Prefix-Suffix-Root List by Grade Level

(Generally, prefixes and suffixes change the meanings of roots, but it is usually the suffix that denotes the part of speech.)

1st Grade
Prefix

nd

2 Grade
Prefix

Suffix

Definition

Examples

-s,-es

plural, more than one

-ing

action/ process

-ed

past tense

hats, pigs, boxes,

wishes
helping, skipping,
running, seeing,
thinking
jumped, helped

Suffix

dis-er

-est

disin-

Additional
Information

Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon

Present participle of
verb

Anglo-Saxon

Past tense verb

(Please review affixes from prior grade.)

unre-

3rd Grade
Prefix

Origin

Definition

Examples

not/ opposite
again/ back

unlock, unsafe
reread, rewrite,
return
dislike, distrust
teacher, writer,
baker, bigger,
colder, taller
biggest, coldest,
tallest

not/ opposite of
person connected
with/ comparative
degree
superlative degree

Origin

Additional
Information

Anglo-Saxon
Latin
Latin
Anglo-Saxon

Anglo-Saxon

Usually an adjective

(Please review affixes from prior grades.)

Suffix

Definition

Examples

not/ opposite of
not

dislike, distrust
inactive, insane,
1

Origin
Latin
Latin

Additional
Information

-ful
-less
-y
-ly

4th Grade
Prefix

inexpensive
beautiful, painful
careless, helpless
cloudy, fishy
badly, friendly,
quickly

full of
without
characterized by/ like
characteristic of

Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon

Usually an adjective

Usually an adverb

(Please review affixes from prior grades.)

Suffix

Definition

Examples

under-

too little/ below

Anglo-Saxon

overnonprebitriquad-

too much/ above

not
before
two
three
four

oct-ion, ation
sion, -tion

eight
act of/ state of/
result of

underfed,
underground
overdone, overhead
nonfat, nonsense
preplan, pretest
bicycle, binocular
tricycle, triangle
quadrilateral,
quadrant
octagon, octopus
attention, vision,
invitation

-ness
-ly

condition/ state of
characteristic of

darkness, fairness
badly, friendly,
quickly
act/ process

Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon

-ment
-er, -or

one who/ that which

baker, boxer,
conductor, survivor

Origin

Additional
Information

Anglo-Saxon
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin/ Greek
Latin
Latin/ Greek
Anglo-Saxon

enjoyment,
replacement
Latin

Noun
(See 6th grade for
explanation)
Usually a noun
Usually an adverb
Latin
Usually a noun
Use or with Latin
roots for nouns
(inventor, elevator)
Use er with
Anglo-Saxon roots
(heater, swimmer)

5th Grade
Prefix

(Please review affixes from prior grades.)

Suffix

Definition

Examples

semi-

half

Latin

super-

above/ on top
of/ beyond

multi-

many/ much

poly-

many/ much

tele-

distant/far

semicircle,
semicolon
superfine,
superhuman,
supersonic
multicolor,
multifamily
polygon,
polysyllable
Television,
telephone

mis-

mid-

middle

sub-

deca- deci-

under, beneath,
below/
secondary
ten

misbehave,
misread,
misspell
intercept,
interview,
interstate
midnight,
midweek
subway, subsoil,
substitute

Latin

inter-

bad or badly/
wrong or
wrongly
between

Latin/ Greek

kilo-

1,000

milli- mille-

1,000

decathlon,
decade,
decimal,
decimeter
kilogram,
kilowatt
millennium,
millimeter

Root

Origin

Latin

Latin
Greek
Greek

Latin

Anglo-Saxon
Latin

Greek
Latin

Additional
Information

centi-

100
-able, -ible

can be done

-ian, -an

one having a
certain skill/
relating to/
belonging to
condition of/
skill

-ship

-ist
-logy, -ology
-ism

one who does a

specific action
science of/
study of
act/ belief/
practice of

centimeter,
centipede
enjoyable,
sensible, likable

Latin

electrician,
magician,
American,
suburban
championship,
friendship,
hardship,
leadership
artist, tourist

Latin

-able ending words

have roots that can
stand alone.
enjoyable
-ible ending words
have roots that can
not stand alone.
sensible
Usually a noun

