Prefix

Meaning

Examples

a(n)-

 not, without

atonality, asexuality, amoral, anarchy, anonymous

ab-

 away

abduction, absolutism, ablution

acr(o)-

 high, up, hill

Acropolis, acrobatics

ad-

near, at

adrenal

aden(o)-

 gland

adenectomy

aer(o)-

 air

aeronautics, aerodrome, aeroplane, aerodynamics

agr(o)-

 relating to farming

 agriculture

alt-

high

altitude

alter-

another

 Alter-ego, alternate

am-

love

 amorous, amateur

an(a)-

 out of

anachronism

andr-

man

androgyny, androcentrism, android, androgen

anem-

wind

anemometer

Anglo-

English or British

 Anglo-Irish relations

ante-

 before

antebellum

anthropo-

relating to human beings

anthropology, anthropocentrism, anthropomorphic

ant(i)-

against

antidote, antibody, anticlockwise

aut(o)-

self

autonomy, autobiography, automobile, autopilot

bar(o)-

heaviness, heavy

barometer

bathy-

deep

Bathyscaphe, Bathysphere

be-

completely, excessively; forms transitive verbs

bemuse, bespeak, bewail

ben-

well

Benediction, benign

bi-

two

 bicycle, bijection, bicameralism

bi(o)-

life

biology, biography, biopsy

bibli(o)-

 relating to books

Bibliophilia, bibliography

blast(o)-

bud, germination

blastocyst

brady-

slow

Bradycardia

brom(o)-

stench

Bromine, bromide

bronch(o)-

relating to breathing

bronchitis

cac(o)-

bad

Cacophony, cacography

cad/cas-

a fall

cadence, cascade

cardi(o)-

heart

Cardiovascular, Cardiac arrest

cent-, centi-

hundred or hundredth

Centenarian, centimeter, centipede

cephal(o)-

 head

Cephalothorax

chrom(ato)-

colour

chromatic, chromosome

chron(o)-

time

Chronology, chronic, chronicle

circum-

around

Circumcision, circumlocution, circumference

co-

together

Cooperative, co-belligerence

colpo-

vagina

Colpospasm

con-

with, together

Connotation, Congress, congregation

contr-

against, opposite

Contradiction, contraception, controversy

cosm(o)- 

cosmology, cosmopolitan, cosmotheism

counter-

against, opposite

counterpoint, Counter-Reformation

crin(o)-

cry(shed tears)

Endocrinology

cryo-

frost, icy cold

cryogenics, cryoelectronics, cryostorage

crypt(o)-

hidden

cryptography, cryptozoology

cyt(o)-

cell (originally hollow receptacle)

