Prefix and suffix

Definition

Prefixes(उपसर्ग) and suffixes(प्रत्यय) are short syllables added to the beginning or end of words to change their meaning and/or function in a sentence.

The most common prefixes are as follows.

• A- (abiotic, atypical)
• Un- (undo, unfold)
• Im- (impolite, immature)
• In- (intolerant, indisciplined)
• Il- (illogical, illegible)
• Ir- (irregular, irresponsible)
• De- (decode, destress)
• Re- (redo, reappear)
• Dis- (disinterested, disobedient)
• Mis- (misunderstand, misinterpret)
• Pro- (proactive)
• Sub- (subconscious, substandard)
• Pre- (preset, predetermine)
• Non- (nonexistent, non-violence)
• Anti- (antifungal, antiviral)
• Post- (postmodern, postoperative)
• Inter- (interdependent, interrelated)

The most common suffixes are

• -y (honesty, noisy)
• -ly (quickly, softly)
• -ty (loyalty, sincerity)
• -ry (bravery, mockery)
• -er (larger, brighter)
• -al (parental, bacterial)
• -est (fastest, biggest)
• -age (usage, breakage)
• -ing (trying, binding)
• -ful (truthful, fruitful)
• -ment (shipment, basement)
• -ness (happiness, blindness)
• -able (bearable, eatable)
• -ible (sensible, convertible)
• -less (fearless, baseless)
• -ship (friendship, internship)
• -hood (parenthood, brotherhood)
• -sion (conversion, invasion)
• -tion (invention, exhibition)

Check out the suffixes list for more examples.

List of Words with a Prefix and a Suffix

Prefix	Base Word	Suffix	New word
Im-	Mortal	-ity	Immortality
Un-	Success	-ful	Unsuccessful
Un-	Manage	-able	Unmanageable
Un-	Truth	-ful	Untruthful
Im-	Mature	-ity	Immaturity
Im-	Perfect	-tion	Imperfection
Un-	Certain	-ity	Uncertainty
Un-	Aware	-ness	Unawareness
Im-	Partial	-ity	Impartiality
In-	Equal	-ity	Inequality
Un-	Truth	-ful	Untruthful
In-	Distinguish	-able	Indistinguishable
Il-	Logic	-al	Illogical
Il-	Legal	-ly	Illegally
Il-	Legal	-ity	Illegality
De-	Construct	-tion	Deconstruction
Ir-	Replace	-able	Irreplaceable
Ir-	Reverse	-ible	Irreversible
Ir-	Reconcile	-able	Irreconcilable
Ir-	Refute	-able	Irrefutable
Dis-	Respect	-ful	Disrespectful
Dis-	Honest	-ty	Dishonesty
Dis-	Advantage	-ous	Disadvantageous
Un-	Fortunate	-ly	Unfortunately
Mis-	Calculate	-tion	Miscalculation
Pre-	Arrange	-ment	Prearrangement
Pre-	Historic	-al	Prehistorical
Non	Biodegrade	-able	Non-biodegradable

Frequently Asked Questions on Prefix and Suffix

Q1

What is a prefix?

A prefix is a short morphological unit that is added to the beginning of a root word in order to alter its meaning and/or function. It can be just a single letter or two to five letters.

Q2

What is the definition of a prefix?

The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines a prefix as “a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning, such as un- in unhappy and pre- in preheat”.

Q3

What is a suffix?

A suffix, on the other hand, is a short morphological unit that follows the root word. In other words, it is added to the end of the root word. A suffix can contain two to four letters.

Q4

What is the definition of a suffix?

A suffix is defined as “a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to make another word, such as -ly in quickly or -ness in sadness”, according to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary.