Prefix-Suffix-Root List by Grade Level

(Generally, prefixes and suffixes change the meanings of roots, but it is usually the suffix that denotes the part of speech.)

1st Grade
Prefix Suffix Definition Examples Origin Additional
Information
-s,-es plural, more than one hats, pigs, boxes, Anglo-Saxon
wishes
-ing action/ process helping, skipping, Anglo-Saxon Present participle of
running, seeing, verb
thinking
-ed past tense jumped, helped Anglo-Saxon Past tense verb
nd
2 Grade (Please review affixes from prior grade.)
Prefix Suffix Definition Examples Origin Additional
Information
un- not/ opposite unlock, unsafe Anglo-Saxon
re- again/ back reread, rewrite, Latin
return
dis- not/ opposite of dislike, distrust Latin
-er person connected teacher, writer, Anglo-Saxon
with/ comparative baker, bigger,
degree colder, taller
-est superlative degree biggest, coldest, Anglo-Saxon Usually an adjective
tallest
3rd Grade (Please review affixes from prior grades.)
Prefix Suffix Definition Examples Origin Additional
Information
dis- not/ opposite of dislike, distrust Latin
in- not inactive, insane, Latin

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 inexpensive
-ful full of beautiful, painful Anglo-Saxon Usually an adjective
-less without careless, helpless Anglo-Saxon
-y characterized by/ like cloudy, fishy Anglo-Saxon
-ly characteristic of badly, friendly, Anglo-Saxon Usually an adverb
quickly
4th Grade (Please review affixes from prior grades.)
Prefix Suffix Definition Examples Origin Additional
Information
under- too little/ below underfed, Anglo-Saxon
underground
over- too much/ above overdone, overhead Anglo-Saxon
non- not nonfat, nonsense Latin
pre- before preplan, pretest Latin
bi- two bicycle, binocular Latin
tri- three tricycle, triangle Latin/ Greek
quad- four quadrilateral, Latin
quadrant
oct- eight octagon, octopus Latin/ Greek
-ion, –ation act of/ state of/ attention, vision, Anglo-Saxon Noun
–sion, -tion result of invitation (See 6th grade for
explanation)
-ness condition/ state of darkness, fairness Anglo-Saxon Usually a noun
-ly characteristic of badly, friendly, Anglo-Saxon Usually an adverb
quickly
-ment act/ process enjoyment, Latin
replacement
-er, -or one who/ that which baker, boxer, Latin Usually a noun
conductor, survivor Use –or with Latin
roots for nouns
(inventor, elevator)
Use –er with
Anglo-Saxon roots
(heater, swimmer)

2
5th Grade (Please review affixes from prior grades.)
Prefix Suffix Root Definition Examples Origin Additional
Information
semi- half semicircle, Latin
semicolon
super- above/ on top superfine, Latin
of/ beyond superhuman,
supersonic
multi- many/ much multicolor, Latin
multifamily
poly- many/ much polygon, Greek
polysyllable
tele- distant/far Television, Greek
telephone

mis- bad or badly/ misbehave, Latin

wrong or misread,
wrongly misspell
inter- between intercept, Latin
interview,
interstate
mid- middle midnight, Anglo-Saxon
midweek
sub- under, beneath, subway, subsoil, Latin
below/ substitute
secondary
deca- deci- ten decathlon, Latin/ Greek
decade,
decimal,
decimeter
kilo- 1,000 kilogram, Greek
kilowatt
milli- mille- 1,000 millennium, Latin
millimeter

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centi- 100 centimeter, Latin
centipede
-able, -ible can be done enjoyable, Latin -able ending words
sensible, likable have roots that can
stand alone.
enjoyable
-ible ending words
have roots that can
not stand alone.
sensible
-ian, -an one having a electrician, Latin Usually a noun
certain skill/ magician,
relating to/ American,
belonging to suburban
-ship condition of/ championship, Anglo-Saxon Usually a noun
skill friendship,
hardship,
leadership
-ist one who does a artist, tourist Latin/ Greek Usually a noun
specific action
-logy, -ology science of/ biology, Greek
study of chronology
-ism act/ belief/ patriotism, Latin/ Greek Usually a noun
practice of idealism,
absenteeism,

