英语常见词根词缀

Prefix

Meaning

Examples

a(n)-

not, without

atonality, asexuality, amoral, anarchy, anonymous

ab-

away

abduction, absolutism, ablution

acr(o)-

high, up, hill

Acropolis, acrobatics

ad-

near, at

adrenal

aden(o)-

gland

adenectomy

aer(o)-

air

aeronautics, aerodrome, aeroplane, aerodynamics

agr(o)-

relating to farming

agriculture

alt-

high

altitude

alter-

another

Alter-ego, alternate

am-

love

amorous, amateur

ambi-

around, either, encircling

ambiguity, ambidexterity, Ambisagrus

an(a)-

out of

anachronism

andr-

man

androgyny, androcentrism, android, androgen

anem-

wind

anemometer

Anglo-

English or British

Anglo-Irish relations

ante-

before

antebellum, antediluvian

anthropo-

relating to human beings

anthropology, anthropocentrism, anthropomorphic

ant(i)-

against

antidote, antibody, anticlockwise, antichrist

archa(e)o-

ancient

archa(e)ologist, archa(e)ology

astro-

celestial body

astrophysics, astrology

auri-

gold

auriferous

aut(o)-

self

autonomy, autobiography, automobile, autopilot, autopsy, automatic

bar(o)-

heaviness, heavy

barometer

bathy-

deep

Bathyscaphe, bathysphere

be-

completely, excessively; forms transitive verbs

bemuse, bespeak, bewail

ben-

well

Benediction, benign

bi-

two

bicycle, bijection, bicameralism

bi(o)-

life

biology, biography, biopsy

bibli(o)-

relating to books

bibliophilia, bibliography

blast(o)-

bud, germination

blastocyst

brady-

slow

bradycardia

brom(o)-

stench

Bromine, bromide

bronch(o)-

relating to breathing

bronchitis

cac(o)-

bad

cacophony, cacography

cad/cas-

a fall

cadence, cascade

carcin(o)-

relating to cancer

carcinogenic

cardi(o)-

heart

cardiovascular, Cardiac arrest

cent-, centi-

hundred or hundredth

centenarian, centimeter, centipede

cephal(o)-

head

cephalothorax

chrys(o)-

gold

chryselephantine, chrysoberylchrysography

chrom(ato)-

colour

chromatic, chromosome

chron(o)-

time

chronology, chronic, chronicle

circum-

around

circumcision, circumlocution, circumference

co-

together

cooperative, co-belligerence

colpo-

vagina

colpospasm

con-

with, together

connotation, Congress, congregation

contr-

against, opposite

contradiction, contraception, controversy

cosm(o)-

world

cosmology, cosmopolitan, cosmotheism

counter-

against, opposite

counterpoint, Counter-Reformation

crin(o)-

cry(shed tears)

endocrinology

cryo-

frost, icy cold

cryogenics, cryoelectronics, cryostorage

crypt(o)-

hidden

cryptography, cryptozoology

cupri-

copper

cupriferous

cyt(o)-

cell (originally hollow receptacle)

cytoplasm, cytology

culp-

fault

culpable, culprit

dactyl(o)-

finger, digit

dactylogram

de-

taking something away, the opposite

decentralisation, dehydration, Denazification

dec(a)-, dek(a)-

ten

decamerous, December, decimeter, decade

deci-

one tenth

deciliter

dem(o)-

people

demographics, democracy

derm(at)-

skin

dermatology, dermatitis

di-

two, double

dichromic

di-

day

diurnal

dia-

through

diameter, diagnosis, diarrhea

didact(o)-

apt at teaching

didactic

dis-

apart, separation, reverse, opposite

dissent, discovery, disambiguation

dok, dox(o)-

view, teaching

doxology, dogma, orthodox

dynam(o)-

power, force

dynamic, dynamite, dynamo

dys-

bad, deformed, abnormal

dyspepsia, dystrophy, dysarthria

eco-

house

economy, ecology, ecosystem, ecotage

ecto-

outer, external

ectomorphic, ectoparasite

edaph(o)-

soil

edaphic

electr(o)-

relating to Electricity

electrocution, electroencephalogram

embry(o)-

embryo

embryogenesis

en-

to make ~ (transitive verb)

