1. What is a prefix?
DEFINITION: A prefix is part of a word. It is the beginning letters of the word that usually mean something. Quite often, if you know Spanish or another language, the beginning syllable can help you to break down (decode) what the word means. This means a lot, especially if you are taking a test

2. Understanding the meaning of a common prefix can help you to figure out the meanings of new words. Some prefixes, however, have more than 1 meaning.
Prefix
Meaning
Example
A without, less away
non not, without non-renew

3. Let’s look a few common prefixes
MEANING
EXAMPLE
Auto
Self
automobile
Dis
Not
disappear
Intra
Between
intravenous
Pre
Before
Precede, prefix
Post
After
Postmortem
Postoperative care
Sub
Under
Subway, submarine
Syn
Same time
Synchronize
synovial
Contra-
Against
Contradict

4. Common Prefixes – continued
Meaning
Example
Co-
With
co-pilot
co-teacher
In-
Into
Insert
introduce
Mono-
One
Monocycle
monovision
Tri-
Three
Tricycle
trimester
Bi-
Two
Bicycle
Bisecting lines
Trans-
Across
Transport
transaction
Uni-
one
Unicycle/ unicorn
universe Un
Not
Unfinished, unprepared

5. One more list PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE Re- To do over, again
Remove, renew
Pre-
before
preview
Mis-
Wrong, bad
Misbehavior
De-
Remove, separate
Destroy, deforest
Multi-
Many, multiple
Multi-family house
Over-
Too much of
Overeat, oversleep
Tele
Trans
Across
Transport
Translate
Non-
Not
Non-violent
Dis-
Not, opposite of
discharge
Super-
Above
supervisor

6. So, now that we have our list, let’s try to figure out some words 1
So, now that we have our list, let’s try to figure out some words 1. tranlate 2. uniform 3. unhappy 4. subterrain 5. misbehavior 6. teleport 7. transact 8. autonomous 9. disappoint 10. interaction

7. Common prefixes match Match the prefix on the left to the meaning on the right _______ Re-(renew) wrong, bad _______ Pre- (preview) before _______ Mis-(misbehavior) again, back _______ De- (deforestation) eight _______ Tele- (television) one, same, whole _______ Un- (unhappy) remove or reduce _______ Bi- (bi-weekly) twice (two times) _______ Uni- (uniform) far, distant _______ octo-(octopus) many, (usually more than 2) _______ Sub- (subway) under or low _______ Multi- (multiple) not

8. Common prefixes match Match the prefix on the left to the meaning on the right ___3____ Re-(renew) wrong, bad ___2____ Pre- (preview) before ____1___ Mis-(misbehavior) again, back __6_____ De- (deforestation) eight __8_____ Tele- (television) one, same, whole _11____ Un- (unhappy) remove or reduce __7____ Bi- (bi-weekly) twice (two times) __5____ Uni- (uniform) far, distant ___4___ octo-(octopus) many, (usually more than 2) __10__ Sub- (subway) under or low __ 9___ Multi- (multiple) not

9. Let’s try another few prefixes that we can review or learn Bi- bi-weekly A. One or the same uni-uniform B. Many, several octo- octopus C. two or twice sub- subway D. very small multi-multiple E. Under, below or low micro-microorganism F. eight