Learn English Prefix 10: "as-"

Meaning: The basic meaning of "as-" is "to" or "in that direction". It is sometimes similar to "on".

Pronunciation: The "a" in "as" is pronounced like the "u" in "cup".

Example 1: To "ascend" means "to go up". So we could say, "It took them three days to ascend the mountain".

Example 2: To "aspire" means to try to reach a goal. "She went to Hollywood because she aspired to be an actress".

Example 3: When we "assert" something, we say it very strongly. The noun form is "assertion". So, we can say, "He made the assertion with complete confidence, but some people still did not believe him".

Other words: 
assure - tell others that you are sure, that everything is okay 
assault - to attack (throw yourself AT someone or something) 
assemble - go to the same place OR put many pieces together to make one thing 
assign - to give to somebody, or to give a name to something 
assist - to give help 
astound - to surprise

Learn English Prefix 9: "a-"

Meaning: The basic meaning of "a" is simply "on".

Pronunciation: "A-" is always pronounced like the "u" in "cup".

Example 1: To be "atop" means "on top" or "on top of". So we can be "atop a mountain". This word is quite formal, so we may only see it in writing.

Example 2: To go "aboard" means to "get on" a ship, boat or airplane. "I said goodbye to my family, then it was time to go aboard the airplane".

Example 3: The word "awash" means to have a lot of something all around you, as if you are washing yourself in water. "After he won the lottery, he was awash in both money and in new friends". (So the money seemed to be all around him, and so were all the people who wanted to be his friend!)

Other useful words: 
ashore - to get off a ship 
abroad - to go across the ocean and go to another country 
aloft - up in the air 
ablaze - on fire 
accost - to approach a person in a rude way 
amid - in the middle of 
anew - try again, or do something in a new way 
arise - to get up 
await - to wait for something that will surely happen 

Learn English Prefix 8: "pre-" or "pro-"

Meaning: These two prefixes mean "before" or "forward".

Pronunciation: "Pre-" is usually pronounced with a long "e" as in "see". "Pro-" can be pronounced with a long "o" as in "no" or "slow", but sometimes it is pronounced "a" as in "father". (For example, in the noun "progress".)

Example 1: Of course, a "prefix" is part of word added before another word! "We can make many new words by adding prefixes at the beginning."

Example 2: When we do something before an event so that bad things won't happen, we call it a "precaution". So we can say, "Keeping extra food and water at home is a precaution in case we have a terrible storm this winter".

Example 3: The word "proceed" means "to move forward". "If we finish step one of our project, we can then proceed to step two".

Other useful words: 
to precede - when something happens before another event 
a precedent - an example from before, often used in law 
predict - to guess what will happen in advance 
preexist - to be alive before something else 
progress (noun - pronounced PROgress) - good changes that have been made 
to progress (verb - pronounced proGRESS) - to make good changes 
probable - much more than "maybe" 
to probe - try to find out 
to process (pronounced PROcess) - to change something or make it ready for something 
to proclaim - to say something out loud 
a proclamation - something important that is said out loud 
to procure - to get or to buy 
to profess - to say loudly or openly

Learn English Prefix 7: "Semi-", "Demi-" or "Hemi-"

Meaning: These three prefixes all mean "half".

Pronunciation: "Semi" is either pronounced as "semee" or as "sem-I" while "demi" is normally pronounced as "demee" and "hemi" is pronounced with a short "i" as in "middle".

Example 1: A "semicircle" is half of a circle. "We sat in a semicircle as we listened to the teacher talk".

Example 2: A "demigod" is someone who is so famous or so loved that he or she is almost like a god (or half a god!).

Example 3: The Earth can be divided into two "hemispheres", the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. "Our brain has two hemispheres, the left being very logical and the right being more creative".

Other useful words: 
semiannual - something that happens every six months 
semisweet - used to describe bitter chocolate 
a semester - half of a year at a university 
a semicolon - a dot over a comma ;

Learn English Prefix 6: "un-" or "uni-"

Meaning: Both "un-" and "uni-" mean "one".

Pronunciation: The "u" in both "un-" and "uni-" is pronounced like the word "you" (just like the letter "U"!).

Example 1: A "unique" person or thing is one that is different from any other in the world. "I really like our teacher, Joe. I think he is truly unique!".

Example 2: A "unit" of a book, especially of a textbook, is one part of that book. "Please open your books to unit 3".

Example 3: A "university" is a place where we can learn all of the knowledge of the world in one place.

Other useful words: 
unity or united - all together as one 
a unicycle - like a bicycle but with only one wheel 
universe - the whole of space, including every planet and star 
unilateral - when one country acts without the cooperation of any other country 
unanimous - when all people agree as one group 
uniform (adj.) - when everything is done in the same way 
uniform (noun) - when everyone wears the same clothes

Learn English Prefix 5: "mono-"

Meaning: The basic meaning of "mono" is "one" or "single".

