How to use prefixes correctly in Spanish? The 5 most common prefixes

Very good! Today we are going to talk about a very interesting topic in Spanish grammar: the prefixes.

If we understand how to use prefixes well, we will be able to unravel the meaning of words in a simpler and clearer way.

Today we are going to teach you what prefixes are and what they are for. We will also show you a list of 15 prefixes and talk in detail about the 5 prefixes which are used the most in Spanish.

Would you like to know them all? Well come to Hispania, Spanish school!

In our spanish courses You will achieve the most pro level of Spanish and you will be able to speak the language both in Spain and in America. 

Almost five hundred million people They are native Spanish speakers all over the world. 

Imagine the opportunities you can have if you are able to communicate with so many people in more than 21 countries.

Spanish is one of the languages ​​of the present and the future, so let's learn it.

Let's start with the prefixes!

What is a prefix?

¿What are prefixes? Prefixes are small words that are added at the beginning of others to modify its meaning or to create a new verb, noun or adjective.

There are many prefixes, and each one provides a different meaning. 

There are also the suffixes, which are placed at the end of the word, but we leave this for another article. 😉

Both prefixes and suffixes are used to form words: nouns, verbs and adjectives. 

Today we focus on the prefixes. Do you want to know what the prefixes are in the Spanish language? Well, keep reading!

How many prefixes are there in Spanish?

There are many types of Spanish prefixes and it is difficult to determine the exact amount, since the language evolves and adapts over time, incorporating new terms and forms.

Here you have a list of 15 prefixes and their meanings with an example in each. We use these 15 a lot. Pay attention! 

• Anti-

Meaning: Against, opposite to.

Example: Antivirus (opposite of viruses).

• Bi-

Meaning: Two, double.

Example: Bilingual (speaking two languages).

• Contra-

Meaning: Contrary to, opposite to.

Example: Counteract (oppose something to balance).

• Dis-

Meaning: Denial or inversion.

Example: Undo (delete or unmount).

• Extra-

Meaning: Out of the ordinary, beyond.

Example: Extraordinary (out of the ordinary).

• Ex-

Meaning: Something previous that does not remain in the present.

Example: Ex-boyfriend (former boyfriend).

• In-

Meaning: Denial or lack of.

Example: Inactive (no activity).

• Inter-

Meaning: Between, in the middle of.

Example: Interconnect (connect with each other).

• Micro-

Meaning: Small.

Example: Microscope (instrument for viewing small objects).

• Monkey-

Meaning: One, alone.

Example: Monochrome (single color).

• Multi-

Meaning: Many, multiple.

Example: Multicultural (involving many cultures).

• Post-

Meaning: After.

Example: Post-vacation (after vacation).

• Pre-

Meaning: Before.

Example: Foresight (preparation in advance of something that is going to happen).

• Re-

Meaning: Repetition, again.

Example: Redo (do again).

• Super-

Meaning: superlative, very high quantity of something or a quality. 

Example: Overpopulation (excessive population).

These are only 15 examples of prefixes in Spain, but there are many more.

Keys to use prefixes well

First of all, let's explain some general prefix keys so you understand how they work.

Let's go there!

United to the word

Prefixes are usually written united to the word and without a script.

Examples:

• supermarket, ex-boyfriend, remake, anti-system, overrate, predict, timeless, etc.

Therefore, These words would be misspelled if they were hyphenated or separated..

When to use the script?

There is only two cases when the prefix has a hyphen: if the accompanying word begins in capital letter (i.e., it is a proper noun) or if it is a number.

Examples:

• Pro-Gandhi, Under-21, super-8, etc.

When are they separated?

Prefixes can also be separated only in one situation, when they accompany groups of words that behave as a unit.

Examples: 

• Former prime minister, anti-gender violence, pro-human rights, deputy secretary of justice, etc.

This rule also applies to proper nouns that have more than one word:

• Pro Hispania, Spanish school (😁), pro United Nations, etc.

They do not have an accent

This rule is easy: prefixes generally they do not have an accent.

Although there are some exceptions, such as polyglot (who speaks many languages). 

Every rule has its exceptions!

They can be combined

Prefixes can be combined. They can be put two prefixes next to the word. They are also written together.

• Former vice president, anti-protaurine, anti-vaccine, etc.

You can even repeat the same prefix twice:

• Super super cute, anti anti system, super super thin, etc.

If the prefixes go with several words, as we have explained before, they will be written separately: Former first vice secretary of defense.

with monosyllables 

Monosyllabic words are those that only they have one syllable: sea, bread, salt, train, etc.

These words do not have an accent. They only have when there are two words that are spelled the same, one of them has the diacritical accent: your/you, my/me, you/tea, etc.

