Gourt Home::Gourt :: List of English prefixes
The following prefixes may appear as parts of words in the English language.
Alongside a few "native" English prefixes (such as under- or with-), we find many which acted as prefixes in other languages (mainly Greek, Latin or French) and which English has adopted in already-compounded forms (such as deci- or pyro-).
A prefix may or may not operate productively: one can readily form new coinages with multi-, but might not meaningfully succeed in doing so with twi-. Most Greco-Latin prefixes serve to form new words (classical compounds) in technical jargon.
Note that while some of the following morphemes always function as prefixes (co- or syn-, for example, others simple exemplify linguistic roots that generally or commonly occur first in compound words, like sperm- (compare Leptospermum) or even stand alone as definite words in their own right (under-, Anglo-).
| 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 |
| ambi- | around, either, encircling | ambiguity, ambidexterity, Ambisagrus |
| an(a)- | out of | anachronism |
| andr- | man | androgyny, androcentrism, android, androgen |
| anem- | wind | anemometer |
| Anglo- | English or British | Anglo-Irish relations |
| ante- | before | antebellum, antediluvian |
| anthropo- | relating to human beings | anthropology, anthropocentrism, anthropomorphic |
| ant(i)- | against | antidote, antibody, anticlockwise, antichrist |
| aut(o)- | self | autonomy, autobiography, automobile, autopilot, autopsy, automatic |
| 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 |
| carcin(o)- | relating to cancer | carcinogenic |
| cardi(o)- | heart | cardiovascular, Cardiac arrest |
| cent-, centi- | hundred or hundredth | centenarian, centimeter, centipede |
| cephal(o)- | head | cephalothorax |
| chrys(o)- | gold | chryselephantine, chrysoberylchrysography |
| 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)- | world | 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 | decentralisation, dehydration, Denazification |
| dec(a)-, dek(a)- | ten | decamerous, December, decimeter, decade |
| deci- | one tenth | deciliter |
| dem(o)- | people | demographics, democracy |
| derm(at)- | skin | dermatology, dermatitis |
| di- | two, double | dichromic |
| di- | day | 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 |
| en- | to make ~ (transitive verb) | enrage, enlarge |
| 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, extraordinary |
| flor- | relating to flowers | florist |
| fore- | before, in advance | foreskin, foreshadowing |
| geo- | earth | geography, geology |
| glosso- | language | glossogeny, glossogony, glossolalia |
| gyn- | female | gynaecology, gynoid |
| hemi- | half | hemimetabolous, hemisphere |
| hemo- | blood | hemophilia, hemophobia |
| hept- | seven | heptagon |
| heter(o)- | different | heterogenous, heterosexual |
| hex(a)- | six | hexapod, hexagonal, hexameter |
| hol(o)- | whole, entire | hologram, holistic, Holocene |
| hom(o)- | same | homogenous, homosexual, homophone |
| hydro- | water | hydrogen, hydry |
| hygro- | humidity, moisture | hygrometer, hygroscopy |
| 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 (See McWords) |
| mega(l)- | million, very large | megabyte, megaphone, megalopolis |
| meso- | middle | mesoamerica, mesoscale |
| meta- | after, beyond | metacarpal, metaphysics, metatarsal |
| micro- | one millionth, very small | microgram, microorganism, micronation, microscope |
| 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, multilingualism |
| 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 Irish family-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- (noun) | more than normal, too much | overpopulation, over-consumption, overlord |
| over- (verb) | to do too much, to (verb) over | overlook, overspend, oversee |
| pan(to)-1 | universal, all-embracing | pandect, pantechnicon, Pantocrator, pamphlet |
| para- | beyond, near, contrary | paralegal, parachute |
| pent(a)- | five | pentagon |
| peri(o)- | around, about, enclosing, near | perimysium, pericardium, periosteum, perinatal |
| photo- | light, photon | photograph, photosensetive, photosynthesis |
| 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 |
| quasi- | like, as if | quasiparticle |
| 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 |
| sci- | know, knowledge | science, omniscient |
| 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 |
| über- / uber- | super- / excessive / very | uberfic, Übermensch, übercool |
| ultra- | extremely, beyond certain limit | ultramontanism, ultraviolet |
| un1- | not, opposite, take something away | unconstitutional, Viewing and restoring deleted pages by sysops |
| 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, zoophilia |
2 The order from least to greatest goes: hypo-, sub-, super-, and hyper.
External links
Prefixes Meaning Examples Peri- around perianth,pericarp,perichondrial
See also
Llista de prefixos | Liste de préfixes | Elenco dei prefissi della lingua italiana
"List of English prefixes"