Prefixes and Suffixes: Build Your Vocabulary Fast
July 26, 2026 · Sourov · 1 min read
⏱ 5 Minutes · B1/B2
📖 From Experience
When I was working towards French C1, I noticed I could guess words I’d never seen by breaking them apart. The same works in English. If you know that un- means ‘not’ and -able means ‘can be done’, then unacceptable is not a new word — it is a formula.
📚 Key Prefixes
| Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| un- | not / reverse | unhappy, undo, unusual |
| dis- | not / opposite | disagree, dishonest, disappear |
| re- | again | rewrite, rebuild, reconsider |
| over- | too much | overwork, overconfident, overdue |
| under- | too little | underestimate, underperform, underpaid |
| mis- | wrongly | misunderstand, misspell, mislead |
📚 Key Suffixes
| Suffix | Forms | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -able / -ible | adjective (can be done) | readable, understandable, visible |
| -ness | noun (state of) | happiness, darkness, kindness |
| -ment | noun (result/process) | development, achievement, improvement |
| -ful / -less | adjective (with / without) | careful / careless; hopeful / hopeless |
✏️ Your Turn
Guess the meaning, then check:
- What does ‘misjudge’ mean?
- What does ‘overdue’ mean?
- Turn ‘rely’ into an adjective meaning ‘can be relied on’.
💡 Check Answers
- misjudge = to judge wrongly / make an incorrect judgement
- overdue = should have happened before now; past the deadline
- reliable (rely → reliable) — the -able suffix, with a slight spelling change
Independent project — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.
Leave a Reply