Same Reading › Word study and vocabulary › Prefixes and suffixes
How do kids learn prefixes and suffixes now?
A prefix goes at the start of a word and a suffix at the end, and each adds meaning: un + happy = unhappy (not happy), help + ful = helpful (full of help). Many classes write these as word sums, so kids see the parts that build a word.
- Prefix: a part at the start, like un- (not) or re- (again).
- Base word: the main meaning.
- Suffix: a part at the end, like -ful, -less or -ly.
Why schools teach it
One prefix unlocks dozens of words
Third graders learn the most common prefixes and suffixes (RF.3.3a) and use them to work out new words (L.3.4b). A child who knows re- means again can read and understand reread, rewrite, refill and replay.
This is often called morphology: the study of meaningful word parts. It's a big part of how kids build vocabulary from third grade on.
At the kitchen table
What to say, and what to skip
Say this
What's the base word? What's been added?
What does un- mean? So what does unlock mean?
Can you build another word with re-?
Write it as a word sum.
un + fair = unfair
Skip this
- Memorizing word lists without the parts.The parts are what transfer to new words.
- Assuming every un or re is a prefix.Uncle and read aren't un- or re- words.
Just look it up.
Try the parts first; then check.
See it in action
Figuring out “careless”
Find the base word
careFind the suffix and its meaning
-less means withoutPut them together
careless: without care
Some suffixes change the word's job: quick becomes quickly, which tells how something is done.
Free practice sheet
Make a word sums sheet
Loading practice sheet…
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Parents also ask
Which prefixes come first?
Usually un-, re-, dis-, pre- and mis-. They're the most common in children's books.
Which suffixes come first?
-ful, -less, -ly, -er and -ness, after the early endings -s, -ed and -ing.
What's a word sum?
A way of writing a word as its parts: re + play = replay. It makes the structure visible.
Does the spelling ever change?
Sometimes: happy + ness = happiness, where y changes to i. Kids learn those changes as patterns.