unexpected, unjust, unfit, unkind, unlawful, unpleasant, etc. |
| Dis….. | Disagree, disappear, disclose, disobey, discover, discredit, dishonour, dislike, dissimilar, etc. |
| Non….. | Nonparallel, nonexistent, nonresident, nonsense, non-vegetarian, nonpolitical, etc. |
| Anti….. | Antichrist, anticlimax, antilogic, antipathy, antinational, antiseptic, antisocial, etc. |
| Im….. | Immaterial, immeasurable, immedicable, immemorial, immodest, immoral, immovable, impartial, impatient, improper, etc. |
| Ir….. | Irregular, irrational, irrelevant, irreligious, irresponsible, irreparable, irrespective, irresolute, etc. |
| Il….. | Illegal, illiterate, illegible, etc. |
| Ig….. | Ignoble, igloo, ignominy, etc. |
| Contra….. | Contraband, contraceptive, etc. |
| Counter….. | Counteract, countercharge, countermand, countermarch, counterplea, counter-revolution, etc. |
Down-Grading Prefixes:
Mal (ill, sadly), de (down), mis (wrongly), retro (backward), se or sed (apart), ill (bad) are Down-grading Prefixes as they lower the position or status.
| Mal….. | Maltreatment, malnutritious, malcontent, malpractice, etc. |
| De….. | Debase, defame, dethrone, decamp, decompose, decry, deface, deform, degrade, demagnetize. |
| Mis….. | Misbelief, misbehave, misfortune, mislead, misuse. |
| Retro….. | Retrospect, retrograde, retrovert. |
| Se or sed….. | Secede. |
| Ill | Ill-bred, ill-spent, ill-got, ill-will. |
Prefixes of Degree or Size:
Mini (small), Over (too much), Under (too little), Super (above), Sub (under), Extra (beyond), Circum (round), Hyper (extremely), Out (beyond), Sur (over, beyond), Vice (in place of), Arch (higher).
| Mini….. | Minicab, miniskirt, minibus, minicar. |
| Over….. | Overact, overjoy, overeat, overdue, overall. |
| Under….. | Undersecretary, underhand, undermine, undertake |
| Super….. | Superhuman, supernatural, superstructure, supermarket. |
| Sub….. | Subjudge, subinspector, substandard, subagent, subset, subhuman, subregistrar. |
| Extra….. | Extraordinary, extraterritorial, extracurricular. |
| Circum….. | Circumcentre, circumcircle, circumnavigator. |
| Hyper….. | Hypertension, Hypersensitive, Hyperbola. |
| Out….. | Outdo, outcast, outcry, outpost. |
| Vice….. | Vice-Principal, Vice-President. |
| Arch….. | Archbishop, archangle, archduke. |
Prefixes of Time and Order:
Pre (before), Post (after), Ante (before), Fore (before), Re (back, again).
| Pre….. | Prehistoric, pre-monsoon, pre-war, preface, precaution. |
| Post….. | Post-war, post-graduate, post-date, post-script. |
| Ante….. | Antedate, antechamber, anteroom. |
| Fore….. | Forehead, forearm, forecast, foretell, forethought. |
| Re….. | Rewrite, renew, refresh, replace. |
Prefixes of Number:
Mono (one, single), Uni (one), Bi (two), Di (two), Tri (three), Multi (many), Poly (many), Demi (half), Hemi (half), Semi (half).
| Mono….. | Monoplane, monogamy, monosyllable, monotone. |
| Uni….. | Univalue, unilateral, univocal, uniform. |
| Bi….. | Bicycle, bifurcate, bisect, biannual, bilingual. |
| Di….. | Dissect, dioxide, diarchy. |
| Tri….. | Tricycle, Triangle, Trisection. |
| Multi….. | Multilateral, multiracial, multimillionaire, multipurpose. |
| Poly….. | Polygamy, polynomial, polysyllable. |
| Demi….. | Demigod. |
| Hemi….. | Hemisphere. |
| Semi….. | Semicircle, semicolon. |
Locative (pertaining to location) Prefixes:
Inter (between), Sub (under), Peri (round), Super (over), Trans (across), Amphi (around or both sides).
| Inter….. | Intercaste, intermingle, intersect, international. |
| Peri….. | Perimeter, periscope. |
| Trans….. | Transaction, transposition, transplant, transmission. |
| Amphi….. | Amphitheatre, amphibian. |
Some Other Prefixes:
| A (on, in)….. | Ahead, ashore, asleep, abroad. |
| A (out, from)….. | Arise, awake, alight. |
| Ab (from, away)….. | Abnormal, abuse. |
| Ad (to)….. | Adjoin, adverb. |
| Al (all)….. | Almighty, already, almost. |
| Auto (self)….. | Automatic, autograph, autobiography, autorickshaw. |
| Be (bye)….. | Behead, befriend, become. |
| Be (intensive)….. | Beside, betime, besides, besmear. |
| Bene (well)….. | Benefactor, benediction. |
| By (on the side)….. | Bypass, bygone. |
| Cata (down)….. | Catastrophe, cataract, catalogue. |
| De (down)….. | Debase, dethrone, decompose, derail. |
| Dia (through)….. | Diameter, diagonal, diagram. |
| Em (make or cause a thing)….. | Empower, employ, embrace, embolden. |
| Homo (like)….. | Homogeneous, homologous. |
| Para (beside)….. | Paradox, paraphrase. |
| Philo, phil (long)….. | Philosopher, philanthropy. |
| Tres, trans (across)….. | Transmit, trespass. |
| Sym, syn (with, together)….. | Sympathy, synonym. |
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