Most Common Prefixes
anti- against - antifreeze
de- opposite - defrost
dis-* not, opposite of - disagree
en-, em- cause to -- encode, embrace
fore- before -- forecast
in-, im- in -- infield
in-, im-, il-, ir-* not -- injustice, impossible
inter- between -- interact
mid- middle -- midway
mis- wrongly -- misfire
non- not-- nonsense
over- over --overlook
pre- before -- prefix
re-* again -- return
semi- half -- semicircle
sub- under -- submarine
super- above -- superstar
trans- across -- transport
un-* not --unfriendly
under- under -- undersea
*Most frequent. The four most frequent prefixes account for 97 percent of prefixed
words in printed school English.
Prefix Meaning Key Word
Most Common Suffixes
-able, -ible-- can be done-- comfortable
-al, -ial—having characteristic of --personal
-ed* past-tense verbs-- hopped
-en made of -- wooden
-er comparative -- higher
-er, one who -- worker, actor
-est comparative -- biggest
-ful full of -- careful
-ic having characteristics of --linguistic
-ing* verb form/ present participle -- running
-ion, -tion, -ation, ition - act, process -- occasion, attraction
--ity, -ty state of -- infinity
-ive, -ative, -itive adjective form of a noun -- plaintive
-less- without -- fearless
-ly* characteristic of-- quickly
-ment action or process -- enjoyment
-ness state of, condition of -- kindness
-ous, -eous, -ious possessing the qualities of -- joyous
-s, -es* more than one -- books, boxes
-y characterized by--happy
*Most frequent. The four most frequent suffixes account for 97 percent of suffixed
words in printed school English.
Suffix Meaning Key Word
Bill Honig, Linda Diamond, and Linda Gutlohn. © 2000 by CORE. Reproduced by permission of Arena Press.
