Using Prefixes to Expand Your Vocabulary

Using Prefixes to Expand Your Vocabulary



What is a prefix?



You must understand what a root word is in order to understand what a prefix is.

A root word is a word you can change into a new word by adding a beginning and/or an ending.

A prefix is a beginning that is added to a root word.

For example, take the root word "purpose." By adding the prefix "multi" to "purpose," the new word "multipurpose" is formed.

Every prefix has its own meaning. When added to a root word, a
prefix changes the meaning of the root word to which it is added. The
root word "purpose" means "an aim or a goal one wishes to achieve." The
prefix "multi" means "many." The new word "multipurpose" means "designed
or used for many purposes."

Learning to identify prefixes and knowing their meanings are great ways to expand your vocabulary[/url].
An expanded vocabulary will increase your listening and speaking
comprehension. It will also help you communicate more effectively when
writing or taking tests.

Some Common Prefixes


Here are some common prefixes . The meaning of each prefix is shown, as well as words that can be formed by adding the prefix to root words. Using these prefixes and others will expand your vocabulary.

Prefix	Meaning of Prefix	Words Formed Using the Prefix
re	again	replay, resend, replace
hyper	over	hyperactive, hypersensitive, hyperventilate
un	not	unclear, unsure, undecided
tri	three	triangle, tricycle, triweekly
pre	before	prepay, prepackage, predate
mis	wrong	misconduct, misspell, misunderstand
sub	below	subway, substandard, submarine

Some More Prefixes


Here are some more prefixes and their meanings. You can add these prefixes to many root words to form new words and expand your vocabulary.

Prefix	Meaning	Prefix	Meaning
ante	before	auto	self
bi	two	circum	around
equi	equal	im	not
hypo	under	inter	between
neo	new	omni	all
poly	many	retro	backward
semi	half	trans	across

To build your vocabulary[/url] using prefixes, do the following:

1. When you see a prefix whose meaning you do not know, look up its meaning in a dictionary.
   
2. Write the prefix and its meaning where you can refer to it easily and often.
   
3. Review the meaning of these prefixes from time to time.
   
4. Form words by adding these prefixes to root words.
   
5. Use these words when you speak and write.
   

Watch your vocabulary grow!