Root Words, Prefixes and Suffixes: Word Parts That Build Vocabulary

Why does unbelievable mean "not able to be believed"? Why do telephone, television and telescope all begin with tele-? Most English words are built from small parts, and if you learn the parts, you can read and spell thousands of words, including words you have never seen before.

This guide explains the three kinds of word parts (roots, prefixes and suffixes) and shows you how to break words apart to find their meaning. Its main part gives 198 word parts with 591 example words: 52 prefixes, 39 suffixes, 72 Latin roots and 35 Greek roots. It also includes twenty worked examples, spelling changes, key points, ten practice questions and a teacher activity.

It connects with Synonyms in English, Antonyms in English, One-Word Substitution and Commonly Misspelled Words. Spelling in this guide follows British English.

1.Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes

Word part	What it is	Example
Root	The core part that carries the main meaning	spect (look) in inspect, spectator
Prefix	A part added at the beginning; it changes the meaning	un- in unhappy, re- in rewrite
Suffix	A part added at the end; it often changes the part of speech	-ness in kindness, -ly in slowly
Base word	A whole word that can stand alone	happy, believe, form

A word may have all three parts. For example, unbelievable = un- (not) + believe (accept as true) + -able (able to be). Many English roots come from Latin and Greek, which is why academic and scientific words contain them. Everyday words come mostly from Old English.

2.How to Work Out an Unknown Word

Cover the prefix and the suffix. Find the root in the middle.
Think of the root's meaning. Use the tables below.
Add the prefix meaning. What does it add or change?
Add the suffix meaning. Is the word a noun, verb, adjective or adverb?
Check with the sentence. Does the meaning fit the context?
Check a dictionary because some words have changed meaning over time.

3.Common Prefixes and Their Meanings

Prefix	Meaning	Examples
a-, an-	not, without	atypical, amoral, anonymous, anarchy
ab-	away from	abnormal, abduct, absent, abolish
ad-	to, towards	advance, adhere, admire, adjacent
ante-	before	antecedent, antenatal, anteroom
anti-	against	antibiotic, antidote, antisocial
auto-	self	automatic, autobiography, autonomy
bene-	good, well	benefit, benevolent, benefactor
bi-	two	bicycle, bilingual, biannual
circum-	around	circumference, circumstance, circumnavigate
co-, com-, con-	together, with	cooperate, community, connect
contra-, counter-	against	contradict, contrast, counteract
de-	down, away, reverse	decrease, deform, deactivate
dis-	apart, not	disagree, disappear, dishonest
en-, em-	cause to be, put into	enable, enrich, embrace
ex-, e-	out, former	exit, exclude, ex-president, emigrate
extra-	beyond, outside	extraordinary, extracurricular
fore-	before, in front	forecast, foresee, forehead
hyper-	over, too much	hyperactive, hypersensitive
hypo-	under, below	hypothermia, hypodermic
in-, im-, il-, ir-	not	inactive, impossible, illegal, irregular
in-, im-	in, into	import, inhale, include
inter-	between, among	international, interact, interval
intra-, intro-	within, inside	intravenous, introduce, introvert
macro-	large	macroeconomics, macrocosm
micro-	small	microscope, microwave, microbe
mal-	bad, wrongly	malfunction, malnutrition, malicious
mis-	wrongly, badly	misunderstand, misspell, mislead
mono-	one, single	monologue, monopoly, monotone
multi-	many	multicultural, multiply, multimedia
non-	not	nonsense, non-fiction, nonstop
omni-	all	omnipotent, omniscient, omnivore
over-	too much, above	overeat, overcome, overhead
pan-	all	panorama, pandemic, panacea
para-	beside, beyond	parallel, paragraph, paradox
poly-	many	polygon, polygamy, polyglot
post-	after	postpone, postscript, post-war
pre-	before	prepare, prehistoric, predict
pro-	forward, for	progress, promote, proceed
re-	again, back	rewrite, return, rebuild
retro-	backward	retrospect, retrograde
semi-	half, partly	semicircle, semifinal
sub-	under, below	submarine, subway, subtitle
super-	above, beyond	supervise, superhuman, supermarket
syn-, sym-	together, same	synonym, symphony, sympathy
tele-	far, at a distance	telephone, television, telescope
trans-	across, through	transport, translate, transform
tri-	three	triangle, tricycle, triple
ultra-	beyond, extreme	ultraviolet, ultramodern
un-	not, reverse	unhappy, unlock, unfair
under-	below, too little	underground, underestimate, undercook
uni-	one	uniform, unite, universe
vice-	deputy	vice-captain, vice-president