enrage, enlarge

end(o)-, ent(o)-

inside

endoscope, endothermic, entoblast

enne(a)-

nine

enneastyle, enneagram

enter(o)-

intestine

enteritis

entomo-

insect

entomologist, entomophily

eo-

earliest, most primitive

eobacterium, eohippus

ep(i)-, eph-

upon, above, around

epitaxy, epicenter, ephemeral

erg(o)-

work, labour

ergonomics synergy, energy

erythr(o)-

red

erythrocite

erot(o)-

love

erotic, erotomania

ethno-

race, people

ethnology, ethnolinguistics, ethnocentrism

eu-

good

eulogy, euthanasia, eugenics, euphemism

Euro-

European

Euro-MP, Eurocentric

ex-

former

ex-wife, ex-president

exo-

outside

exoskeleton

extra-

outside, beyond, additional

extra-thin, extra-special extraordinary, extraterrestrial, extraordinary

flor-

relating to flowers

florist

fore-

before, in advance

foreskin, foreshadowing

gast(e)-

stomach

gast(e)ropod

geo-

earth

geography, geology

glosso-

language

glossogeny, glossogony, glossolalia

p

gyn-

female

gynaecology, gynoid

p

helio-

sun

heliocentic, heliotherapy

p

hemi-

half

hemimetabolous, hemisphere

p

h(a)emo-/h(a)emato-

blood

hemophilia, hemophobia, h(a)ematologist

p

hept-

seven

heptagon, heptachord

p

heter(o)-

different

heterogenous, heterosexual

p

hex(a)-

six

hexapod, hexagonal, hexameter

p

hippo-

horse

hippophile, hippodrome, hippogryph

p

hol(o)-

whole, entire

hologram, holistic, Holocene

p

hom(o)-

same

homogenous, homosexual, homophone

p

hydro-

water

hydrogen, hydry

p

hygro-

humidity, moisture

hygrometer, hygroscopy

p

hyper-

excessive2, having more than three spatial dimensions (mathematics)

hyperactive, hyperthyroidism

p

hypno-

sleep

hypnogenetic, hypnotherapy

p

hyp(o)-

below2

hypodermic

p

in-

intensively

inflammable, invaluable

p

in-1

not

infallibility, illiteracy, immoral, irrelevant

p

inter-

between, mutual

intervention, international, internet

p

intra-

within

intramural, intravenous, intraocular

p

kilo-

thousand

kilogram, kilowatt

p

kinesi-

movement

kinesitherapy

p

litho-

Rock

lithosphere

p

Luso-

Portuguese

lusophone

p

Mac- or Mc-

"son of" (often used in last names)

McCarthy, Kirsty MacColl

p

macro-

large

macrobiology, macroscopic

p

mal-

bad

malpractice, malnutrition

p

maxi-

many ,most

maximal, maximum

p

Mc-

McDonalds-like, often derogatory

McJob, McPaper (See McWords)

p

mega(l)-

million, very large

megabyte, megaphone, megalopolis

p

meso-

middle

mesoamerica, mesoscale

p

meta-

after, beyond

metacarpal, metaphysics, metatarsal

p

micro-

one millionth, very small

microgram, microorganism, micronation, microscope

p

mid-

in the middle of

mid-term elections, Mid-Autumn Festival

p

milli-

thousandth

milligram, milliliter

p

mini-

small

miniskirt, miniseries

p

mis-

bad, wrong

miscarriage, misanthropy, misogyny, mistake

p

mon(o)-

one, single

monolith, monorail, monotony, monocle

p

multi-

many

multiculturalism, multilingualism

p

myco-

relating to fungi

mycology, mycoprotein

p

myri(a)-

Ten thousand

myriagon, myriad

p

nephro-

liver

nephrology, nephrotomy

p

non-

not

nonsense, non-denial denial

p

non-

nine

nonagon

p

O'-

(son) of (often used in Irish family-names)