cytoplasm, cytology

culp-

fault

culpable, culprit

dactyl(o)-

finger, digit

dactylogram

de-

taking something away, the opposite

 Decentralization, dehydration, Denazification

dec(a)-, dek(a)-

ten

decamerous, December, decimeter

deci-

one tenth

deciliter

dem(o)-

people

demographics, democracy

derm(at)-

skin

dermatology, dermatitis

di-

two, double

diurnal

dia-

through

diameter, diagnosis, diarrhea

didact(o)- 

apt at teaching

didactic

dis-

apart, separation, reverse, opposite

dissent, discovery, disambiguation

dok,dox(o)-

view, teaching

doxology, dogma, orthodox

dynam(o)-

power, force

dynamic, dynamite, dynamo

dys-

bad, deformed, abnormal

dyspepsia, dystrophy, dysarthria

eco-

house

economy, ecology, ecosystem, ecotage

ecto-

outer, external

ectomorphic, ectoparasite

edaph(o)-

soil

edaphic

electr(o)-

relating to Electricity

electrocution, electroencephalogram

embry(o)-

embryo

embryogenesis

end(o)-, ent(o)-

inside

endoscope, endothermic, entoblast

enne(a)-

nine

enneastyle, enneagram

enter(o)-

intestine

enteritis

eo-

earliest, most

primitive eobacterium, eohippus

ep(i)-, eph-

upon, above, around

epitaxy, epicenter, ephemeral

erg(o)-

work, labour

ergonomics synergy, energy

erythr(o)-

red

erythrocite

erot(o)-

love

erotic, erotomania

ethno-

race, people

ethnology, ethnolinguistics, ethnocentrism

eu-

good

eulogy, euthanasia, eugenics, euphemism

Euro-

European

Euro-MP, Eurocentric

ex-

former

ex-wife, ex-president

exo-

outside

exoskeleton

extra-

outside, beyond, additional

extra-thin, extra-special extraordinary, extraterrestrial

flor-

relating to flowers

florist

fore-

before, in advance

foreskin, foreshadowing

gyn-

female

gynaecology, gynoid

hemi-

half

hemimetabolous, hemisphere

hemo-

blood

hemophilia, hemophobia

hex(a)-

six

hexapod, hexagonal, hexameter

hydro-

water

hydrogen, hydry

hyper-

excessive2, having more than three spatial dimensions (mathematics)

 hyperactive, hyperthyroidism

hyp(o)-

below2

hypodermic, hypnosis

in-

intensively

inflammable, invaluable

in-1

not

infallibility, illiteracy, immoral, irrelevant

inter-

between, mutual

intervention, international, internet

intra-

within

intramural, intravenous, intraocular

kilo-

thousand

kilogram, kilowatt

Litho-

Rock

lithosphere

Luso-

Portuguese

lusophone

Mac- or Mc-

son of (often used in last names)

McCarthy, Kirsty MacColl

macro-

large

macrobiology, macroscopic

mal-

bad

malpractice, malnutrition

maxi-

many ,most

 maximal, maximum

Mc-

McDonalds-like,

 often derogatory McJob, McPaper

mega(l)-

 million, very large

 Megabyte, megaphone, megalopolis

meso-

middle

Mesoamerica, mesoscale

meta-

after, beyond

Metacarpal, metaphysics

micro-

one millionth, very small

microgram, microorganism, micronation

mid-

in the middle of

mid-term elections, Mid-Autumn Festival

milli-

thousandth

milligram, milliliter

mini-

small

miniskirt, miniseries

mis-

bad, wrong

miscarriage, misanthropy, misogyny, mistake

mon(o)-

one, single

monolith, monorail, monotony, monocle

multi-

many

multiculturalism, multilingual

myco-

relating to fungi

mycology, mycoprotein

myri(a)-

Ten thousand

myriagon, myriad

non-

not

nonsense, non-denial denial

non-

nine

nonagon

O'-

(son) of (often used in last names)

O'Brian

oct(o)-,oct(a)-

eight

octane, octopod, octagon, October

omni-

all

 omnidirectional, omnivore, omnipotent

oo- ("oo-oh")

