A lot of words that you read are made up of roots or base words.

Each base A lot of words that you read are made up of roots or base words. Each base
word may have a prefix added to the beginning. You can get the meaning of an word may have a prefix added to the beginning. You can get the meaning of an
unfamiliar word by studying its parts. unfamiliar word by studying its parts.
For example, the word impossible is formed by adding the prefix im-, which For example, the word impossible is formed by adding the prefix im-, which
means “not”. Therefore impossible means “not possible”. means “not”. Therefore impossible means “not possible”.
Prefix Base Word New Word Prefix Base Word New Word
im- possible impossible im- possible impossible
mal- nourish malnourished mal- nourish malnourished

To learn the meanings of other common prefixes, study the chart below. To learn the meanings of other common prefixes, study the chart below.
Prefix Base Word New Word Prefix Base Word New Word
a-, an- without atheist, anarchy, anemia a-, an- without atheist, anarchy, anemia
ante- before antedate, anterior, ante- before antedate, anterior,
antecedent antecedent
anti- against antisocial, antibody, anti- against antisocial, antibody,
antiseptic antiseptic
auto- self automobile, autograph, auto- self automobile, autograph,
automatic automatic
co- with, together copilot, cohesiveness co- with, together copilot, cohesiveness
contra- against contradict, contravene contra- against contradict, contravene
de- off, to do the opposite devalue, deploy, devoid, de- off, to do the opposite devalue, deploy, devoid,
deodorize, decrease, deodorize, decrease,
detach detach
dis- not, opposite of disappear, dismiss, dis- not, opposite of disappear, dismiss,
discover discover
en- put into enclose, enlighten, enliven en- put into enclose, enlighten, enliven
ex- out of, former extract, ex-president, ex- ex- out of, former extract, ex-president, ex-
military military
extra- beyond, more than extracurricular, extra- beyond, more than extracurricular,
extraordinary extraordinary
homo- same- homonym, homo-sapiens homo- same- homonym, homo-sapiens
il-, im-, in-, ir- not, without illegal, illogical, immoral, il-, im-, in-, ir- not, without illegal, illogical, immoral,
inconsiderate, inconsiderate,
irresponsible irresponsible
inter- between intersect, international inter- between intersect, international
micro- small microscope, microchip micro- small microscope, microchip
mono- one monocycle, monosyllabic mono- one monocycle, monosyllabic
pre-, pro- before, forward precede, project, protest pre-, pro- before, forward precede, project, protest
sub- under submarine sub- under submarine
tri- three tricycle, trimester tri- three tricycle, trimester
un- not unfinished, unsanitary un- not unfinished, unsanitary