4.Common Suffixes and Their Meanings

Suffix	Meaning or use	Examples
-tion, -sion	act or state of	education, decision, invasion
-ment	result or action	movement, achievement, agreement
-ness	state or quality	kindness, happiness, darkness
-ity	state or quality	ability, reality, equality
-ship	state, skill or condition	friendship, leadership, scholarship
-hood	state or time of life	childhood, neighbourhood, brotherhood
-dom	state, rank or domain	freedom, kingdom, boredom
-ism	belief or practice	realism, tourism, optimism
-ist	a person who does or believes	artist, scientist, optimist
-er, -or	a person or thing that does	teacher, actor, inventor
-ance, -ence	state or quality	importance, patience, absence
-ee	a person who receives	employee, trainee, refugee
-ure	result or process	failure, pressure, culture
-age	action, result or amount	marriage, package, shortage
-ant, -ent	a person who; being	assistant, student, servant
-ian	a person of a field or place	musician, historian, Pakistani
-ology	the study of	biology, geology, psychology
-able, -ible	able to be	readable, comfortable, visible
-al	relating to	musical, national, personal
-ful	full of	helpful, beautiful, careful
-less	without	careless, hopeless, homeless
-ous	full of, having	famous, dangerous, courageous
-ive	tending to	active, creative, attractive
-ic	relating to	artistic, heroic, atomic
-ish	like, somewhat	childish, reddish, foolish
-ary, -ory	relating to	military, necessary, compulsory
-y	full of, having	rainy, sunny, healthy
-like	similar to	childlike, lifelike, businesslike
-some	causing, tending to	troublesome, awesome, handsome
-ize, -ise	to make or become	modernise, organise, realise
-ify	to make	simplify, purify, classify
-en	to make or become	widen, darken, strengthen
-ate	to cause to be	activate, motivate, create
-ly	in the manner of	quickly, slowly, carefully
-ward	in the direction of	forward, homeward, upward
-wise	in the manner or direction of	clockwise, likewise, otherwise
-ling	small, young	duckling, darling, sapling
-let	small	booklet, leaflet, piglet
-ette	small, female	cigarette, kitchenette, usherette

