Understanding
What You Read
Prefixes, Suffixes, Root Words
Understanding Vocabulary Words
• When you are trying to figure out the
meaning of an unfamiliar word, it
helps to try to break down the word
into smaller parts, such as prefixes,
suffixes, and root words.
• It also helps to look at the
surrounding words in the sentence or
paragraph in order to determine the
meaning of the word in relative
context to those words around it.
Understanding Vocabulary Words
• Prefixes
• A PREFIX is attached to the BEGINNING
of a word to modify or change the word’s
meaning.
• On the next slide are the most common
prefixes and their meanings.
• One of the best ways to remember the
meanings of the prefixes is to memorize
them so that when you see them
attached to a word, you can recall the
meaning of the prefix, and this will help
you decipher the word’s meaning.
Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example Your Example
ab-
not or away from
abnormal
ambi-
both
ambivalent
anti-
against
anti-war
arch-
main
archrival
auto-
self
automobile
bene-
good
beneficial
bi-
two
bicycle
bio-
life
biology
absent = not present
Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example Your Example
con/co-
with
cooperate
counter-
opposite
counterforce
de-
remove
deodorant
deca-
ten
decade
dis-
not
dishonest
dict-
so speak
dictate
ex-
former
ex-girlfriend
extra-
beyond
extraordinary
Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example Your Example
fore-
near
foreground
im/in-
not or without
inactive
inter-
between
international
meta-
change
metaphysics
micro-
small
microscope
mid-
in the middle of
midnight
mono-
one
monochrome
multi-
many
multicolor
Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example Your Example
non-
no
nonsense
over-
beyond a limit
overtime
para-
beyond
paranormal
post-
after
post-war
pre-
before
prefix
pseudo
fake, not real
pseudonym
re-
again
redo
sub-
under or below
subzero
Prefixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example Your Example
trans-
move across
transpose
tri-
three
tricycle
ultra-
beyond
ultramodern
un-
not
uncooked
Study and memorize these prefixes.
Understanding Vocabulary Words
• Suffixes
• A SUFFIX is attached to the END of a
word to modify or change the word’s
meaning.
• On the next slide are the most common
suffixes and their meanings.
• One of the best ways to remember the
meanings of the suffixes is to memorize
them so that when you see them
attached to a word, you can recall the
meaning of the suffix, and this will help
you decipher the word’s meaning.
Suffixes
Suffix
Meaning
Example Your Example
-able, -ible
capable of
fixable
-ation
the process of
creation
-esque
resembling
statuesque
-est
most
largest
-ful
full of
beautiful
-ial, -al
like, pertaining
microbial
-ic
of or relating to
caloric
-ish
like
childish
-ism
state of being
barbarism
reachable = capable of
being reached
Suffixes
Suffix
Meaning
Example Your Example
-less
without
hopeless
-logy
study of
biology
-ly
like, resembling
happily
-ment
action or process
development
-ness
state, quality of
goodness
-oid
like
planetoid
-ous
like
childish
-ward
in the direction
of
outward
Study and memorize these suffixes.
You will be tested on them.
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Understanding Vocabulary Words
• Roots
• A ROOT word is a base or basic word,
like a building block that supports the
primary meaning.
• On the next slide are some of the most
root words and their meanings.
• One of the best ways to remember the
meanings of the root words is to
memorize them so that when you see
them, you can recall the meaning of the
root, and this will help you decipher the
entire word’s meaning.
Root Words
Root
Meaning Example
Your Definition
agri
field
agriculture
culture of the fields, like
farming
anthro
man
anthropology
astro
star
astronomy
bio
life
biosphere
cardio
heart
cardiogram
derma
skin
dematologist
dyna
power
dynamic
hydro
water
hydroponics
hypno
sleep
hypnosis
phon
sound, voice
phonics
Root Words
Root
Meaning Example
ject
throw
eject
magni
great, big
magnify
manu
hand
manufacture
ortho
straight
orthodox
pod
foot
podiatrist
psycho
mind
psychology
pyro
fire
pyrotechnics
script
write
manuscript
terra
earth
terrace
therm
heat
thermos
Your Definition
Root Words
Root
Meaning Example
chron
time
chronological
aud
sound
audio
crypt
hidden
cryptic
demo
people
demographics
geo
earth
geology
ped
foot
pedal
port
carry
portable
Your Definition
Study and memorize these root words.
You will be tested on them.
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