O'Brian

p

oct(o)-, oct(a)-

eight

octane, octopod, octagon, October

p

omni-

all

omnidirectional, omnivore, omnipotent

p

oo- ("oo-oh")

egg, ovum

oocyte

p

ornitho-

bird

ornithologist, ornithomancy

p

osteo-

bone

osteoblast, osteosis, osteoporosis

p

out-

more, to a greater degree

outdo, outrun

p

over- (noun)

more than normal, too much

overpopulation, over-consumption, overlord

p

over- (verb)

to do too much, to (verb) over

overlook, overspend, oversee

p

pan(to)-1

universal, all-embracing

pandect, pantechnicon, Pantocrator, pamphlet

p

para-

beyond, near, contrary

paralegal, parachute

p

pent(a)-

five

pentagon

p

peri(o)-

around, about, enclosing, near

perimysium, pericardium, periosteum, perinatal

p

photo-

light, photon

photograph, photosensetive, photosynthesis

p

phyto-

relating to plants

phytogeography, phytoplankton

p

post-

after

postpartum depression, postmodernism

p

pre-

before

prediction, preview, precedent, prenatal care

p

pro-

for, in favour of

pro-choice, protagonist

p

pseudo-

false

pseudoscience, pseudonym

p

psycho-

mind, mental

psychology, psychosomatic

p

pyro-

fire, flame

pyromania

p

quadr-, quart-

four

quadrangle, quadruplet, quartic, quartile

p

quasi-

like, as if

quasiparticle

p

quinque-

five

quinquesection,

p

quint(i)-

fifth, five

quintiped, quintet

p

re-

again, repeatedly

reduction, reflection, revolution

p

rect(i)-

proper, straight

rectify, rectangle

p

retro-

backward

retrograde, retrospective

p

scler(o)-

hard

scleroderma, atherosclerosis

p

semi-

half, partial

semi-automatic, semi-detached

p

sept(a)-

seven

September

p

sex(i)-

six

sexivalent

p

Sino-

Chinese

Sino-American relations

p

spasm(o)-

spasm

spasmatic, spasmolysis

p

sperm-

seed

spermophile, spermine

p

spher(o)-

sphere, ball

spherical, atmosphere

p

sphygm(o)-

pulsation

sphygmomanometer, sphygmograph

p

splen(o)-

spleen

splenomegaly

p

splanchn(o)-

viscera

splanchnopathy

p

schiz(o)-, schist(o)-

split

schizophrenia, schistocyte

p

sci-

know, knowledge

science, omniscient

p

seismo-

earthquake

seismography, seismometer, seismology

p

staphyl(o)-

cluster, uvula

staphylococcus, staphyloplasty

p

stom(ato)-

mouth

stomatitis, stomach

p

styl-

pillar

stylus, stylist, stylopodium

p

sub-

below, less than, under,2

subset, subsonic, subway, subtitles

p

super-

extremely, more than,2

superhuman, Superego, supersonic

p

syn-

together, united, at the same time

synergy, synchronicity, synesthesia

p

tach(y)-

rapid, accelerated

tachycardia, tachymeter, tachyon

p

tel(e)-

distance, distant

telecommunications, television, telephoto lens, telodynamic

p

tel(o)-

end

teloblast, telophase

p

theo-

god

theology, theogony

p

trans-

across, beyond

transfer, transubstantiation, transatlantic, Trans-Siberian railway

p

tri-

three

triangle, tricolor, triptych

p

twi-

two

twilight, twig, twin

p

über- / uber-

super- / excessive / very

uberfic, ?bermensch, übercool

p

ultra-

extremely, beyond certain limit

ultramontanism, ultraviolet

p

un1-

not, opposite, take something away

unconstitutional, undelete

p

under-

below, incompletely

underestimate, underage, undercook

p

uni-

one, single

uniform, unification

p

up-

higher

upscale, update, upgrade, upheld

p

ur-

first, original

urtext

p

ur(o)-

urine

uric, urinal

p

vita-

life

vitamin, vital

p

with-

together, united

withhold, withstand

p

zoo- ("zoo-oh")

relating to animals

zoomorphic, zoology, zoophilia

Suffix

Part of speech

Meaning

Examples

Effect on word stress

-able

adj

capable, can do

usable, notable, comfortable

Neutral

-ably

adv

notably, fashionably

Neutral

-ad

noun

group

triad, monad

-ade

noun

lemonade, accolade, blockade

Stressed suffix

-age

noun

forming a noun

marriage, mileage, garage

Neutral

-agogy

noun

leading

pedagogy, demagogy

Stressed suffix

-al

adj

aspect of

nominal, focal, (compare -ality)

