What is a prefix? Do not be embarrassed by this foreign word - this is just a prefix with which, for example, in English and some other languages you can change the meaning of a word. Our article discusses this topic in detail, gives examples of use, as well as a table and translation of the most commonly used consoles, but not all of them - there are a great many of them in English. Having studied the topic "Prefix", the function of which, as we have already found out, is nothing more than word formation, you will replenish your knowledge and enrich your vocabulary. Some prefixes are of native English origin, for example a-, mis-, fore-, mid-, and some are Latin, here are some of them anti-, contra-, (by the way, these prefixes can also be found in Russian), dis- . See below for more details.
Prefixes in English
When we have already figured out what meaning prefixes have
in English (word formation), let's look at examples of their use:
we take the verb to agree - to agree, applying the complement dis- to it at the beginning of the word, we get (to) disagree - to disagree, to disagree;
or, for example, the adjective regular is ordinary, but with the prefix ir- we get irregular - unusual, atypical. You see, knowing what a prefix is and its meaning, you can completely change and make from it a completely opposite word in meaning.
Table of prefixes that are used most often| Name of prefix | Value | Translation Examples |
| pro- | opposing anything opposing anything | pro-life (anti-abortion) |
| anti- | false, opposite, comparable to anything | anti-hero (negative character, for example, in a movie); antichrist (antichrist) |
| contra - | opposite with anything | contraflow (oncoming traffic), contraception (contraception) |
| counter- | also applies in the sense of contrasting something with something | counter-example (opposite example, different from what the opponent offers), counterattack - counterattack (that is, a reflection of the enemy’s attack) |
| a- | often applied to not | amoral (immoral, that is, NOT observing accepted moral principles), apolitical (apolitical, that is, outside politics) |
| dis- | not accepting anything | distrust (distrust), disagree (disagreement); that's why it is important to know what a prefix is - it completely changes the meaning of the original word |
| in- / im- | also meaning "not" | illegal (illegal), impossible (impossible), incapable (incapable) |
| non- / un- | "not" | non-event (non-significant event); unfair (unfair) |
| extra - | used in the meaning of "over" | extrasensory (extrasensory), extraordinary (emergency) |
| in- | “in anything”, “anywhere” | indoors (indoors, inside the house), ingathering - harvesting |
| im- / il- / ir | all three prefixes are between | immirate (immigrate, i.e. move between countries), import (import) |
| mid- | "average" | midfield (center of the football field), midway (half way) |
| out- | out, out | outlook (forecast), outnumber (numerical superiority) |
| under- | used to mean failure of something | underpay (underpayment), underwork (insufficient use, for example, of any resource) |
| un- | prefix expresses the opposite of any action or condition | unknown (unknown), uncomfortable (uncomfortable), unpack (unpack things) |
| pre- | "to anything" | prepay (prepayment), preview (preview) |
When learning English, you absolutely need to remember
what a prefix is, its meaning and use in practice. It is found quite often in both ordinary and everyday speech, in fiction and special literature, so at first keep the table in front of your eyes, practice using it, and your speech, as well as your vocabulary, will be greatly enriched. This is a fairly simple topic; usually, students successfully mastering it takes only a couple of hours.