Prefixes are added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. In Spanish, most prefixes come from Latin or Greek and have consistent meanings across different words. Knowing these prefixes helps you understand many new words without a dictionary.

Common Spanish Prefixes

a- / an-: without or lack of (from Greek)
anti-: against or opposed to
auto-: self
bi- / bis- / bisi-: two or twice
co- / com- / con-: with or together
des-: opposite or undo
dis-: apart, not, or opposite
en- / em-: in, into, or cause to
extra-: beyond or outside
in- / im- / ir- / il-: not or into
pre-: before
re-: again or back
sub-: under or below
trans-: across or beyond
ultra-: beyond or extreme

How Prefixes Change Word Meaning

Prefixes do not change the root word’s part of speech. For example, deshacer (to undo) is still a verb, and previsión (foresight) is still a noun.
Some prefixes indicate negation or reversal (des-, in-, dis-).
Others indicate position or direction (sub-, trans-, en-).
Some prefixes denote quantity or degree (bi-, extra-, ultra-).
A few prefixes indicate time (pre-) or repetition (re-).

What do prefixes NOT change about the root word in Spanish?

They make all words adverbs.

They do not change the root word’s part of speech.

They change the root word’s root.

They always make nouns plural.

They do not change the root word’s part of speech.

Prefixes change meaning but the root word’s part of speech stays the same—verbs remain verbs, nouns remain nouns.

Examples of Prefixes in Use

Prefix	Meaning	Spanish Example	English Example	Spanish Sentence	English Sentence
a- / an-	without	anormal*	abnormal	Su comportamiento es anormal.	His behavior is abnormal.
anti-	against	antivirus*	antivirus	Instalé un programa antivirus.	I installed antivirus software.
auto-	self	autorretrato*	self-portrait	Pinté un autorretrato.	I painted a self-portrait.
bi-	two	bicicleta*	bicycle	Compré una bicicleta nueva.	I bought a new bicycle.
co- / con-	with, together	colaborar*	collaborate	Vamos a colaborar en el proyecto.	We will collaborate on the project.
des-	undo, opposite	desconectar*	disconnect	Desconecté el teléfono.	I disconnected the phone.
dis-	not, opposite	disgusto*	displeasure	Siento mucho el disgusto.	I’m very sorry for the displeasure.
en- / em-	in, into	enviar*	send	Voy a enviar la carta.	I am going to send the letter.
extra-	beyond	extraterrestre*	extraterrestrial	Creen en seres extraterrestres.	They believe in extraterrestrial beings.
in- / im-	not	injusto*	unfair	Es injusto esperar tanto.	It’s unfair to wait so long.
pre-	before	preparar*	prepare	Tengo que preparar la cena.	I have to prepare dinner.
re-	again	revisar*	review	Voy a revisar el informe.	I’m going to review the report.
sub-	under	subterráneo*	underground	Tomamos el tren subterráneo.	We took the underground train.
trans-	across	transporte*	transport	El transporte es eficiente.	The transport is efficient.
ultra-	beyond, extreme	ultrarrápido*	ultrafast	El coche es ultrarrápido.	The car is ultrafast.

Tips for Learning Prefixes

Look for prefixes when you encounter new words; they often give clues to the meaning.
Practice by breaking down complex words into prefix + root.
Use flashcards to memorize prefixes and example words.
Notice that some prefixes may cause spelling changes (e.g., in- → im- before p or m).
Remember that context is important; some prefixes have multiple related meanings.

What is a good practice for learning complex Spanish words?

Translate the whole word at once.

Break them down into prefix + root.

Ignore the prefix.

Only learn the root.

Break them down into prefix + root.

Breaking words into prefix and root helps you understand and remember them.

Flashcards (1 of 15)

Prefix: a- / an-
Meaning: without

English Example: abnormal
English Sentence: His behavior is abnormal.

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025