5.Latin Roots

Root	Meaning	Examples
aqua	water	aquarium, aquatic, aqueduct
audi	hear	audience, audible, auditorium
bene	good	benefit, benevolent, benediction
cap, capt, cept	take, seize	capture, accept, concept
ced, cess	go, yield	proceed, access, recede
circ	circle, around	circulate, circuit, circus
clud, clus	close, shut	include, exclude, conclusion
cord	heart	cordial, courage, accord
corp	body	corpse, corporation, incorporate
cred	believe	credible, credit, incredible
dict	say, speak	dictate, predict, verdict
duc, duct	lead	educate, produce, conduct
fac, fact, fect	make, do	factory, manufacture, effect
fer	carry, bring	transfer, refer, conference
fin	end, limit	final, finish, infinite
flect, flex	bend	reflect, flexible, flexibility
flu	flow	fluid, influence, fluent
form	shape	transform, uniform, reform
fort	strong	fortress, effort, comfort
frag, fract	break	fragile, fracture, fraction
gen	birth, kind, race	generate, generation, gender
grad, gress	step, go	gradual, progress, graduate
jud, jur, just	law, judge	judge, jury, justice
lab	work	laboratory, collaborate, elaborate
lect, leg	read, choose	collect, legible, select
liber	free	liberty, liberate, liberal
loc	place	locate, local, location
loqu, locut	speak	eloquent, elocution, loquacious
lumin	light	illuminate, luminous, luminary
man	hand	manual, manuscript, manufacture
mar	sea	marine, submarine, maritime
mater, matr	mother	maternal, matron, matrimony
mem	remember	memory, memorial, memorandum
mit, miss	send	transmit, mission, permit
mob, mot, mov	move	mobile, motion, remove
mort	death	mortal, mortality, mortuary
nat	born	native, nation, nature
nov	new	novel, innovation, renovate
numer	number	numeral, numerous, enumerate
ped	foot	pedestrian, pedal, centipede
pater, patr	father	paternal, patriot, patriarch
pel, puls	drive, push	propel, compel, impulse
pend, pens	hang, weigh	pendant, suspend, expense
port	carry	transport, export, portable
pos, pon	put, place	position, postpone, component
prim	first	primary, prime, primitive
quest, quir, quisit	ask, seek	question, inquire, requisite
rupt	break	interrupt, erupt, corrupt
scrib, script	write	describe, manuscript, subscribe
sect	cut	section, insect, dissect
sent, sens	feel, think	sensitive, consent, sentiment
sequ, secu	follow	sequence, consequence, persecute
sign	mark, sign	signature, design, signal
spec, spect	look, see	inspect, spectator, perspective
spir	breathe	inspire, respire, spirit
stru, struct	build	structure, construct, instruct
tang, tact	touch	tangible, contact, tactile
temp	time	temporary, contemporary, tempo
ten, tain	hold	tenant, maintain, retain
term	end, limit	terminate, determine, terminal
terr	earth, land	territory, terrestrial, terrain
tract	pull, drag	attract, extract, tractor
urb	city	urban, suburb, urbane
vac	empty	vacant, vacuum, evacuate
ven, vent	come	event, prevent, convention
ver	truth	verify, verdict, veracity
vers, vert	turn	reverse, convert, version
vid, vis	see	video, visible, evident
viv, vit	life	vivid, survive, vital
voc	voice, call	vocal, advocate, vocabulary
vol	wish, will	voluntary, volunteer, benevolent
volv, volut	roll, turn	revolve, revolution, evolution

6.Greek Roots

Root	Meaning	Examples
anthrop	human	anthropology, philanthropy, misanthrope
arch	rule, first	monarchy, architect, archaic
astr, aster	star	astronomy, asterisk, disaster
bio	life	biology, biography, biodegradable
chron	time	chronology, chronic, synchronise
cosm	world, order	cosmos, cosmopolitan, microcosm
crat, cracy	rule, power	democracy, autocrat, bureaucracy
cycl	circle, wheel	cycle, bicycle, encyclopaedia
dem	people	democracy, epidemic, demography
derm	skin	dermatology, epidermis, hypodermic
dox	opinion	orthodox, paradox, doxology
dyna	power	dynamic, dynamite, dynasty
geo	earth	geography, geology, geometry
gram, graph	write, draw	telegram, photograph, biography
hydr	water	hydrate, hydrogen, hydraulic
log, logy	word, study	logic, biology, dialogue
meter, metr	measure	thermometer, geometry, symmetry
morph	shape, form	metamorphosis, morphology, amorphous
neo	new	neon, neonatal, neologism
nom, nomy	law, order	astronomy, economy, autonomy
onym	name	synonym, antonym, pseudonym
path	feeling, disease	sympathy, empathy, pathology
phil	love	philosophy, philanthropy, bibliophile
phob	fear	claustrophobia, xenophobia, phobia
phon	sound	telephone, symphony, microphone
photo	light	photograph, photosynthesis, photon
pod	foot	tripod, podium, octopus
polis, poli	city	metropolis, politics, police
psych	mind, soul	psychology, psychic, psychiatrist
scop	see, watch	telescope, microscope, periscope
soph	wise	philosophy, sophisticated, sophomore
tele	far	telephone, television, telepathy
therm	heat	thermometer, thermal, thermos
theo	god	theology, atheist, enthusiasm
zoo	animal	zoology, zoo, zodiac

