What are prefixes? A prefix is a combination of letters, placed at the beginning of a word. A prefix changes the meaning of a word. For example a prefix can change a word to a negative, signal repetition, or indicate support. Why study them? Having an understanding of prefixes and their meanings will help students break down or chunk and decode words. The ability to decode words will increase student comprehension when encountering unfamiliar words in a text. How can you help your child learn their prefixes? Help create flashcards with the prefix on one side and its meaning on the other. Give your child a word and have them make another real word using the correct prefix. Point out prefixes when you have conversations with your child or when you are reading to/with them. Negative Prefix Words NOT uno unbelievable unimportant unapproved unbelievable o unafraid uncertain unacceptable uncomfortable o unpopular unequal unavailable unwilling ino incomplete independent incorrect inconsiderate o inactive inappropriate inconvenient invisible o insincere informal incapable insecure imo impossible impolite imperfect impatient o imprecise immoral immobile impractical o immaterial immature imbalanced immoveable ilo illegal illogical illegible illiterate iro irregular irrelevant irresponsible irrational nono nonissue nonviolent nontoxic nonverbal
BAD OR WRONG miso misdirect misunderstand misbehave mislead o misread misspell mistreat mistrust o misuse mistake miscalculate misfortune malo malfunction malnourished maladjusted malice o malicious malign malignant malformed OPPOSITE diso disagree disappear distrust dislike o dishonest disbelief disallow discontinue o disinfect disobey discomfort disloyal AGAINST antio antisocial antifreeze antibiotic anticlimactic REDUCE OR REVERSE deo decode demagnetize decompose debrief o deconstruct deactivate decriminalize deform o declassify destabilize decrease decline TOO LITTLE undero underestimate underutilize undernourished
POSITIVE PREFIX WORDS DO AGAIN reo reorganize rebuild rewrite rearrange o return review reassemble reread o replay return reappear reverse TOO MUCH overo overload overpay overestimate overdue
PREFIXES OF SIZE HALF OR PARTLY semio semicircle semidetached semicolon semiconductor EQUAL equio equidistant equinox equilateral equivalent SMALL minio minimize miniscule minibike mini-muffin VERY SMALL microo microscopic microsecond microscope microcomputer LARGE OR GREAT macroo macroeconomics macroscopic macrobiotic macrofossil megao megabyte megastar megawatt megabuck
PREFIXES OF LOCATION BETWEEN OR AMONG intero interface interactive intervene interaction o interfere interject intermission interlock OVER supero supersonic supersede superstructure superscript ACROSS OR MOVE OR CHANGE transo transfer transmit translate transport o transplant transform transaction transfigure OUT OR FORMER (OLD) exo exclude exterminate exhale export o exterior explode ex-husband ex-boss BEYOND extrao extraordinary extracurricular extraterrestrial UNDER subo subway submarine subtract submit o submission submerge subcontinent subdued BELOW infrao infrared infrastructure
MIDDLE mido midnight midair midway midday AROUND perio perimeter periscope peripheral
Prefixes of Time and Order BEFORE anteo antecedent antedate antebellum anterior preo predict premiere preview prevent o prefer previous prefix precede foreo foreground forecast foreshadow forebode AFTER posto postgame posttest postpone postdated FIRST primo primary primitive primate primer BACKWARD retroo retrospective retroactive retrograde
Prefixes of Numbers HALF semio semicircle semiretired semifinal hemio hemisphere ONE monoo monorail monochromatic monologue unio unicorn unicycle unilateral uniform TWO bio bicycle biweekly biannual bifocals THREE trio tricycle trimester triangle trio FOUR quado quadruple quadrilateral quadrant FIVE pentao pentagon SIX hexo hexagon SEVEN sept o September EIGHT octo October TEN deco decade octopus decimal
MANY multio multiple multilayers multiplication multiply ONE HUNDRED cento centipede century