HyphenateIt
Learning Guide

Morphology Patterns

Understand how English (US) words are built from prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Learn the meaning of common word parts and expand your vocabulary.

1415 prefixes|4978 roots|2599 suffixes

Prefixes

Word parts added before the root

-quasi-421

Latin origin, meaning 'as if, somewhat'. Functions as an intensifier.

-self371

Old English reflexive pronoun, functions as a prefix.

-pseudo-205

Greek origin, meaning 'false' or 'not genuine', negation.

-semi-176

Latin origin, meaning 'half' or 'partly', degree modifier.

-in-147

Old English, negating prefix meaning 'not'.

-pre-144

Latin origin, meaning 'before', indicates anticipation or prior occurrence

Showing 12 of 50 patterns

Roots

Core meaning-bearing word parts

intellect39

Latin *intellectus*, faculty of reasoning.

nation34

Latin origin (*natio*), meaning 'birth, race, people'.

mind34

Germanic origin, meaning 'intellect'

heart34

Old English *heorte*, denoting the organ and figuratively, courage

photo-33

Greek origin (phos), relating to light.

comprehend29

Latin origin, meaning 'to grasp entirely'.

therap-29

Greek origin, from 'therapeia' meaning 'healing'

proportion26

Latin origin, comparative relation

physio-25

Greek origin, combining form meaning 'nature, physiology'

struct25

Latin *struere* - to build, pile up.

Showing 12 of 50 patterns

Suffixes

Word parts added after the root

-ed-283

Germanic origin, past tense/participle marker.

-ness-241

Old English origin; nominalizing suffix.

-ing-171

Old English '-ing'. Forms a present participle/gerund.

-ation-163

Latin origin, forms a noun from a verb, functions as a suffix.

ing-154

Old English *-ing* - gerundive/present participle suffix

-ical-143

Latin *-icus* - relating to, characterized by

-ally-128

English suffix, derived from Latin '-alis', forming adverbs.

-ization-128

English suffix (via French and Latin), forming a noun denoting an action or process.

Showing 12 of 50 patterns