Prefix A prefix is a group of letters placed before the root of a word. For example, the word "unhappy" consists of the prefix "un-" [which means "not"] combined with the root (stem) word "happy"; the word "unhappy" means "not happy." A Short List of Prefixes: PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLES de- from, down, away reverse, opposite decode, decrease dis- not, opposite, reverse, away disagree, disappear ex- out of, away from, lacking, former exhale, explosion il- not illegal, illogical im- not, without impossible, improper in- not, without inaction, invisible mis- bad, wrong mislead, misplace non- not nonfiction, nonsense pre- before prefix, prehistory pro- for, forward, before proactive, profess, program re- again, back react, reappear un- against, not, opposite undo, unequal, unusual

Suffix A suffix is a group of letters placed after the root of a word. For example, the word flavorless consists of the root word "flavor" combined with the suffix "-less" [which means "without"]; the word "flavorless" means "having no flavor." A Short List of Suffixes: SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLES -able able to, having the quality of comfortable, portable -al relating to annual, comical -er comparative bigger, stronger -est superlative strongest, tiniest -ful full of beautiful, grateful -ible forming an adjective reversible, terrible -ily forming an adverb eerily, happily, lazily -ing denoting an action, a material, or a gerund acting, showing -less without, not affected by friendless, tireless -ly forming an adjective clearly, hourly -ness denoting a state or condition kindness, wilderness -y full of, denoting a condition, or a diminutive glory, messy, victory,

Prefix and Suffix Activities and Worksheets

Match Prefixes to Root Words #1 Match each prefix to a root word to make a common word. Then circle the prefixes and define them. Or go to the answers.

Match Prefixes to Root Words #2 Match each prefix to a root word to make a common word. Then circle the prefixes and define them. Or go to the answers.

Match Prefixes to Root Words #3 Match each prefix to a root word to make a common word. Then circle the prefixes and define them. Or go to the answers.

Fill in the Prefixes #1 Use the bank of prefixes to complete each word. There may be more than one answer for some words. The prefixes are: de-, dis-, ex-, il-, im-, in-, mis-, non-, pre-, re-, un-, and with-. Or go to the answers.

Fill in the Prefixes #2 Use the bank of prefixes to complete each word. There may be more than one answer for some words. The prefixes are: de-, dis-, ex-, im-, in-, mis-, non-, pre-, pro-, re-, un-, and uni-. Or go to the answers.

Fill in the Prefixes and Suffixes #1 Use the bank of prefixes and suffixes to complete each word. There may be more than one answer for some words. Or go to the answers.

Fill in the Prefixes and Suffixes #2 Use the bank of prefixes and suffixes to complete each word. There may be more than one answer for some words. Or go to the answers.

Write Words Given Prefixes #1 For each prefix, write a word or words that begins with that prefix. Write as many as you can! The prefixes are: anti-, de-, dis-, ex-, il-, im-, in-, non-, over-, pre-, re-, sub-, tri-, un-, with-. Or go to sample answers.

Write Words Given Prefixes #2 For each prefix, write a word or words that begins with that prefix. Write as many as you can! The prefixes are: con-, com-, geo-, inter-, mal-, mega-, micro-, mis-, para-, poly-, over-, post-, tele-, therm-, trans-. Or go to sample answers.

Write Words Given Prefixes #3 For each prefix, write a word or words that begins with that prefix. Write as many as you can! The prefixes are: auto-, bi-, bio-, centi-, counter-, fore-, inter-, mid-, milli-, out-, para-, photo-, semi-, under-, uni-. Or go to sample answers.

Write Words Given Prefixes For each prefix, write its definition, and find as many words as you can that begin with that prefix. The prefixes are: anti-, auto-, counter-, de-, dis-, ex-, il-, in-, mis-, non-, over-, pre-, pro-, re-, un-. Or go to sample answers.

Write Words Given Number Prefixes For each number prefix, write its definition, and find as many words as you can that begin with that prefix. The prefixes are: bi-, centi-, dec-, deci-, hexa-, milli-, mono-, multi-, nona-, penta-, poly-, quadra-, quint-, tri-, uni-. Or go to sample answers.