Word building

English

Definition

Word building is the process of creating new words by combining prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Understanding how word parts combine allows students to decode unfamiliar words and expand their vocabulary exponentially by learning patterns rather than memorizing individual words.

Examples

  • 'Un-' + 'believe' + '-able' = 'unbelievable' (not able to be believed)
  • 'Bio-' (life) + '-logy' (study of) = 'biology'; add '-ist' = 'biologist'
  • 'Tele-' (far) + 'scope' (see) = 'telescope'; 'tele-' + 'phone' (sound) = 'telephone'
Key Fact

Learning just 20 common prefixes and 20 common roots can help unlock the meanings of thousands of English words.

Related Terms

Common prefixes Common suffixes Common latin roots Common greek roots

Study This Concept

Practice word building with free review games in these units:

Vocabulary Unit 3: Prefixes and Suffixes