Grammar and word types

Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes

Learning a handful of common prefixes, suffixes, and roots can unlock the meaning of hundreds of English words. This list uses everyday example words to show how pieces like dis-, de-, in-, im-, sub-, and a few Greek and Latin roots work.

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Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes

Word	Meaning	In a sentence
disagreeverb	To hold a different opinion from someone else, or to fail to match or be consistent with something.	The two economists disagreed sharply about whether the new tax would help or hurt small businesses.
dishonestadjective	Not truthful or fair; inclined to lie, cheat, or deceive.	The dishonest salesman hid the car's accident history from every potential buyer.
distrustnoun	A lack of trust or confidence in someone or something, often based on suspicion.	Years of broken promises created deep distrust between the two neighboring countries.
disordernoun	A state of confusion or lack of organization, or a disturbance affecting health or behavior.	Papers were scattered across the desk in complete disorder after the storm blew through the office.
decodeverb	To convert a coded or unclear message into a form that can be understood.	The analyst worked for hours to decode the encrypted message intercepted from the enemy.
defrostverb	To remove ice or frost from something, or to thaw something that has been frozen.	She took the chicken out early to defrost it before starting dinner.
devalueverb	To reduce the worth, importance, or price of something.	The central bank devalued the currency to make the country's exports cheaper abroad.
decomposeverb	To break down gradually into simpler substances through natural biological or chemical processes.	Fallen leaves decompose slowly over the winter, enriching the soil with nutrients.
inactiveadjective	Not currently active, functioning, or engaged in physical or other activity.	The old factory has been inactive for years, its machines silent and rusting.
incompleteadjective	Lacking one or more necessary parts; not finished or whole.	The teacher returned the essay because its final section was incomplete.
indirectadjective	Not following the most direct path, and instead going by a roundabout or less obvious route.	They took an indirect route through the mountains to avoid the closed highway.
invisibleadjective	Not able to be seen, whether because it is hidden, transparent, or too small to detect.	The scientist studied invisible gases that had no smell or color at all.
impossibleadjective	Not able to happen, exist, or be done under any circumstances.	It seemed impossible to finish the report before the deadline that afternoon.
impatientadjective	Unable or unwilling to wait calmly for something; easily annoyed by delays.	The impatient customers complained loudly about the long line at checkout.
imperfectadjective	Having faults, flaws, or defects; not entirely complete or perfect.	The bakery sells imperfect loaves at a discount even though they taste fine.
immatureadjective	Not fully developed physically or emotionally, or behaving in a childish way inappropriate for one's age.	The manager scolded him for making immature jokes during the client meeting.
submarinenoun	A watercraft capable of operating underwater, used for military, scientific, or exploration purposes.	The submarine descended slowly to study creatures living near the ocean floor.
subwaynoun	An underground railway system used for public transportation in a city.	She takes the subway to work every morning to avoid traffic.
substandardadjective	Below the usual or acceptable quality or standard.	The inspector condemned the building because of substandard wiring throughout.
submergeverb	To put or go completely under the surface of water or another liquid.	The divers submerged themselves to explore the sunken ship near the reef.
hopefuladjective	Feeling or expressing optimism that something desired will happen.	We remain hopeful that the surgery will fully restore her mobility.
carelessadjective	Not giving enough attention or thought to what one is doing, resulting in mistakes or harm.	A careless mistake in the calculations caused the bridge design to fail inspection.
happinessnoun	A state of well-being marked by contentment, joy, or satisfaction with one's life.	True happiness for her came from spending quiet evenings with close friends.
creationnoun	The act of making or bringing something new into existence.	The creation of the new park took nearly two years of planning and construction.
telephonenoun	A device used to transmit and receive spoken conversation over long distances.	She picked up the telephone as soon as it began to ring.
transportverb	To carry or move people or goods from one place to another.	Trucks transport fresh produce from the farms to markets across the region.
portableadjective	Designed to be easily carried or moved from one place to another.	She bought a small, portable speaker so she could take music to the beach.
audibleadjective	Loud enough or clear enough to be heard.	His whisper was barely audible over the noise of the crowded café.
visibleadjective	Able to be seen, or clearly apparent and noticeable.	The mountain peak was visible from miles away on the clear day.
dictionarynoun	A reference book or resource that lists words alphabetically with their meanings and pronunciations.	He looked up the unfamiliar word in a dictionary before finishing his essay.

Common prefixes: dis-, de-, in-, im-, and sub-

These five prefixes are some of the most common in English. Dis- and de- both suggest reversal or removal, as in disagree and decode. In- and im- usually mean not, as in incomplete and impossible; im- appears before words starting with m, p, or b, like impatient. Sub- means under or below, seen in submarine and subway. Spotting these prefixes helps readers guess the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Greek and Latin roots to know

Many English words trace back to Greek and Latin roots. Tele, meaning far, and phone, meaning sound, combine to form telephone; port, meaning carry, appears in transport and portable; aud, meaning hear, gives audible; and vis, meaning see, gives visible. Learning roots like these lets students unlock the meaning of many related words instead of memorizing each one separately.

Common suffixes

Suffixes attach to the end of a word and often change its part of speech. The suffix -ful means full of, as in hopeful; -less means without, as in careless; -ness turns an adjective into a noun, as in happiness; and -tion turns a verb into a noun, as in creation. Recognizing common suffixes helps with both spelling and grammar.

Frequently asked questions

What does the prefix dis- mean?

Dis- usually means not or the opposite of, as in disagree, meaning not agree, and distrust, meaning not trust.

What are some im- prefix words?

Examples include impossible, impatient, imperfect, and immature; im- is used instead of in- before words starting with m, p, or b.

What are some sub- prefix words?

Examples include submarine, subway, submerge, and substandard, all built on the meaning under or below.