Introduction to Affixes (Prefixes and Suffixes)

 Introduction to Affixes

In English grammar, an affix is a group of letters added to a word to change its meaning, form, or function. Affixes do not stand alone; they attach to a base word or root word.

Affixes help us create new words, expand vocabulary, and understand meanings more easily.

Why Are Affixes Important?

✔ Help understand the meaning of new words

✔ Make vocabulary stronger

✔ Help in word formation

✔ Improve reading comprehension

✔ Useful for grammar, writing

Types of Affixes

Affixes are mainly of two broad categories: prefixes and suffixes.

In detailed grammar, affixes can be further divided into four types:

1. Prefix

2. Suffix

3. Infix

4. Circumfix

1. Prefix

A prefix is an affix that is added at the beginning of a base word.

Its main purpose is to change the meaning of the word.

How prefixes change meaning

Prefixes can show:

negation (not)

reversal (opposite)

repetition (again)

position (before, between, under)

quantity (half, many, all)

time or order

Examples explained

Unhappy → un- means “not,” so the word means “not happy.”

Rewrite → re- means “again,” so it means “write again.”

Incorrect → in- means “not,” so it means “not correct.”

Prepaid → pre- means “before,” so it means “paid before.”

Subway → sub- means “under,” so a subway runs under the ground.

Easy explanation

A prefix sits in front of the word and changes what the word means.

2. Suffix

A suffix is an affix added at the end of a base word.

Unlike prefixes, suffixes usually change the form, function, or part of speech of the word.

How suffixes work

Suffixes can:

change a noun into an adjective

change a verb into a noun

change an adjective into an adverb

describe a state or quality

indicate a person who performs an action

Examples explained

Happiness → -ness turns the adjective “happy” into the noun “happiness,” meaning “state of being happy.”

Teacher → -er means “a person who does something,” so “teacher” means “one who teaches.”

Quickly → -ly turns the adjective “quick” into the adverb “quickly,” meaning “in a quick manner.”

Beautiful → -ful means “full of,” so “beautiful” means “full of beauty.”

Movement → -ment shows an action or process, so “movement” means “the act of moving.”

Simple explanation

A suffix attaches to the end of a word to change its form and how it is used in a sentence.

3. Infix

An infix is an affix that is inserted inside a word.

In English, true infixes are very rare. English mostly uses prefixes and suffixes.

Where infixes are common

Infixes are used in some other languages, such as:

Tagalog

Khmer

Some ancient languages

English example (informal)

English sometimes uses playful or informal infixes like:

“absobloodylutely” (bloody inserted for emphasis)

“fan-frigging-tastic” (frigging inserted inside “fantastic”)

Although these are not formal grammar, they help show how infixes work: they go inside a word rather than at the beginning or end.

Simple explanation

Infix = added inside a word, but English rarely uses them.

4. Circumfix

A circumfix is a type of affix made up of two parts—one placed at the beginning of a word and the other at the end.

Both parts must be used together to create the full meaning.

English usage

Circumfixes are uncommon in modern English, but they exist in some forms:

Enlighten → “en–” at the beginning and “–en” at the end work together to mean “to make light.”

(This is considered a loose example, but still used to explain the concept.)

Where circumfixes are common

They are more common in languages like:

German

Dutch

Malay

Example from German:

“ge–spiel–t” → means “played,” where "ge–" and “–t” must be used together.

Simple explanation

A circumfix wraps around the word, adding something at the beginning and something at the end at the same time.

Summary (in simple words)

Prefix → added before the word; changes meaning.

Suffix → added after the word; changes form or part of speech.

Infix → added inside the word; rare in English.

Circumfix → added at both beginning and end; not common in English.

All Common English Prefixes

(With Meanings and 3 Examples Each)

1. un-

Meaning: not, opposite of

Examples: unhappy, unfair, untidy

2. in- / im- / il- / ir-

Meaning: not (used before specific letters)