Neutral

-al

noun

abstract noun

refusal, appraisal

Neutral

-ality

noun

property (aspect, behaviour, condition) of

proportionality, sexuality (see -al and -ity)

Stressed suffix

-an

adj

urban

Neutral

-an

adj, noun

republican, Roman, veteran

Neutral

-ance

noun

relevance, annoyance, repentance

Neutral

-ancy

noun

pregnancy, redundancy, vacancy

Neutral

-ant

adj

relevant, dominant, pleasant

Neutral

-ant

noun

assitant, immigrant, inhabitant

Neutral

-ar

adj

linear, alveolar

Neutral

-ar

noun

beggar, liar

Neutral

-ard

noun

drunkard, coward, wizard, steward

Neutral

-ary

adj

ordinary, secondary, military

Neutral

-ary

noun

dictionary, library, seminary

Neutral

-arch

noun

ruler, leader

monarch, tetrarch

Neutral

-archy

noun

rule, leadership

gynarchy, anarchy

Neutral

-ate

adj

literate, desperate, fortunate

Neutral

-ate

noun

certificate, advocate

Neutral

-ate

verb

concentrate, oscillate

Neutral

-athlon

noun

sporting event

pentathlon, decathlon

Stressed suffix

-ation

noun

state or concept of

invitation, pronunciation, starvation

Stressed suffix

-ation

noun

from verb with -ate, state or concept of

concentration, oscillation, narration

Stressed suffix

-ative

adj

talkative, lucrative, affirmative

Neutral

-atory

noun

laboratory, conversatory

-bound

adv

heading in the direction of

inbound, outbound, citybound

-cele, -coele, -coel

noun

body cavity

mucocoel or mucocoele

-cele

noun

tumor, hernia

hydatidocele

-centesis

noun

puncturing

amniocentesis, rachicentesis

-cephalic

adj

relating to the head

anencephaly, macrocephaly

-chondrion

noun

small grainlike structure

mitochondrion

-cide

noun

murder, killing agent

suicide, vespacide, regicide, fratricide

Neutral

-city

noun

practice

atrocity

-cy

noun

expressing the quality of an adjective

diplomacy, literacy, idiocy

Neutral

-cycle

noun

circle, cycle, unit of radio frequency

epicycle, hydrocycle

Neutral

-dom

noun

state or condition of

freedom, boredom, kingdom

Neutral

-ectasia, -ectasis

noun

stretching out

brochiectasis, telangiectasia

-ectomy

noun

surgical removal

laryngectomy, vasectomy

Stressed suffix

-ed

adj

bored, tiled

Neutral

-ee

noun

changes verb to a noun (the object of that verb)

employee, referee, payee

Stressed suffix

-eer

adj

engineer, overseer

Stressed suffix

-eme

noun

linguistic unit

lexeme, phoneme, morpheme

-emia

noun

blood condition

leukemia, anaemia

Stressed suffix

-en

adj

golden, wooden, written, frozen

Neutral

-en

verb

lessen, deafen, frighten

Neutral

-enchyma

noun

cellular tissue

mesenchyma, karyenchyma

-ence

noun

independence, violence, absence

Neutral

-ency

noun

frequency, clemency, consistency

Neutral

-ent

adj

different, excellent, independent

Neutral

-ent

noun

resident, regent, superintendent

Neutral

-eous

adj

courteous

Neutral

-er

noun

changes verb to noun (the subject of that verb, see also -or)

write, writer

Neutral

-ergy

noun

work

energy, synergy

-ern

adj

direction

western, northern

Neutral

-ery

noun

slavery, machinery, nunnery

Neutral

-ese

adj, noun

nationality, language

Chinese, Lebanese, Portuguese

Stressed suffix

-esque

adj

in the style of

Pythonesque, Romanesque, picturesque

Stressed suffix

-ess

noun

female

actress, waitress, stewardess, priestess

Neutral

-esthesis, -esthesia

noun

sensation, feeling

synesthesia, kinesthesis

Stressed suffix

-etic

adj

energetic, sympathetic, frenetic

-ette

noun

small ~

diskette, statuette, usherette

Stressed suffix

-fare

noun

how things are going / coming along

welfare, fanfare, warfare

Stressed suffix

-ful

adj

full of, having some or much

hopeful, useful

Neutral

-gate

noun

a scandal, often political (back-formed from the Watergate scandal)