egg, ovum

 oocyte

out-

more, to a greater degree

outdo, outrun

over-

more than normal, too much

overpopulation, over-consumption

pent(a)-

five

pentagon

peri(o)-

around, about, enclosing, near

perimysium, pericardium, periosteum, perinatal

phyto-

relating to plants

phytogeography, phytoplankton

post-

after

postpartum depression, postmodernism

pre-

before

prediction, preview, precedent, prenatal care

pro-

for, in favour of

pro-choice, protagonist

psycho-

mind,mental

psychology, psychosomatic

pyro-

fire, flame

pyromania

quadr-, quart-

four

quadrangle, quadruplet, quartic, quartile

quinque-

five

quinquesection,

quint(i)-

fifth, five

quintiped, quintet

re-

again, repeatedly

reduction, reflection, revolution

rect(i)-

proper, straight

rectify, rectangle

retro-

backward

retrograde, retrospective

scler(o)-

hard

scleroderma, atherosclerosis

semi-

half, partial

semi-automatic, semi-detached

sept(a)-

seven

heptachord, September

sex(i)-

six

sexivalent

Sino-

Chinese

Sino-American relations

spasm(o)-

spasm

spasmatic, spasmolysis

sperm-

seed

spermophile, spermine

spher(o)-

sphere, ball

spherical, atmosphere

sphygm(o)-

pulsation

sphygmomanometer, sphygmograph

splen(o)-

spleen

splenomegaly

splanchn(o)-

viscera

splanchnopathy

schiz(o)-, schist(o)-

split

schizophrenia, schistocyte

staphyl(o)-

 cluster, uvula

 staphylococcus, staphyloplasty

stom(ato)-

 mouth

stomatitis, stomach

styl-

 pillar

 stylus, stylist, stylopodium

sub-

below, less than, under,2

subset, subsonic, subway, subtitles

super-

extremely, more than,2

superhuman, Superego, supersonic

syn-

together, united, at the same time

 synergy, synchronicity, synesthesia

tach(y)-

rapid, accelerated

tachycardia, tachymeter, tachyon

tel(e)-

distance, distant

telecommunications, television, telephoto lens, telodynamic

tel(o)-

end

teloblast, telophase

theo-

god

theology, theogony

trans-

across, beyond

transfer, transubstantiation, transatlantic, Trans-Siberian railway

tri-

three

triangle, tricolor, triptych

twi-

two

twilight, twig, twin

ultra-

extremely, beyond

certain limit ultramontanism, ultraviolet

un1-

not, opposite, take

something away unconstitutional, undelete

under-

below, incompletely

underestimate, underage, undercook

uni-

one, single

uniform, unification

up-

higher

upscale, update, upgrade, upheld

ur-

first, original

urtext

ur(o)-

urine uric,

urinal

vita-

life

vitamin, vital

with-

together, united

withhold, withstand

zoo- ("zoo-oh")

relating to animals

zoomorphic, zoology

Suffix

Meaning

Examples

able

 capable, can do

usable, notable

-ad

group

triad, monad

-age

forming a noun

marriage, mileage

-agogy

leading

 pedagogy, demagogy

-arch

ruler, leader

monarch, tetrarch

-archy

rule, leadership

gynarchy, anarchy

-athlon

sporting event

pentathlon, decathlon

-cede, -ceed

go

concede, succeed

-cele, -coele, -coel

body cavity

mucocoel or mucocoele

-cele

tumor, hernia

hydatidocele

-centesis

puncturing

amniocentesis, rachicentesis

-cephalic

relating to the head

anencephaly, macrocephaly

-chondrion

 small grainlike structure

 mitochondrion

-cide

murder, killing agent

suicide, vespacide, regicide

-city

practice

atrocity

-clude

include, exclude, preclude

-cracy

rule (in the context of rule by a king, rule by the people, etc.)

 kakistocracy, democracy, androcracy

-cy

expressing the quality of an adjective

peccancy, agency, idiocy

-cycle

circle, cycle, unit of radio frequency

epicycle, hydrocycle

-dom

 state or condition of

 freedom, kingdom

-duce

bring, lead

introduce, reduce, induce

-duct

into

 induct, conduct

-ectasia, -ectasis

stretching out

brochiectasis, telangiectasia

-ectomy

surgical removal

laryngectomy, vasectomy

-eme

linguistic unit

lexeme, phoneme, morpheme

-emia

blood condition

leukemia, anaemia

-enchyma

cellular tissue

mesenchyma, karyenchyma

-er

changes verb to noun (see also -or)

write, writer

-er

male

 widower

-ergy

 work

energy, synergy

-esque

in the style of

Pythonesque, Romanesque

-ess

female

actress, waitress, stewardess, priestess

-esthesis, -esthesia

sensation, feeling

synesthesia, kinesthesis

-fugal fuge

driving or travelling away from, expelling

centrifugal

-ful

full of, having some or much

hopeful, useful

-fusion

 pour together

transfusion, confusion, infusion

-gate

a scandal, often political (back-formed from the Watergate scandal)

 Watergate, nipplegate

-gnosis

knowing

prognosis, diagnosis

-gon

 geometric shape

polygon, pentagon

-gress

 to walk, entrance

digress, transgress, ingress

-gry

adjective form of only 2 or 3 nouns in the English language

 anger, hunger

-hedron

geometric solid

icosahedron, tetrahedron

-holic

love, addiction

alcoholic

-hood

state/condition of, a group sharing characteristics

brotherhood

-ible

like -able, for Latin origins

incredible, terrible, visible

-ic

(adjective)

neurotic

-ics

Technology

Physics,Aerodynamics,Forensics

-icle

originally referring to a spike-like formation

 icicle, popsicle

-id

skin rash

syphilid

–fy, –ify

to become, make

basify, vilify

-illion

large numbers

million, billion

-ish sort of;