-ence, -ance act/ condition persistence, Latin Usually a noun

of excellence, -ence and –ance
assistance, sound alike because
importance of the schwa. –ence
is used somewhat
more often than –
ance.
-ess feminine actress, lioness Latin/ Greek Usually a noun

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max(i) great maximum, Latin
maximize
meter, metr measure diameter, Greek
odometer,
metric,
perimeter
photo light photograph, Greek
telephoto,
photocopy
port to carry portable, Latin
transport
phobia, irrational fear aquaphobia, Greek There are names for
phobic, or hatred/ one claustrophobic more than 500
phobe who fears/ technophobe phobias, most of
hates which come from the
field of medicine.
rupt break/ burst bankrupt, Latin FYI: Erupt means to
rupture, explode. (The
disruptive volcano erupted.)
Irrupt means to rush
or burst in. (The
police irrupted into
the hideout.)
scrib, script to write describe, Latin Verbs usually use
manuscript scribe, as in
prescribe; nouns
usually use script, as
in prescription.
gram, graph written/ drawn autograph, Greek
paragraph,
telegram
dict to say/ tell diction, dictator Latin
ject to throw inject, objection Latin

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 spect, spec to see/ watch/ prospect, Latin
observe respect,
specimen
6th Grade (Please review affixes and roots from prior grades.)
Prefix Suffix Root Definition Examples Origin Additional
Information
en-, em- to cause to be/ encounter, Latin
to put into or enable, employ,
onto/ to go into embark, encircle
or onto
fore- before/ earlier forearm, Anglo-Saxon
foreword
de- reduce down/ defeat, deform, Latin
away from decrease
trans- across/ change/ transformation, Latin
through transportation,
transfer
anti- opposite/ antibiotic, Greek
against antifreeze
di-, dia- two/ through/ digraph, Greek
across dialogue,
diagonal
ex- out of/ away extract, exhale, Latin/ Greek
from extend
auto- self autograph, Greek
automatic
in- (il-, im-, ir-) not inability, Latin il- used before roots
impatient, beginning with l
irregular, illegal illegible
im- used before roots
beginning with b, m,
p
immature, imbalance,
impatient

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 ir- used before roots
beginning with r
irregular
in- (il-, im-, ir-) in/ on/ toward infer, illustrate, Same prefix usage is
improve, irrigate applied as above
bio- life biography, Greek
biological
mini- small miniature, Latin From the Latin word
minimum miniature… Modern
generations shortened
miniature to mini-.
micro- small/ minute microbiology, Greek
microscope
uni- one/ single unicorn, Latin
unicycle,
uniform
-en made of/ to wooden, Anglo-Saxon
make dampen, tighten
-dom condition of boredom, Anglo-Saxon Usually a noun
freedom,
kingdom
-ity state of/ quality prosperity, Latin Usually a noun
of equality
-al, -ial related to/ colonial, Latin Usually an adjective
characterized biennial, dental,
by betrayal
-ion, -ation act of/ state of/ tension, Anglo-Saxon The real suffix is
–sion, -tion result of attention, –ion. Putting s or t in
elevation, union front of –ion is
simply determined by
the spelling of the
root.
Usually a noun
-ish relating to/ childish, foolish Anglo-Saxon Usually an adjective
characteristic

