What are Prefixes?

Unlike suffixes, spelling words with prefixes is a bit more straightforward, as prefixes don’t change the spelling of the root word when added. Learning common prefixes can help students understand the meaning of many new words. By understanding the meaning of these prefixes, students will be able to decipher the meaning of new words that they encounter, which will help them improve their reading comprehension and writing skills. 

Common Prefixes in English:

Strategies for Teaching Prefixes:

As is the case with all vocabulary, students should not just be learning words or word parts by rote. Simple memorization is not an effective way to make information stay with us long-term. Here are some ways to teach these words so they stick:

Word Trees

Word trees are great visual representations of words with the same root and different prefixes. Students can see words mapped out on branches to visualize their similarities. The visual component helps make the different words and their meanings stick more easily.

Visual Mnemonics

Have students create their own visual associations for each prefix. For “un-,” maybe a student draws a picture with a big line through it to indicate something being “canceled.” Maybe for “re-,” a student draws an action being repeated to signal “again.” These types of associations help students create neural pathways in their brain that allow the information to stay long-term.

Opportunities For Application

Allow plenty of opportunities for students to practice using learned prefixes in their own writing. Celebrate when they use prefixes correctly or creatively, but also let them use them incorrectly. If they aren’t able to come to the conclusion that they are incorrect on their own, point it out, but ask them why the word is incorrect. Many students, when first learning prefixes, will create words like “un-drink” or “re-dance.” Discuss with them why not all prefixes will work with all words, and how to tell if they will or won’t.

Some students confuse words that contain the same letters as prefixes, but aren’t prefixes. For example, “understand” and “reality” seem to start with two of the most common prefixes, un and re, but aren’t actually associated with these prefixes at all. Tell students that these tricky words exist, and teach them the distinction to prevent or limit confusion.

Conclusion

Learning some of the most common prefixes, like those listed above, can open up a world of meaning for students as they are learning to decipher language. By knowing affixes—not just by memorizing, but by truly understanding what they mean and how they are used—students can begin making sense of so many new words without having to look them up.

Some students confuse words that contain the same letters as prefixes, but aren’t prefixes. For example, “understand” and “reality” seem to start with two of the most common prefixes, un and re, but aren’t actually associated with these prefixes at all. Tell students that these tricky words exist, and teach them the distinction to prevent or limit confusion.

Frequently Asked Questions on Prefixes

What is the most common prefix?

The most common prefixes are a-, be-, de-, dis-, ex-, in-, mis-, non-, over-, pre-, re-, uni- and with-. These prefixes appear most often in academic vocabulary.

What is the difference between a prefix and a suffix?

A prefix is a word part that is added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning, while a suffix is added to the end of a word.

Why is learning prefixes important?

Learning prefixes is important because they are an important component of language structure and vocabulary. Students should learn the most common prefixes early. They should continue to add to their prefix knowledge as they progress through the grades. Knowing what prefixes mean can help us make sense of unknown words; if we can recognize part of a word, then we can use our knowledge of prefixes to decipher its meaning.

What is the purpose of prefixes and suffixes?

Prefixes and suffixes are added to words to change their meaning. They can be used to indicate a word’s grammatical function, or to create new words that are related to the original word.

What is the difference between a root word and a base word?

A root word is a word without any prefixes or suffixes. A base word is a root word with one or more prefixes or suffixes added to it.