Building Your Spanish Vocabulary Prefixes

The easiest way to expand your vocabulary in Spanish is to find other uses for those Spanish words you already know. Thats done in Spanish the same way it is in English — by using prefixes, suffixes, and compound words. You can learn about suffixes (word endings) and compound words (words that are made up of two or more words) in other lessons. For now well concern ourselves with prefixes, those (usually) short additions we put on the beginning of words. Learning Spanish prefixes is particularly easy for those of us who speak English, because nearly all the common prefixes are the same in both languages. We get most of our prefixes from Greek and Latin, and those were carried over into Spanish as well. There arent any real secrets to learning prefixes. Just remember that if you think you know what a prefix means youre probably right. Here are some of the most common ones, along with examples: ante- (before): antemano (beforehand), anteayer (day before yesterday), antebrazo (forearm), anteponer (to put something before something else)anti- (against): anticuerpo (antibody), antimateria (antimatter), anticoncepcià ³n (contraception)auto- (self): autodisciplina (self-discipline), autogestià ³n (self-management), automà ³vil (automobile)bi-, bis-, biz- (two): bicicleta (bicycle), bilingà ¼e (bilingual), bisemenal (twice a week)cent- (hundred): centà ­metro (centimeter), centenar (group of 100)contra- (against): contraataque (counterattack), contrapeso (counterweight), ir contrareloj (to work against the clock)con-  or com- (with): convivir (to live together), conjuntar (to coordinate), complot (conspiracy)des- (undo, diminish): desplegar (to unfold), desdecirse (to go back on ones word), descubrir (to discover or uncover)entre-, (between, among): entremeter (to place among), entrecruzar (to interweave), entreabierto (half-open)ex- (former, outside): excombatiente (mili tary veteran), exportar (to export), exprimiar (to squeeze or squeeze out)homo- (same): homà ³nimo (homonym), homà ³logo (equivalent), homogeneizar (to homogenize)im-, in- (opposite): incapaz (incapable), inaudible (inaudible), inconformista (nonconformist)inter- (between, among): interaccià ³n (interaction), interrumpir (to interrupt), interponer (to interpose)mal- (bad): maltratar (to abuse or mistreat), malpensado (malicious), malvivir (to live badly)mono- (one): monà ³tono (monotonous), monopolio (monopoly), monocarril (monorail)para- (together, with, for): paramà ©dico (paramedic), paramilitar  (paramilitary), paranormal  (paranormal)poli- (many): poligloto (multilingual person), politeà ­sta (polytheistic), poligamia (polygamy)pre- (before): prefijo (prefix), predestinacià ³n (predestination), prehistoria (prehistory)pro- (in favor of): proponer (to propose), pronombre (pronoun), prometer (to promise)re- (again, with intensity): repaso (review), renacer (to be rebor n), renegar (to strongly deny)semi- (medium, half): semidifunto (half-dead), semifinalista (semifinalist), semicà ­rculo (semicircle)seudo- (false): seudà ³nimo (pseudonym), seudociencia (pseudoscience)sobre- (excessive, extraordinary): sobrevivir (to survive), sobredosis (overdose), sobrecargar (to overload)sub- (under): subsuelo (subsoil), subyacer (to underlie), subsector (subsection)super- (superior): supermercado (supermarket), superhombre (superman), supercarburante (high-grade fuel)tele- (at a distance): telà ©fono (telephone), telecontrol (remote control), telescopio (telescope)uni- (one): unificacià ³n (unification), unilateral (one-sided), unisexo (unisex) There are many other prefixes that are less common. Many of the words listed above have additional meanings. A few of the prefixes — such as seudo-, super- and mal- — can be freely applied to coin words. For example, someone who doesnt study much might be called a seudoestudiante.