Learning Prefixes and Suffixes was never so easy as it is now. This site
represents the most complete collection of prefixes, suffixes, roots, and word stems found on
the Web today.
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and
lose his own soul?
- Jesus -
Latin Prefixes
When learning Latin prefixes it's probably best to start with those you are familiar with.
After all, many -- if not most -- of the prefixes in English come from Latin or Greek.
It should be no surprise, then, for Latin prefixes to be found everywhere in the English language (which
they are) and used in a myriad, or large number, of words.
In fact, many, many words in the English Language will have either a Greek or Latin prefix in combination with a
root, or root word, plus a suffix.
One of the reasons for making this site is that I've always enjoyed learning where words come from... and what they
mean. It can be fun tracing a words root to its origin in a quest for a greater understanding.
Can that be true?
Learning Latin prefixes and what they mean and how they are used is, dare I say, fun?
Latin Prefixes Meanings
Usage
ab, abs
away, away from
abnormal, abstract
ad
to, towards, at
adhere, admire, admit
am
around
amputate
ambi
both
ambivalent, ambidextrous
ante
before
antediluvian, antecedent
bi
two
bifocals
circum
around
circumnavigate, circumcise
co
com
con
col
with, together
co-worker
compress
conjoin
collate
contra
against
contraband
de
down, away from
decrease, descend
dis
away
distract
ef
ex
out
out of
effluent
exit
endo
within
indoctrinate
epi
on, upon
epicenter
extra
beyond
extraterrestrial
il
in
im
ir
against, opposite
illegitimate
insufficient
impolite
irregular
infra
below
infrared
inter
between
interject
intro
within
introspection
ob
against
object, obstruct
non
not
nonviolent, nonlethal
per
through
perfect
post
after, behind
postscript, PS
pre
before
prenatal, prelude
re
back, again
retreat, release
retro
backward
retrospect, retrofit
sin
without
sincere
semi
half
semisphere, semitractor
sub
under, below
subpar, subhuman
super
above, over
superman, supermarket
trans
across
transport
ultra
beyond, above
ultrasound, ultraviolet
The above list represent the most common Latin prefixes used in the English
Language. There are more, however, and if you go to the list of prefixes from the menu at the top left of
this page, you'll find them.