🧩 What Are Prefixes and Suffixes?
3rd Grade ✏️ Language Arts
A prefix is added to the start of a word and a suffix to the end. Both change the word’s meaning.
Word parts
Many English words are built from a base word plus extra parts. In "unhappy," "un-" is a prefix. In "helpful," "-ful" is a suffix.
Common prefixes
un- and dis- mean "not" (unkind, dislike). re- means "again" (redo). pre- means "before" (preview).
Common suffixes
-ful means "full of" (joyful). -less means "without" (fearless). -er can mean "a person who" (teacher). -ly often makes an adverb (quickly).
A reading superpower
If you know the parts, you can figure out new words. "Rewritable" = re (again) + write + able (can be) = can be written again!
Quick quiz
What does the prefix re- mean?
Which word has a suffix that means "without"?
In "disagree," what is the prefix?