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 of
-ent, -ant an action/ student, Latin Often a noun
condition contestant, The suffix –ant often
immigrant indicates a person
noun.
-ent, -ant causing a obedient, Latin Often an adjective
specific action absorbent, -ent and –ant sound
abundant, alike because of the
elegant schwa. –ent is used
somewhat more often
than –ant.
-hood the state/ the boyhood, Anglo-Saxon Usually a noun
condition/ the likelihood History of the suffix
quality –hood
 Old English: -had
 Middle English: -
hod
 Modern English:
-hood
aqua water aquarium, Latin
aquamarine
act put in motion/ action, react, Latin
process of transact
doing
mit to send emit, transmit Latin
anni, annu, year anniversary, Latin Usually a noun
enni semiannual,
millennium
arch chief/ ruler archenemy, Greek
matriarch
duct, duc lead induce, conduct Latin
geo earth/ ground/ geography, Greek
soil geology
man hand manicure, Latin
manually

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 nym, onym name/ word antonym, Greek
synonym
phon voice/ sound telephone, Greek
symphony
therm heat thermometer, Greek
thermostat
tox poison toxic, Latin
toxicology
scope to watch/ see horoscope, Greek
microscope,
telescope
7th Grade (Please review affixes and roots from prior grades.)
Prefix Suffix Root Definition Examples Origin Additional
Information
ante- in front of/ antecedent, Latin Fun information –
before antebellum antepenultimate
means next to the
next to the last…this
word can usually be
found on the SAT.
ab- from/ away absent, absorb, Latin
abnormal
a- on/ in/ to across, aboard, Anglo-Saxon/
aside Latin
a- without/ not atypical, amoral, Anglo-Saxon/
asocial Latin
co-, con-, com- together/ with cooperate, Latin Concrete – meaning
concede, to harden or to grow
combine together
pro- forward/ proceed, Latin/ Greek Some words with
before/ in pronoun, pro- as a prefix are
support of prohibit often hyphenated, so
be sure to check the
dictionary.

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intra- within intranet, Latin
intramural
mega- great/ huge megabyte, Greek
megaphone
post- after/ following postpone, Latin
postwar
-ous, full of/ adventurous, Latin Usually an adjective
-ious, characterized nervous,
-eous by mysterious,
courteous

-ive, inclined/ festive, Latin Words that end with

-itive, tending toward talkative, active, –de (intrude) change
-ative an action sensitive the –de to s then add
–ive (intrusive).
Words that end with
silent e (create) drop
the e then add –ive
(creative).
-ic relating to/ energetic, Latin/ Greek Usually an adjective
characterized historic
by
-ize to make/ to fertilize, Latin/ Greek Usually a verb
cause to criticize,
become apologize
-fy, -ify to make satisfy, magnify Latin Usually a verb
-age result of an manage, Latin
action/ drainage,
collection acreage
-some characterized awesome, Anglo-Saxon Primarily used with
by a specified lonesome Anglo-Saxon base
quality, words.
condition, or
action
chron time chronology, Greek

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 synchronize
temp time temporary, Latin
temperature
aer, aero air aerial, aerospace Greek
cede, ceed to go/ yield/ proceed, secede, Latin
surrender precede,
concede
cept, ceive to take/ catch/ accept, deceive Latin Additional roots with
seize/ hold/ same definition:
receive cap (captive)
ceit (conceit)
cep (concept)
cip (municipal)
fract, frag to break fracture, Latin
fraction,
fragment
gen race, kind, or gender, genetics, Latin
species/ birth genesis
grat thanks/ congratulations, Latin
pleasing gratify
liber free liberty, liberate Latin
leg, lect, lig law/ to choose/ legend, legal, Latin The roots lect, lect,
to pick/ to read/ intelligent, elect, and lig are related to
to speak lecture the Greek combining
form logos, meaning
speech or word.
mater, matr, mother maternal, Latin
matri matrimony,
matriarch
pater, patr father paternal, patriot Latin
mot, mob to move motivate, Latin
mobilize
opt eye/ to make a optometry, Latin
choice optic, optional
ped, pod foot pedal, Latin

