Prefixes and Suffixes: Building Blocks of English
How small word parts change meaning, and how learning them makes new words easier to find and remember.
English builds many words from smaller parts. Learning them helps with reading, spelling and puzzles.
Prefixes
A prefix goes at the start of a word and changes its meaning.
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| un- | not | UNHAPPY |
| re- | again | REBUILD |
| pre- | before | PREVIEW |
| dis- | opposite | DISAGREE |
| mis- | wrongly | MISTAKE |
| sub- | under | SUBMARINE |
| inter- | between | INTERNET |
Suffixes
A suffix goes at the end of a word.
| Suffix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ful | full of | HELPFUL |
| -less | without | HOMELESS |
| -er | one who | TEACHER |
| -ness | state of | KINDNESS |
| -ment | result of | MOVEMENT |
| -able | able to | READABLE |
| -ly | in a way | QUICKLY |
Using them in puzzles
When you search for a long word, look for a recognisable part:
- For UNHAPPY, look for UN.
- For HELPFUL, look for FUL at the end.
Word families
If you know HELP, you can recognise HELPER, HELPFUL and HELPLESS.
Learning
This makes new words easier to understand and remember. If you see REBUILD, you can guess it means "to build again".
A game
Choose a root word, such as PLAY, and list all the words you can build: PLAYER, PLAYFUL, REPLAY, PLAYGROUND.
Tips
- Learn common prefixes and suffixes.
- Look for them in puzzles.
- Build word families.
Relax with an endless word search in Crossword - Word Search Game →
Crossword - Word Search Game
A relaxing, endless word search puzzle game
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