Roots and Affixes CHEAT SHEET

Prefix  Word part added to the beginning of a root or a base word  Contributes to the meaning of a word

Root  Main part of the word that gives the basic meaning of the word  Usually Latin or Greek in origin

Suffix  Word part added to the end of a base word or root  Contributes to the meaning of a word and sometimes helps identify the part of speech

Word Equation

Prefix Root Suffix New Word + + =

*In order to create a word, you DO NOT NEED to have all of the affixes. For example, you could combine a prefix with a root or a root with a suffix. However, each word created has to have a root or a base word to provide the overall meaning.

Common Prefixes

Prefix Definition Examples anti- against antiwar de- opposite devalue dis- not; opposite of discover fore- before; front of foreshadow, forearm inter- between; among interrupt mid- middle midfield mis- wrongly misspell pre- before preview re- again rewrite un- opposite of unusual

Common Roots

Roots Definition Examples aqua water aquarium, aquamarine aud to hear audience, audition auto self autobiography, automobile bio life biology, biography cent one hundred century, percent chron time chronological, chronic contra/counter against contradict, encounter hypo below; beneath hypothermia, hypothetical jud judge judicial, prejudice mit to send transmit, admit mono one monologue, monotonous multi many multimedia, multiple port to carry portable, transportation pseudo false pseudonym, pseudoscience voc voice; to call vocalize, advocate

Common Suffixes

Prefix Definition Examples -able, -ible is; can be affordable, sensible -al, -ial having characteristics of universal, facial -ful full of helpful -ic having characteristics of poetic -ion, -tion, -ation, submission, motion, -tion act; process relation, edition -ity, -ty state of activity, society -less without hopeless -ment state of being; act of contentment -ness state of; condition of openness riotous, courageous, -ous, -eous, -ious having qualities of gracious