A prefix is a beginning root that modifies the meaning of a word. Prefixes in English usually come from both Latin and Greek, so the same exact form can have the same meaning. The following collection of worksheets will help your students learn what different root and word addends mean in order to use them correctly. Activities include assigning words from a given list to specific words, giving them meaning, changing terms into their opposites, and more. Answer keys are provided. Note: Similar-sounding prefixes don't always mean the same thing. "Ante-" is from Latin which means "before," while "anti-" is from Greek that means "against."
Printable Prefix Worksheets
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Prefixes In the World
A prefix is a word part that is added to the front of a base word to change its meaning. More than one prefix may mean the same thing.
Their Meanings
Circle the starter portion in each term. Then write the meaning of the word on the line.
Choose the Right One
You can change the meaning of a word by adding a prefix to it. Look at each base term that is found on the page. Which part is often added to it? Choose the correct one and write the new word that is formed on the line beneath.
Opposites
Rewrite each sentence by adding a word part to the underlined word to change its meaning to its opposite.
Mix and Match!
Add a prefix to each base to create new words. You may use each of the word parts more than once. Some of the terms may take more than one.
The Prefix Dis-
The part dis- means "not." Write a single word that contains dis- to complete each sentence.
The Factory
Use a prefix to create a word that has the indicated meaning. Write the term that you create on the line.
The Prefix Un-<
The word starter un- means "not." The underlined the word in each sentence below that is incorrect; its opposite should be in its place. Correct each sentence by writing the correct term on the line. Use un-.
Words Under Construction
Circle the correct parts that go with each word. Write the new term that is created on the line.
Fill in to Complete
Complete the table by filling in a prefix that goes with the root word and writing a term that matches the meaning provided.
Meanings of Word Starters
Circle the prefix that can be found in each word. Then match it to its correct meaning.
The Prefix Re-
A prefix is a word part that is added to the front of a root to change its meaning. Adding re- changes the meaning of a word, so that it means to do (the base word) again.
Display and Find Me
Circle the term that contains the correct prefix. Then use all of them in an orginal sentence that you will write.
Changing Meaning
A prefix is a word part that is added to the front of a base word. Every prefix has a meaning, and when you add one to a word, the meaning of the prefix changes the entire meaning.
What Are Prefixes Used For In English?
The most commonly used prefixes are un- and re-. When you want to reverse the use of a word or push to an opposite word the use of un- can really get the job deal for you. When you need something repeated or done over again the use of re- is very handy. Remember the base word (word root) spelling never changes when we use these. Also be aware that double letter spellings happen often when you are using these word parts. At first the new spelling will look incorrect, but you will get the hang of them the more you use them. When you use a prefix with a proper noun or number, you will be required to use a hyphen to separate them. The best way to learn the proper usage of these is to practice. What are you waiting for scroll down the page to get at it.<br>
Prefixes are extremely useful in customizing words to give them a new meaning. They are common in many languages as well as in English. Now the question is, what role do prefixes play in the English language?
An affix is a single letter or a group of letters that joins an already existing word. Since it is combined before starting a word, it becomes a prefix in this relationship to give a new word. For example, un- is a prefix used to change the meaning of the base word into its opposite. It means "not," "remove," or "opposite." Using un- in the word "happy" makes a new word "unhappy," which means not happy.
Not all prefixes change the meaning of the word to its opposite. There are prefixes and their meanings, with examples listed below to show you how prefixes are helpful in English.
Prefixes And Their Examples
| Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
| A- (Also, an-) | Not, without | Atheist |
| A- | To, towards/in the process of, in a particular state | Aback |
| A- | Of/completed | Aglow |
| Ab- | Away, from | Absent, abduct, absolute |
| Ad- (also a-, ac-, af-, ag- al-, an-, ap-, at- as-, at-) | To or towards, indicate tendency or direction | Assemble, Advance, Advantageous. |
| Ante- | Prior before proceeding | Anterior, Anteroom, Antediluvian. |
| Anti- (Also, Ant) | Opposite of, against, the opposing. | Anticline, Antisocial, Antibody |
| Be- | All-over, all-round/ cause to be | Beset, Bespatter/Becalm, |
| Com- (also co-, col-, con-, cor-) | With, together, in association | Combine, Compare, Comfort |
| Contra- | Against, Opposite | Contractor, contrabass, contravene |
| Counter- | Against, opposite, contrary | Counteract, counterattack, Counterbalance |
| De- | Down, opposite, away, removal, reverse. | Deactivate, decode, detract, deconstruct. |
| Dia- | Through, throughout, across | Diagnosis, diachronic, dialysis |
| Dis- | Apart, utterly, away, negative | Disbelief, discontent, disaffirm |
| En- (also em-) | Within, in | Energy, enthusiasm, embitter |
| Ex- | Out of, utterly, thoroughly | Exasperate, ex-president, expand, exit |
| Extra- | outside, except, beyond, | Extracurricular, extreme |
| Hemi- | Half | hemiparesis, hemiplegia, hemithorax |
| Hyper- | Above, beyond | Hypermarket, hyperemia |
| Hypo- | Under, beneath | Hypoblast, hypodermic |
| Il- | Not or no | Illogical, illegal |
| Im- | In, into, towards, within | Impossible, impatient |
| In- | Not, without, negative | Insane, influx, inject |
| Infra- | Below | Infrastructure, infrahuman, infrasonic |
| Inter- | Between, among | Interrelation, interchange |
| Intra- | Between, within | Intrapersonal, intramural |
| Mis- | Bad, wrongly | Misjudge, mistake, miscommunication |
| Non- | Not, other than, the reverse of, absence of | Nontoxic, nonlinear |
| Ob- | Toward, to, on, over, against | Object, obligate |
| Out- | Surpassing, exceeding, better, or greater than something else | Outbalance, outfit, outperformance |
| Over- | Too much or more than enough | Overexcited, overestimate |
| Peri- | all-round, about | Periscope, perihelion |
| Post- | After, subsequent | Postpone, postcard |
| Pre- | Prior to | Premedical |
| Pro- | Earlier than, before the time | Protest |
| Re- | Again | Rewrite |
| Semi- | Half | Semicircle |
| Sub- | Under, beneath | Submission, subordinate |
| Syn- | Together | Synopsis, synthetic |
| Trans- | Across, beyond | Transform, transmission |
| Ultra- | Beyond, more, extreme | Ultrasonic |
| Un- | Not, opposite, negative, reversal | Unacceptable |
| Under- | Beneath, below, not enough | Underestimate, underground |
Things to Keep In Mind
Different prefixes in English can have similar meanings, such as un-, in-, mis-, etc.
Double letters written together are possible in the case of prefixes such as immeasurable or unnoticeable.
Adding a prefix does not change the word's spelling, such as relive where the word live has the exact spelling.
It would help if you did not get confused with those words that look like they contain a prefix but don't, for example, Uncle or Real.