Anglo-Saxon

Usually a noun

Latin/ Greek

Usually a noun

biology,
chronology
patriotism,
idealism,
absenteeism,

Greek
Latin/ Greek

Usually a noun

Usually a noun
-ence and ance
sound alike because
of the schwa. ence
is used somewhat
more often than
ance.
Usually a noun

Latin

-ence, -ance

act/ condition
of

persistence,
excellence,
assistance,
importance

Latin

-ess

feminine

actress, lioness

Latin/ Greek

max(i)

great

maximum,
maximize
diameter,
odometer,
metric,
perimeter
photograph,
telephoto,
photocopy
portable,
transport
aquaphobia,
claustrophobic
technophobe

Latin

meter, metr

measure

photo

light

port

to carry

phobia,
phobic,
phobe

irrational fear
or hatred/ one
who fears/
hates

rupt

break/ burst

bankrupt,
rupture,
disruptive

Latin

scrib, script

to write

describe,
manuscript

Latin

gram, graph

written/ drawn

Greek

dict
ject

to say/ tell
to throw

autograph,
paragraph,
telegram
diction, dictator
inject, objection

Greek

Greek

Latin
Greek

Latin
Latin

There are names for

more than 500
phobias, most of
which come from the
field of medicine.
FYI: Erupt means to
explode. (The
volcano erupted.)
Irrupt means to rush
or burst in. (The
police irrupted into
the hideout.)
Verbs usually use
scribe, as in
prescribe; nouns
usually use script, as
in prescription.

spect, spec

6th Grade
Prefix

to see/ watch/
observe

prospect,
respect,
specimen

Latin

(Please review affixes and roots from prior grades.)

en-, em-

foredetrans-

antidi-, dia-

ex-

Suffix

Root

Definition

Examples

to cause to be/
to put into or
onto/ to go into
or onto
before/ earlier

encounter,
Latin
enable, employ,
embark, encircle

reduce down/
away from
across/ change/
through

Latin

opposite/
against
two/ through/
across

auto-

out of/ away

from
self

in- (il-, im-, ir-)

not

forearm,
foreword
defeat, deform,
decrease
transformation,
transportation,
transfer
antibiotic,
antifreeze
digraph,
dialogue,
diagonal
extract, exhale,
extend
autograph,
automatic
inability,
impatient,
irregular, illegal

Origin

Additional
Information

Anglo-Saxon

Latin

Greek
Greek

Latin/ Greek
Greek
Latin

il- used before roots

beginning with l
illegible
im- used before roots
beginning with b, m,
p
immature, imbalance,
impatient

in- (il-, im-, ir-)

in/ on/ toward

bio-

life

mini-

small

micro-

small/ minute

uni-

-en
-dom

-ity
-al, -ial

-ion, -ation
sion, -tion

-ish

infer, illustrate,
improve, irrigate
biography,
Greek
biological
miniature,
Latin
minimum

microbiology,
microscope
one/ single
unicorn,
unicycle,
uniform
made of/ to
wooden,
make
dampen, tighten
condition of
boredom,
freedom,
kingdom
state of/ quality prosperity,
of
equality
related to/
colonial,
characterized
biennial, dental,
by
betrayal
act of/ state of/ tension,
result of
attention,
elevation, union

Greek

relating to/
characteristic

Anglo-Saxon

childish, foolish

ir- used before roots

beginning with r
irregular
Same prefix usage is
applied as above

From the Latin word

miniature Modern
generations shortened
miniature to mini-.

Latin

Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon

Usually a noun

Latin

Usually a noun

Latin

Usually an adjective

Anglo-Saxon

The real suffix is

ion. Putting s or t in
front of ion is
simply determined by
the spelling of the
root.
Usually a noun
Usually an adjective

of
an action/
condition

-ent, -ant

student,
contestant,
immigrant

Latin

-ent, -ant

causing a
specific action

obedient,
absorbent,
abundant,
elegant

Latin

-hood

the state/ the

condition/ the
quality

boyhood,
likelihood

Anglo-Saxon

aqua

water

Latin

act

put in motion/
process of
doing
to send
year

aquarium,
aquamarine
action, react,
transact
emit, transmit
anniversary,
semiannual,
millennium
archenemy,
matriarch
induce, conduct
geography,
geology
manicure,
manually