Watergate, nipplegate

Neutral

-gnosis

noun

knowing

prognosis, diagnosis

Stressed suffix

-gon

noun

angle

polygon, pentagon

Neutral

-gry

noun

adjective form of only 2 or 3 nouns in the English language

angry, hungry

Neutral

-hedron

noun

seat, face

icosahedron, tetrahedron

Stressed suffix

-holic

adj

love, addiction

alcoholic, workaholic

Stressed suffix

-hood

noun

state/condition of, a group sharing characteristics

brotherhood, adulthood, falsehood

Neutral

-ia

noun

abnormal state

mania, apraxia, dementia, dysarthria

Stress on previous syllable

-iable

adj

sociable

Stress on previous syllable

-ial

adj

special, filial, remedial

Stress on previous syllable

-ian

adj

mammalian

Stress on previous syllable

-ian

adj, noun

Brazilian, Christian

Stress on previous syllable

-ian

noun

librarian, barbarian, physician

Stress on previous syllable

-iant

adj

deviant, defiant

Stress on previous syllable

-iary

adj

tertiary

Stress on previous syllable

-iate

verb

asphyxiate, deviate

Stress on previous syllable

-ible

adj

capable, can do (same as -able)

incredible, terrible, visible

-ibly

adv

incredibly, responsibly, terribly

Stress on previous syllable

-ic

adj

(adjective)

neurotic, electronic, historic

Stress on previous syllable

-ical

adj

historical, phonological, economical

Stress on previous syllable

-ics

noun

the study of

Physics,Aerodynamics,Forensics, economics

Stress on previous syllable

-id

adj

(categorical) property (aspect) of

hominid, tepid, candid, fervid (compare -al)

-iency

noun

expedieny

Stress on previous syllable

-ient

adj

salient, sentient, expedient

Stress on previous syllable

-ier

noun

cashier, financier, gondolier

Stress on previous syllable

–ify, –fy

verb

to become, make

clarify, specify, basify, vilify

Stress on previous syllable

-ile

adj

tactile, facile, volatile

Neutral

-illion

large numbers

million, billion

-ious

adj

delicious, ambitious, religious, vivacious

Stress on previous syllable

-ing

noun

noun from verb, in the process of

doing, acting

Neutral

-ing

noun

bedding, stuffing, roofing

Neutral

-ion

noun

action, companion

-ish

adj

adjective from noun; sort of; approximately

foolish, selfish, greenish, tallish

Stress on previous syllable

-ish

adj, noun

nationality, language

Spanish, Turkish, English

Stress on previous syllable

-ism

noun

doctrine, act, practice, condition

Protestantism, alcoholism, Buddhism, southernism

Neutral

-ist

noun

person

dentist, socialist, cellist

Neutral

-ista

adept

fashionista Condista

-ite

noun

member of a group

socialite, Carmelite

Neutral

-itis

noun

disease, inflammation

hepatitis, gingivitis

Stressed suffix

-itive

adj

sensitive

Neutral

-itude

noun

attitude, gratitude, Beatitude

Stress on previous syllable

-ity

noun

expressing state or condition

normality, formality, banality

Stress on previous syllable

-ium

noun

metallic element (exception: helium)

sodium, Calcium

Stress on previous syllable

-ive

adj

make the noun an adjective

defensive, aggressive, passive

Neutral

-ization/-isation

noun

organization/organisation, categorization/categorisation

Neutral

-ize/-ise

verb

to cause, to be, to become

materialize/materialise, idolize/idolise

Neutral

-izzle

used for hip hop slang

Americizzle

-kinesis

noun

movement (ability thereof)

telekinesis

-less

adj

lack of

homeless, useless, careless

Neutral

-let

noun

diminutive, or denoting a relation to some part of the body

ringlet, hamlet, anklet

Neutral

-like

adj

having the qualities of

childlike

Neutral

-ling

noun

smaller, younger, cuter or weaker version of the noun root OR sharing an identity or quality of the noun root (e.g. as a follower)