What happens when we prefix a monosyllabic word?

In this case, these words stop being monosyllable and become acute. 

Therefore, following the accentuation rules, if they end in a vowel, -n or -s, they will have an accent.

• Megaplan, superego, antigas, foresee, etc.

The 5 most common prefixes

Now let's talk in more detail about the 5 prefixes that are most used in Spanish. 

We will see their meaning, situations in which they are used, many examples of words with these prefixes and some curiosities.

Don't leave the screen, things are about to get interesting!

Ex-

The words with the prefix ex- express that someone or something has ceased to be what it was in the past. They are always nouns:

Ex-husband, ex-girlfriend, ex-employee, ex-employee, ex-boss, ex-prime minister, etc.

• my former boss It was horrible. Now I'm my own boss and I'm much better off.

This prefix is also used a lot with professions of the past that we no longer exercise: 

Former salesperson, former caregiver, former delivery person, former dancer, etc.

• Did you know that Brad Pitt is former delivery man of refrigerators? This was a long time ago, before I was an actor.

Furthermore, the prefix ex can be used as a proper term to refer to a former boyfriend or spouse.

my ex He's an idiot, but I miss him.

Super-

The prefix super-  It is mainly used to indicate superiority, excess or something that is above normal. It goes together with nouns or adjectives.

Supergood, superpretty, superhero, supermarket, supergreat, supernatural, supervision, superstar, superidea, supergood, etc.

• my superhero Favorite is Batman.
• Marc Anthony is a superstar.

There is a lot of confusion with this prefix. In many media you can see it written separately from the word. This is incorrect. 

Remember that all prefixes are only written separately when they go with a group of words that are considered as a unit:

Super fashionable, super comfortable, etc.

• I am super comfortable with you.

It is also common to see it writtenwith accent. This can only be done when it is used as a noun equivalent to supermarket or a type of gasoline:

• I go to super to buy, I have an empty refrigerator.
• The super It's cheaper at this gas station.

It can also be used as a adjective or adverb which means that something is very good. In these cases it also has an accent:

• Your plan seems to me super.

Anti-

The prefix anti- means displeasure or opposition to something, someone or some quality. It can go with nouns and adjectives.

Antibiotic, antibody, anti-liberal, anti-vaccine, anti-social, unnatural, etc.

• This food has a flavor unnatural. You can tell that it is ultra-processed.
• Take the antibiotic to cure that cold.

As with the prefix super-, it is very common to see these prefixes written with hyphens in the news and social networks.

This is incorrect, they must always go next to the word without a hyphen except if they go with proper nouns in capital letters:

Anti-OT, anti-García, etc.

This prefix has a couple of considerations What you should know:

If the word that accompanies anti- start with r, you have to duplicate it to maintain the sound: 

Anti-theft, anti-rebel, anti-mouse, etc.

• They have installed an alarm anti-theft in the office.

The second consideration is that, if the word that goes with anti- starts with the vowel i, The usual thing is to put only one i, instead of two: 

Anti-instrumental, anti-fire, anti-inflammatory, etc.

• Take this anti-inflammatoryto relieve pain.

Pre-

The prefix pre- means prior to something. It can go with nouns, adjectives and verbs.

Yes, there are many verbs with prefixes.

Prevention, predict, pre-crisis, pre-marital, preschool, pre-university, presuppose, etc.

• stop trying predict the future and focus on the present.
• Before we get married, let's make an agreement premarital.

Re-

The prefix re- serves to express repetition of actions, nouns or adjectives:

Reorganize, repeat offender, reguapo, rewrite, regood, reorder, redo, etc.

• This text is full of spelling mistakes. you have to rewrite again.

In adjectives, this prefix has a superlative meaning, like the adverb very:

• This girl is relinda. (It means she is very pretty).

We practice

After this list of prefixes, now you know how to use prefixes and which are the most important. Congratulations!

Plus, you're learning a lot of new vocabulary of words with prefixes, what's cool?

To finish, we are not going to leave here without proposing an exercise and for you to practice a little this vocabulary that we have seen.

It's very simple, you simply have to match the correct word with the corresponding phrase.

Well it's done! You can now go to bed saying that you have learned something new and very interesting about Spanish grammar.

Would you like to delve deeper into the world of prefixes and word formation in Spanish? 

Then come to our classes at Hispania, Spanish school and you will learn to speak the language like a true native.

Do you have any questions about prefixes in Spanish? Would you add any more to the list that you consider important? 

Write your comment and together we will provide knowledge.

See you later!

Article written by Carlos Martinez for Hispania, Spanish school.

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