Examples: incorrect, impossible, illegal, irregular

3. dis-

Meaning: not, opposite of

Examples: dislike, disagree, disconnect

4. re-

Meaning: again, back

Examples: rewrite, redo, rebuild

5. pre-

Meaning: before

Examples: preheat, preschool, preview

6. mis-

Meaning: wrongly, badly

Examples: misunderstand, misbehave, misplace

7. non-

Meaning: not, without

Examples: nonstop, nonsense, nonliving

8. over-

Meaning: too much, above

Examples: overeat, overconfident, overwork

9. under-

Meaning: too little, below

Examples: undercook, underestimate, underwater

10. inter-

Meaning: between, among

Examples: international, interact, interlink

11. intra-

Meaning: within, inside

Examples: intranet, intravenous, intrastate

12. anti-

Meaning: against

Examples: antivirus, antibiotic, antifungal

13. auto-

Meaning: self

Examples: autograph, automatic, autobiography

14. bi-

Meaning: two, twice

Examples: bicycle, bilingual, biweekly

15. tri-

Meaning: three

Examples: triangle, tricycle, tripod

16. mono-

Meaning: one, single

Examples: monorail, monopoly, monologue

17. poly-

Meaning: many

Examples: polygon, polytechnic, polytheism

18. semi-

Meaning: half, partly

Examples: semicircle, semisolid, semiconscious

19. sub-

Meaning: under, below

Examples: submarine, subway, subsoil

20. super-

Meaning: above, beyond

Examples: supernatural, superstar, superpower

21. trans-

Meaning: across, beyond

Examples: transport, translate, transplant

22. ultra-

Meaning: extreme, beyond

Examples: ultramodern, ultraviolet, ultrafast

23. hyper-

Meaning: too much, excessive

Examples: hyperactive, hypertension, hypermarket

24. hypo-

Meaning: too little, under

Examples: hypodermic, hypothermia, hypoglycemia

25. co- / com- / con-

Meaning: together, with

Examples: cooperate, combine, connect

26. en- / em-

Meaning: cause to

Examples: enable, enrich, empower

27. ex-

Meaning: former / out of

Examples: ex-president, ex-boyfriend, export

28. post-

Meaning: after

Examples: postwar, postgraduate, postmortem

29. pro-

Meaning: forward, in favor of

Examples: progress, promote, proactive

30. multi-

Meaning: many, much

Examples: multicolour, multimedia, multipurpose

31. micro-

Meaning: small

Examples: microscope, microorganism, microchip

32. macro-

Meaning: large

Examples: macroeconomics, macro lens, macroscopic

33. tele-

Meaning: far, from a distance

Examples: telephone, television, telepathy

34. uni-

Meaning: one

Examples: uniform, unicycle, universe

35. kilo-

Meaning: thousand

Examples: kilogram, kilowatt, kilometer

36. deca- / deci-

Meaning: ten / one-tenth

Examples: decade, decimal, decagon

37. fore-

Meaning: before, in front

Examples: foresee, forehead, forecast

38. fore-

Meaning: front, earlier

Examples: foreword, forearm, foresight

39. omni-

Meaning: all

Examples: omnipresent, omnivore, omnipotent

40. neo-

Meaning: new, recent

Examples: neonatal, neoclassical, neoliberal

All Common English Suffixes

(With Meanings and 3 Examples Each)

1. –able / –ible

Meaning: able to be; capable of

Examples: washable, readable, flexible

2. –al

Meaning: relating to

Examples: natural, musical, personal

3. –ance / –ence

Meaning: state or quality of

Examples: performance, importance, difference

4. –er / –or

Meaning: a person who does something

Examples: teacher, actor, singer

5. –ness

Meaning: state or quality

Examples: kindness, darkness, happiness

6. –ful

Meaning: full of

Examples: beautiful, careful, playful

7. –less

Meaning: without

Examples: homeless, hopeless, fearless

8. –ly

Meaning: in a certain way (makes adverbs)

Examples: quickly, softly, happily

9. –ment

Meaning: action, process, or result

Examples: enjoyment, movement, punishment

10. –tion / –sion / –ion

Meaning: act or process

Examples: education, decision, action

11. –ity / –ty

Meaning: state, quality, or condition

Examples: purity, activity, reality

12. –ous / –eous / –ious

Meaning: full of, having

Examples: dangerous, courageous, glorious

13. –ish

Meaning: like; somewhat; relating to

Examples: foolish, childish, reddish

14. –ive

Meaning: tending to; having the nature of

Examples: active, creative, sensitive

15. –ive / –ative / –itive

Meaning: related to or connected with

Examples: imaginative, informative, sensitive

16. –est

Meaning: the most (superlative)

Examples: tallest, fastest, kindest

17. –ed

Meaning: past tense of verbs

Examples: played, watched, cleaned

18. –ing

Meaning: present participle / continuous action

Examples: dancing, writing, running

19. –y

Meaning: full of; having the quality of

Examples: sunny, sleepy, cloudy

20. –en

Meaning: made of; become

Examples: wooden, strengthen, darken

21. –hood

Meaning: state or condition

Examples: childhood, brotherhood, neighborhood

22. –ship

Meaning: position, state, or quality

Examples: friendship, leadership, citizenship

23. –dom

Meaning: state, condition, or domain

Examples: freedom, kingdom, boredom

24. –ward / –wards

Meaning: in the direction of

Examples: forward, eastward, homewards

25. –ology

Meaning: study of

Examples: biology, geology, psychology

26. –ist

Meaning: a person who practices or is an expert

Examples: artist, scientist, guitarist

27. –ism

Meaning: belief, practice, system

Examples: realism, tourism, criticism

28. –ify / –fy

Meaning: to make or cause

Examples: beautify, clarify, simplify

29. –ize / –ise

Meaning: to make or become

Examples: organize, realize, energize

30. –ate

Meaning: to make; become

Examples: activate, celebrate, decorate

31. –ette

Meaning: small or feminine form

Examples: cigarette, kitchenette, etiquette

32. –let

Meaning: small or little

Examples: booklet, leaflet, piglet

33. –kin

Meaning: small or little (old English form)

Examples: napkin, lambkin, manikin

34. –some

Meaning: characterized by; causing

Examples: awesome, troublesome, fearsome

35. –wise

Meaning: in relation to; regarding

Examples: otherwise, clockwise, lengthwise

36. –scape

Meaning: view or scene

Examples: landscape, seascape, cityscape

37. –gram

Meaning: written or recorded

Examples: telegram, diagram, hologram