One Easy-Peasy Way to Greatly Improve Your English Vocabulary

You can easily expand your English vocabulary, and your understanding of the English language, by learning some common prefixes, suffixes, and word roots — some of which you probably already know.

Prefix

A prefix is a letter, a group of letters, or a word affixed to the beginning of another word to change its meaning.

Suffix

A suffix is a letter, a group of letters, or a word affixed to the end of another word to change its meaning.

Roots

Greek and Latin roots are the core word elements from which other words are made.

Today we will just focus on some common everyday prefixes. 

Prefix                                   

a (not, without)                        

+  Word  

symmetrical                             

=  New Word

asymmetrical

Example: The dress she wore was asymmetrical.

Prefix                                      

anti (against)                          

+ Word
bio                               

=  New Word
antibiotic

Example:  The doctor prescribed antibiotics to Akira to cure her cough.

Prefix                                     

bi (two)                                  

+  Word
cycle                            
  
=  New Word
bicycle

Example: We rode our bicycles from Santa Monica to Malibu.

Prefix                                     

bi (two)                                   

+  Word
lingual                          

=  New Word 
bilingual

Example: Nick is bilingual; he can speak English and Spanish.

Prefix                                       

co (together)                            

+  Word
author                          

=  New Word
coauthor

Example: He is the coauthor of this book.

Prefix                                      

de (to remove)                        

+  Word  
odor                        

=  New Word
deodorant

Example: Most people use antiperspirant instead of deodorant.

Prefix                                    

dis (not, exclude)                     

+  Word
agree                     

=   New Word
disagree

Example: They often disagree about political issues.

Prefix                                      

dis (not, exclude)                     

+  Word
 ease                        

=  New Word
disease

Example: In America, malaria is a rare disease.

Prefix                                     

dis (not, exclude)                    

+  Word 
like                              

=  New Word
dislike

Example: He dislikes reading the news on the computer.

 

Prefix                                        

ex (former)                             

+ Word
boss                             

= New Word
ex-boss

Example: Amelio went out to lunch with his ex-boss.

        

Prefix                         

in (not)                                    

+ Word 
consistent          

= New Word
inconsistent

Example:

The weather has been very inconsistent lately. One day it is sunny, but the next day it rains!

Prefix                        

mis (wrongly)                         

+ Word
 hear                             

= New Word
mishear

Example: The waiter brought the incorrect order because he misheard what I said.

Prefix                        

over (excessive/too much)      

+ Word
eat                              

= New Word
overeat

Example:  They overate at the buffet when they went to Las Vegas.

Prefix                      

over (excessive/too much)      

+ Word              
sleep    
                       
= New Word
oversleep

Example:  She missed her flight because she overslept.

Prefix                         

re (back, again)                     

+  Word
locate                          

= New Word
relocate

Example:  Anne relocated to Los Angeles for her job.

Prefix                      

semi (half, partially)               

+  Word   
 annual                           

= New Word
semiannual 

Example: Her favorite clothing store is having a semiannual sale this weekend.

Prefix                     

tri (three)                                

+  Word
lingual  
   

= New Word 
trilingual

           

Example: He is trilingual.  He speaks Chinese, German, and English.

Prefix                      

un (not)     
                              
+  Word
able 
                              
= New Word
unable

                  

Example: They were unable to go to New York because their flight was canceled.