7.Worked Examples: Taking Words Apart

Word	Parts	Meaning
unbelievable	un- (not) + believe + -able (able to be)	not able to be believed
incomprehensible	in- (not) + com- (together) + prehend (grasp) + -ible	not able to be grasped or understood
photosynthesis	photo (light) + syn- (together) + thesis (putting)	making food using light
biodegradable	bio (life) + de- (down) + grad (step) + -able	able to be broken down by living things
transportation	trans- (across) + port (carry) + -ation	the act of carrying across
interrupt	inter- (between) + rupt (break)	to break in between
predict	pre- (before) + dict (say)	to say before it happens
autobiography	auto- (self) + bio (life) + graph (write) + -y	the story of one's own life
telescope	tele- (far) + scope (see)	an instrument for seeing far
benevolent	bene- (good) + vol (wish) + -ent	wishing good to others
misanthropist	mis- (hate) + anthrop (human) + -ist	a person who hates mankind
manuscript	manu (hand) + script (write)	something written by hand
sympathetic	sym- (together) + path (feeling) + -etic	feeling together with another
revolution	re- (again) + volut (roll) + -ion	a turning around
contradict	contra- (against) + dict (say)	to say against
subterranean	sub- (under) + terr (earth) + -anean	under the earth
chronological	chron (time) + log (word) + -ical	arranged in time order
inspect	in- (into) + spect (look)	to look into
zoology	zoo (animal) + -logy (study)	the study of animals
thermometer	therm (heat) + meter (measure)	an instrument to measure heat

8.Spelling Changes When Adding Word Parts

Rule	Examples
Drop a silent e before a vowel suffix	create + -ive → creative, hope + -ing → hoping
Keep the e before a consonant suffix	care + -ful → careful, move + -ment → movement
Change y to i before a suffix	happy + -ness → happiness, beauty + -ful → beautiful
Double the last letter after one stressed vowel	begin + -ing → beginning, admit + -ed → admitted
Prefix ending in a letter that matches the root	il- + legal → illegal, ir- + regular → irregular, mis- + spell → misspell
Assimilation: the prefix changes to fit the root	in- + possible → impossible, com- + mit → commit, ad- + tract → attract

9.Common Mistakes with Word Parts

Mistake	Correct	Why
inpossible	impossible	The prefix in- becomes im- before p.
unregular	irregular	Use ir- before r.
disatisfied	dissatisfied	Dis- + satisfied keeps both s's.
misspell as mispell	misspell	Mis- + spell keeps both s's.
carefull	careful	The suffix -ful has one l.
useing	using	Drop the silent e before -ing.
happyness	happiness	Change y to i before -ness.
beginning as begining	beginning	Double the n before -ing.
assuming that every in- word means not (invaluable, inflammable)	check the dictionary	Some in- words mean "very" or "into".

Key points to remember

A word can have a prefix, a root and a suffix.
Prefixes change meaning; suffixes often change the part of speech.
Many roots come from Latin and Greek: dict (say), spect (look), port (carry), graph (write), bio (life).
Learn the common prefixes and suffixes first, then the roots.
Use the parts to guess unknown words, then check a dictionary.
Watch spelling changes when you join parts: impossible, dissatisfied, happiness.

For teachers and parents

Activity: give each student a list of ten long words and ask them to split each into prefix, root and suffix, and then to guess the meaning before checking. A word-building game works well: give cards with prefixes, roots and suffixes, and ask teams to build as many real words as they can in five minutes.

Please note: this guide uses British spelling. Word meanings can change over time, so a word may differ slightly from its parts. Students should always confirm the meaning in a dictionary.

Where These Facts Come From

Cambridge DictionaryWord meanings and word families
British Council LearnEnglishFree vocabulary lessons
Oxford Learner's DictionariesWord origins and usage notes