Latin
Latin

mit
anni, annu,
enni
arch

chief/ ruler

duct, duc
geo

lead
earth/ ground/
soil
hand

man

Often a noun
The suffix ant often
indicates a person
noun.
Often an adjective
-ent and ant sound
alike because of the
schwa. ent is used
somewhat more often
than ant.
Usually a noun
History of the suffix
hood
Old English: -had
Middle English: hod
Modern English:
-hood

Latin

Greek
Latin
Greek
Latin

Usually a noun

7th Grade
Prefix

nym, onym

name/ word

phon

voice/ sound

therm

heat

tox

poison

scope

to watch/ see

antonym,
synonym
telephone,
symphony
thermometer,
thermostat
toxic,
toxicology
horoscope,
microscope,
telescope

Greek
Greek
Greek
Latin
Greek

(Please review affixes and roots from prior grades.)

Suffix

Definition

Examples

ante-

in front of/
before

antecedent,
antebellum

Latin

ab-

from/ away

Latin

a-

on/ in/ to

a-

without/ not

co-, con-, com-

together/ with

pro-

forward/
before/ in
support of

absent, absorb,
abnormal
across, aboard,
aside
atypical, amoral,
asocial
cooperate,
concede,
combine
proceed,
pronoun,
prohibit

Root

Origin

Anglo-Saxon/
Latin
Anglo-Saxon/
Latin
Latin

Latin/ Greek

Additional
Information
Fun information
antepenultimate
means next to the
next to the lastthis
word can usually be
found on the SAT.

Concrete meaning
to harden or to grow
together
Some words with
pro- as a prefix are
often hyphenated, so
be sure to check the
dictionary.

intra-

within

intranet,
intramural
great/ huge
megabyte,
megaphone
after/ following postpone,
postwar
full of/
adventurous,
characterized
nervous,
by
mysterious,
courteous

Latin

Latin

Usually an adjective

-ive,
-itive,
-ative

inclined/
tending toward
an action

festive,
talkative, active,
sensitive

Latin

-ic

relating to/
characterized
by
to make/ to
cause to
become
to make
result of an
action/
collection
characterized
by a specified
quality,
condition, or
action
time

energetic,
historic

Latin/ Greek

Words that end with

de (intrude) change
the de to s then add
ive (intrusive).
Words that end with
silent e (create) drop
the e then add ive
(creative).
Usually an adjective

fertilize,
criticize,
apologize
satisfy, magnify
manage,
drainage,
acreage
awesome,
lonesome

Latin/ Greek

Usually a verb

Latin
Latin

Usually a verb

Anglo-Saxon

Primarily used with

Anglo-Saxon base
words.

chronology,

Greek

megapost-ous,
-ious,
-eous

-ize

-fy, -ify
-age

-some

chron

10

Greek
Latin

temp

time

aer, aero
cede, ceed

air
to go/ yield/
surrender

cept, ceive

to take/ catch/
seize/ hold/
receive

fract, frag

to break

synchronize
temporary,
temperature
aerial, aerospace
proceed, secede,
precede,
concede
accept, deceive

Latin
Greek
Latin

Latin

fracture,
fraction,
fragment
race, kind, or
gender, genetics,
species/ birth
genesis
thanks/
congratulations,
pleasing
gratify
free
liberty, liberate
law/ to choose/ legend, legal,
to pick/ to read/ intelligent, elect,
to speak
lecture

Latin

mater, matr,
matri

mother

Latin

pater, patr
mot, mob

father
to move

opt

eye/ to make a
choice
foot

gen
grat
liber
leg, lect, lig

ped, pod

11

maternal,
matrimony,
matriarch
paternal, patriot
motivate,
mobilize
optometry,
optic, optional
pedal,

Additional roots with

same definition:
cap (captive)
ceit (conceit)
cep (concept)
cip (municipal)

Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin

Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin

The roots lect, lect,

and lig are related to
the Greek combining
form logos, meaning
speech or word.