darling, duckling, earthling, sapling

Neutral

-ly

adj

-like, having the attributes of

stately, monthly

Neutral

-ly

adv

-like, having the attributes of

quickly

Neutral

-man

noun

person

fireman, statesman

Neutral

-mancy

noun

divination by

crystallomancy, bibliomancy, necromancy

Neutral

-mania

noun

an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action

kleptomania, megalomania, mythomania

Stressed suffix

-ment

noun

abstract noun

movement, amazement, government

Neutral

-meter

noun

measuring device

barometer, thermometer

-metry

noun

measure

symmetry, geometry, isometry

-mony

noun

testimony, ceremony

Neutral

-morphism

noun

form

isomorphism, homomorphism

-most

adj

utmost, innermost

Neutral

-ness

noun

abstract noun

kindness, ruthlessness, darkness

Neutral

-nik

noun

Slavic origin; corresponds to "-er"

otkaznik, beatnik

-ocracy

noun

system of government

kakistocracy, democracy, androcracy

Stressed suffix

-ogram

noun

writing, description

ideogram

Stressed suffix

-ography

noun

study of

stenography, geography, photography

Stressed suffix

-oid

adj

resembling

solenoid, hominoid

-oid

noun

resembling

planetoid

-ologist

noun

one who studies a scientific subject

archaeologist

Stressed suffix

-ology

study, science

biology, psychology, planetology

Stressed suffix

-ome

noun

subject of an "-omics"

genome

-omics

noun

study of rules

proteomics, economics

Stressed suffix

-onomy

noun

knowledge of

astronomy

Stressed suffix

-onym

noun

name, word

antonym, consonym, heteronym

-opsy

noun

examination

autopsy, biopsy

-or

noun

changes verb to noun (see also -er), person

actor, governor

Neutral

-or or -our

noun

candor, fervour, color

-ory

adj

auditory, sensory

Neutral

-ory

noun

history, repository

-ose

adj

full of, like, given to; carbohydrates, protein derivatives

verbose; globose

-osis

noun

process, action, formation, diseased condition

mitosis, osmosis, ostosis, psychosis

-ous

adj

adjectival suffix

porous, disastrous, nervous

Neutral

-phagy, -phagia

noun

eating

monophagy

-philia

noun

attraction

hemophilia

-phobia

noun

fear

acrophobia, mysophobia

-phone

noun, adj

sound, audio; speaker of a language

telephone, homophone; Anglophone

Neutral

-phyte

noun

plant, used in botany to create terms which categorise plants based on their life-history, growth-form or ecological preferences

therophyte, halophyte

-polis

noun

referring to city or big area

Metropolis, Indianapolis

-science

noun

knowing

omniscience, prescience, conscience

-scope

noun

from Greek skopos, view; instrument for viewing and observing spaces

microscope, telescope, kaleidoscope, periscope

-script

noun

written

manuscript, transcript

-ship

noun

abstract noun, state of being

friendship, relationship, dictatorship

Neutral

-sion

noun

noun that has been altered from a process

decision, illusion

Stress on previous syllable

-some

adj

tiresome, awesome, fulsome

Stress on previous syllable

-stan

noun

land, country

Afghanistan

-ster

noun

person

youngster, gangster

Neutral

-t

adj

burnt, spoilt

Neutral

-th, -eth

adj

ordinal number

tenth, millionth, twentieth

-th

noun

forming a noun

growth, health, depth, strength

-tion

noun

noun that has been altered from a process

evaporation, introduction

Stress on previous syllable

-tom, -tome

noun

part or segment

dermatome

-tropism

noun

to turn

phototropism

-ty

noun

certainty, loyalty

Neutral

-uary

noun

sanctuary, mortuary

-ulent

adj

turbulent, fraudulent

-uous

adj

tempestuous, unctuous, sensuous

Neutral

-ure

noun

failure, exposure, temperature

Neutral

-us

noun

inflammation

ulcus

-ville

noun

city, town from French

Nashville

-vore, -vorous

noun / adj

to devour

carnivore, herbivore

-ward or -wards

adj, adv

direction

southward, inward, upward

Neutral

-ware

noun

software

hardware, software, freeware

-ways

adj

sideways, longways

Neutral

-wise

adj

direction

clockwise, lengthwise

Neutral

-wright

noun

person who makes

playwright, wheelwright, shipwright

-y

adj

having the quality of, inclined to

runny, messy, chewy

Neutral