Pronunciation: The first "o" in "mono" is pronounced like "a" in "father". The second "o" can be pronounced the same way, but can also be pronounced with a long "o" sound as in "no" or "slow".

Example 1: A "monopoly" is when one company controls a whole market and has no competition. Many people complain that Microsoft has a near-monopoly on computer software.

Example 2: "Monotony" (a noun) or "monotonous" (an adjective) describes a feeling you have when something is not interesting at all. "That movie was so monotonous!" or "I can't live with the monotony of a typical office job".

Example 3: "Monotheism" describes a religion with one god. "Christianity, Islam, and Judaeism are all monotheistic religions".

Other useful words: 
monorail - a train on just one track 
monologue - just one person talking (as on TV) 
monochrome - something that has just one color 
monosyllabic - describing words with just one syllable 
monogram - a single letter, often on a suitcase or piece of clothing 
monogamy - having only one wife or husband 
monarch - a king (only one leader) 

Learn English Prefix 4: "tri-"

Meaning: "Tri-" means "three".

Pronunciation: As with "bi-" (prefix 2) and "di-" (prefix 3), the prefix "tri-" can be pronounced in two different ways, either as "try" or with a short "i" as in "trip".

Example 1: A "tricycle" (pronounced "try") has three wheels, two in the back and one in the front, so it is easy for children to ride.

Example 2: "Triple" (pronounced like "trip", with a short "i") means that you have three times as much as something that is "single".

Example 3: A "triangle" (pronounced like "try") is a shape that has three sides.

Other useful words: 
triplets - when a mother has three babies at one time 
tripod - a three-legged stand for a camera 
triangular - descibing something in the shape of a triangle 
triathlon - a sports event with running, swimming and bicycling 
trio - a group of three people

Learn English Prefix 3: "di -" or "du-"

Meaning: "Du-" and "di-" have the same meaning as "bi-" and "bin-" in the last lesson. Both mean "two".
Pronunciation: "Du-" is always pronounced like the English word "do" while "di-" is usually pronounced "die".
Example 1: A "duo" is a team made of just two people.
Example 2: To "duplicate" something means to copy it, in other words, to make a second one.
Example 3: The chemical word "dioxide" describes an element that includes two oxygen atoms.


Other useful words:
duplicity - lying (saying one thing, but meaning a second thing)
a duel - a fight between two men
duet - two people singing together
dialogue - a talk between two people
dissect - to cut something into two parts, to cut something open
diverge - when a road goes off in two different directions
(but NOT "diary" which has the root "dia" meaning "day".)

Learn English Prefix 2: "Bi-" or "Bin-"

Meaning: Both "bi-" and "bin-" mean "two".

Pronunciation: "Bi-" is often pronounced the same as "bye" but the "i" sound is sometimes pronounced as the "i" in "bit" or "sit". "Bin-" can also be pronounced both ways but is usually pronounced as in "bit" or "sit".

Example 1: A "bicycle" has two wheels.

Example 2: A person who is "bilingual" can speak two languages fluently.

Example 3: "Binoculars" are a set of two "glasses" that we use to see things that are far away.

Example 4: Computers use a "binary" system, with just two numbers, "zero" and "one", expressing every other possible number and letter.

Other useful words:

bifocals - glasses with two lenses

bigamy - describes a man with two wives

biannually - two times a year

biped - describes animals that walk on two feet (humans, for example)

binomial - a mathematical equation with two parts

(but NOT "biology" which is based on the root "bio" or "life".)

Learn English Prefix 1: "Anti-" or "Ant-"

Meaning: The basic meaning of "anti" is "against". Be careful - in other languages, "anti" still keeps its original meaning, "before", but not in English!

Pronunciation: Some people pronounce "anti" as "ant - I" but others pronounce it as "ant - ee". The second pronunciation is more common in North America, but both are acceptable.

Example 1: "antisocial" describes a person who is not friendly. "He has been very antisocial since his wife died two years ago".

Example 2: "antislavery" describes the efforts of people to fight against using other humans as slaves. "The antislavery movement was an effort by many people to end slavery in the 19th century".

Example 3: "antiwar" means to be against a war or against all wars. "Antiwar protesters went to Washington to persuade the President to stop sending soldiers abroad".

Other useful words:

antibacterial - kills bacteria

antispam software - stops junk email

antonym - an opposite word

antibiotic - a kind of medicine

antifreeze - stops car engines from freezing in winter

antibody - something that fights disease in the human body

The Most Common English Word Beginnings (prefixes)

Learn English Prefix 1: "anti-"
Learn English Prefix 2: "bi-" / "bin-"
Learn English Prefix 3: "di-" / "du-"
Learn English Prefix 4: "tri-"
Learn English Prefix 5: "mono-"
Learn English Prefix 6: "un-" / "uni-"
Learn English Prefix 7: "deim-" / "semi-" / "hemi-"
Learn English Prefix 8: "pre-" / "pro-"
Learn English Prefix 9: "a-"
Learn English Prefix 10: "as-"