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 pedestrian,
tripod
ped child pediatrician Greek
urb city urban, suburban Latin Exurb: a modern
word meaning large
cities that directly
surround a major city
(Arlington is an
exurb of Dallas.)
pop people population, Latin
popular
tract to draw/ pull attract, distract, Latin
retract
form to shape conform, Latin
reform,
transform
pend to hang/ weigh suspend, Latin
pendulum
8th Grade (Please review affixes and roots from prior grades.)
Prefix Suffix Root Definition Examples Origin Additional
Information
hyper- over/ above/ hyperactive, Greek
excessive hypercritical
hypo-, hyp- below/ less hypothermia, Greek
than normal hypnosis
omni- all omnipresent, Latin
omniscient
homo- same homogeneous, Latin
homonym
hetero- different/ other heterochromatic, Greek Heteronyms: words
heterogeneous with the same
spelling, but different
meanings
(dove – the bird;

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 dove – did dive)
ultra- beyond in ultramarine, Latin
degree/ ultraviolet
extreme
-cide kill germicide, Latin Usually a noun
pesticide
-ery relating to/ imagery, Anglo-Saxon Usually a noun
quality/ place pottery, bakery
where
-ary relating to/ dictionary, Latin Noun/ adjective
place where/ infirmary
one who cautionary,
dietary,
missionary
-ium chemical helium, Greek Usually a noun
element/ group aquarium
-tude condition/ altitude, Latin Usually a noun
state/ quality of gratitude
aud to hear/ listen audible, audition Latin
cred to believe credit, Latin
incredible
archae, arche, primitive/ archaeologist, Greek
archi ancient archives,
achetype
belli war belligerent, Latin
bellicose
claim, clam to declare/ call exclaim, Latin
out/ cry out clamorous
crat, cracy rule/ strength/ democrat, Greek
power aristocracy
hemo, hema blood hematology, Greek
hemophilia
luna moon lunar, lunatic Latin
mar sea maritime, Latin
submarine

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 mort death mortuary, Latin
mortality
path feeling/ apathetic, Greek
suffering/ pathology
disease
pel to drive/ push expel, propeller Latin
struc, struct to build construct, Latin See Affix Matrix for
instructor the root struct on
final page of this
document.
vis, vid to see vision, evidence Latin
voc, voke to call advocate, Latin
revoke

cogn to know cognition, Latin

recognize
loc, loqu to speak/ talk/ colloquial, Latin
say ventriloquist,
loquacious
9th Grade (Please review affixes and roots from prior grades.)
Prefix Suffix Root Definition Examples Origin Additional
Information
bene well/ good benediction, Latin
beneficial
cardi heart cardiac, Latin
cardiology
ego self egocentric, Latin
egoism
don, donat give/ gift donate, donation Latin
luc, lum light translucent, Latin
illuminate
mania madness/ maniac, Greek
frenzy/ kleptomania
abnormal

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 desire/
obsession
nate, nat born native, innate Latin
neg no/ deny negative, negate Latin
neo new neonatal Greek
nov new novice Latin
phys nature physics, Greek
physical
psych mind/ soul psychic, Greek
psychopath
reg guide/ rule regime, regent Latin
sci to know/ learn science, Latin
conscience
sol alone solitary, Latin
soliloquy
tact, tang to touch contact, tangible Latin
terr land terrain, territory Latin
vac empty vacate, evacuate Latin
ver, veri true/ genuine verdict, Latin
veritable

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 References

Ebbers, Susan M. Vocabulary Through Morphemes. Longmont, CO: Sopris West. 2003.

Henry, Marcia K. Unlocking Literacy. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing. 2003.

Terban, Marvin. Building Your Vocabulary. New York: Scholastic Inc. 2002.

The American Heritage High School Dictionary. Fourth Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 2002

Affix Matrix
re con s
de ed
ing
ive ly
de or s
in
struct s
ob ion ism
sub ist
super s
infra ure ed
ing
al ly

Add one or more of the above affixes to the root struct. Example: destructively (Try to create at least 60 words.)

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