8th Grade
Prefix

pedestrian,
tripod
pediatrician
urban, suburban

ped
urb

child
city

pop

people

tract

to draw/ pull

form

to shape

pend

to hang/ weigh

population,
popular
attract, distract,
retract
conform,
reform,
transform
suspend,
pendulum

Examples

omni-

over/ above/
excessive
below/ less
than normal
all

homo-

same

hetero-

different/ other

hyperactive,
hypercritical
hypothermia,
hypnosis
omnipresent,
omniscient
homogeneous,
homonym
heterochromatic,
heterogeneous

hypo-, hyp-

Exurb: a modern
word meaning large
cities that directly
surround a major city
(Arlington is an
exurb of Dallas.)

Latin
Latin
Latin

Latin

(Please review affixes and roots from prior grades.)

Definition

hyper-

Greek
Latin

Suffix

Root

12

Origin

Additional
Information

Greek
Greek
Latin
Latin
Greek

Heteronyms: words
with the same
spelling, but different
meanings
(dove the bird;

dove did dive)

ultra-

beyond in
degree/
extreme
kill

-cide
-ery

relating to/
quality/ place
where
relating to/
place where/
one who

-ary

-ium
-tude
aud
cred
archae, arche,
archi
belli
claim, clam
crat, cracy
hemo, hema
luna
mar

ultramarine,
ultraviolet

Latin

germicide,
pesticide
imagery,
pottery, bakery

Latin

Usually a noun

Anglo-Saxon

Usually a noun

Latin

Noun/ adjective

Greek

Usually a noun

Latin

Usually a noun

dictionary,
infirmary
cautionary,
dietary,
missionary
chemical
helium,
element/ group aquarium
condition/
altitude,
state/ quality of gratitude
to hear/ listen
audible, audition
to believe
credit,
incredible
primitive/
archaeologist,
ancient
archives,
achetype
war
belligerent,
bellicose
to declare/ call exclaim,
out/ cry out
clamorous
rule/ strength/
democrat,
power
aristocracy
blood
hematology,
hemophilia
moon
lunar, lunatic
sea
maritime,
submarine
13

Latin
Latin
Greek

Latin
Latin
Greek
Greek
Latin
Latin

9th Grade
Prefix

mort

death

mortuary,
mortality
apathetic,
pathology

Latin

path

pel
struc, struct

feeling/
suffering/
disease
to drive/ push
to build

expel, propeller
construct,
instructor

Latin
Latin

vis, vid
voc, voke

to see
to call

vision, evidence
advocate,
revoke

Latin
Latin

cogn

to know

Latin

loc, loqu

to speak/ talk/
say

cognition,
recognize
colloquial,
ventriloquist,
loquacious

Greek

See Affix Matrix for

the root struct on
final page of this
document.

Latin

(Please review affixes and roots from prior grades.)

Suffix

Root

Definition

Examples

bene

well/ good

cardi

heart

ego

self

don, donat
luc, lum

give/ gift
light

mania

madness/
frenzy/
abnormal

benediction,
beneficial
cardiac,
cardiology
egocentric,
egoism
donate, donation
translucent,
illuminate
maniac,
kleptomania

14

Origin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Greek

Additional
Information

nate, nat
neg
neo
nov
phys

desire/
obsession
born
no/ deny
new
new
nature

psych

mind/ soul

reg
sci

guide/ rule
to know/ learn

sol

alone

tact, tang
terr
vac
ver, veri

to touch
land
empty
true/ genuine

15

native, innate
negative, negate
neonatal
novice
physics,
physical
psychic,
psychopath
regime, regent
science,
conscience
solitary,
soliloquy
contact, tangible
terrain, territory
vacate, evacuate
verdict,
veritable

Latin
Latin
Greek
Latin
Greek
Greek
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin

References
Ebbers, Susan M. Vocabulary Through Morphemes. Longmont, CO: Sopris West. 2003.
Henry, Marcia K. Unlocking Literacy. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing. 2003.
Terban, Marvin. Building Your Vocabulary. New York: Scholastic Inc. 2002.
The American Heritage High School Dictionary. Fourth Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 2002

Affix Matrix
re
de

con

de
in
ob
sub
super
infra

s
ed
ing

struct

ive
or

ly
s
s
ism
ist
s
ed
ing

ion

ure
al

Add one or more of the above affixes to the root struct.

16

ly

Example: destructively (Try to create at least 60 words.)