approximately

greenish, tallish

-ism

doctrine, act, practice, condition

Protestantism, alcoholism, Buddhism, southernism

-ist

person

 dentist

-itis

disease, inflammation

 hepatitis, gingivitis

-itude

attitude, certitude

-ity

expressing state or condition

normality, formality, banality

-ium

metallic element (exception: helium)

sodium, Calcium

-ive

make the noun an adjective

defensive, aggressive

-ize or -ise

to cause, to be, to become

materialize, idolize

-izzle

used for hip hop slang

Americizzle

-ject

throw (in, out, etc)

inject, reject, eject

-join

join

disjoin, rejoin

-kinesis

movement (ability thereof)

telekinesis

-less

 lack of

homeless, useless

-let

diminutive, or denoting a relation to some part of the body

ringlet, hamlet, anklet

-ly

like, having the attributes of; In modern English, primarily changes adjectives to adverbs; also changes some nouns to adjectives and some (past-tense) verbs to adverbs

quick(adj) ?quickly(adv), state(n) ? stately(adj), abashed(v) ? abashedly(adv)

-man

person

fireman, stateman

-mancy

divination by

crystallomancy, bibliomancy, necromancy

-mania

an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action

kleptomania, megalomania, mythomania

-meter or -metre

measuring device

barometer, thermometer

-metry

 measure

symmetry, geometry, isometry

-mit

send

commit, emit, limit

-morphism

form

isomorphism, homomorphism

-ography or -ogram

writing, description

stenography, geography, ideogram

-oid r

esembling

solenoid, hominoid

-ologist

one who studies a scientific subject

 archaeologist

-ology

study, science

planetology, thyroidology, phthisiology

-ome

biological entity

genome

-omics

area of biology

proteomics

-onomy

knowledge of

astronomy

-onym

name, word

antonym, consonym, heteronym

-osis

process, action, formation, diseased condition

 mitosis, osmosis, ostosis, psychosis

-ous

quality from nature, chemical element

porous

-pend

to hang

impend, append, depend

-phagy, -phagia

eating

monophagy

-philia

attraction

hemophilia

-phobia

fear

acrophobia, mysophobia

-phone

sound, audio; speaker of a language

telephone, homophone; Anglophone

-phyte

plant, used in botany to create terms which categorise plants based on their life-history, growth-form or ecological preferences

 therophyte, halophyte

-place

place

replace, displace

-plete

to fill

complete, deplete

=-polis

referring to city or big area

Metropolis

-port

to move or to carry

import, export

-pose

put

propose, impose, depose

-potent (or -potence)

power

omnipotent, equipotent, impotence

-pound

put

impound, compound, expound, propound

-press, -print

  impress, repress, imprint, reprint

-proach

 near

approach, reproach

-science

knowing

omniscience

-scope

 from Greek skopos, view; instrument for viewing and observing spaces

 microscope, telescope

-script

written

manuscript, transcript

-semble

same, similar

resemble, ensemble, assemble

-sert

join

assert, insert

-ship circle

state of being

friendship, relationship, dictatorship

-side

side

aside, besides, inside

-sist

stop, stand

insist, resist, desist, persist, assist

-stan

land, country

Afghanistan

-ster

people

youngster, gangster

-struct

pile, build

construct, destruct, obstruct

-tail

to cut

detail, retail

-tain

to hold

retain, obtain, detain

-test

witness

detest, attest, protest

-th

 ordinal number, forming a noun

tenth, millionth, growth

-tom/-tome

part or segment

dermatome

-tory

history, repository

-tropism

to turn

phototropism

-us

inflammation

ulcus (ulcer)

-ville

city, town from French

Nashville

-vious

obvious, envious

-volve

roll

involve, revolve, evolve

-voke

to call

invoke, revoke

-vore / -vorous

to devour

carnivore, herbivore

-ward/-wards

direction

southward, inward, outward

-ware

software, stuff

hardware, software, freeware

-where

location

everywhere, nowhere, anywhere, somewhere

-wise

direction

clockwise

-y

having the quality of, inclined to

runny, messy