Root Words, Suffixes, and Prefixes

One method of understanding the meanings of new words is to analyze the different parts of the word and the meanings of those parts. Many new words are formed by adding an affix (a prefix or a suffix) to the beginning or end of a Latin or Greek root or root word. 

Prefixes are added to the beginning of root words; suffixes are added to the end of root words. Prefixes and suffixes are word parts that carry meaning. For example, the prefix un- means means “not” or “the opposite of” as in the word unusual, and the suffix -est means “the most” as in the word smartest. 

Common prefixes

Download a copy of the common prefixes chart.

Flash card demo: prefixes

Flash cards are an important part of a structured literacy lesson. You can use them to review previously-taught phonics patterns and to introduce new skills. Literacy coach Ashlea Edwards demonstrates how to use prefix flash cards effectively. She starts by detailing the important parts of the prefix flash card and then runs through a deck that includes the prefixes ‘un-’, ‘re-’, ‘mis-’, ‘pre-’, ‘sub-’, and ‘non-’. From our sister site, Reading Universe.

Common suffixes

Download a copy of the common suffixes chart.

Warming up with suffixes

Watch second-grade teacher Khadija Williams lead students in a flash card routine for suffixes. For each suffix, Ms. Williams spells it, says it, defines it, and gives examples. And her students echo her. Once her students have routines like this down pat, they can focus on learning new content — suffixes like ‘-ing’ (happening now) and ‘-ed’ (in the past) — instead of trying to follow along with a different process every day. From our sister site, Reading Universe.