Post by moon125 on Nov 3, 2024 22:55:15 GMT -5
The prefixes in Spanish are very similar to the prefixes we know from Portuguese.
They are even similar or completely identical to Portuguese prefixes – which makes them much simpler to understand.
What are prefixes in Spanish?
Prefixes in Spanish are particles placed in front of a noun, adjective, verb or adverb, without altering the original spelling of the word.
They are used to form new words , changing their meaning.
They can often be of two forms:
a cultured form, originating from Latin or Greek; and shopify website design a popular form, which reflects the evolution of the language.
Rules for writing prefixes in Spanish
As for how to write a word in Spanish with a prefix, there are a few different ways to form this new spelling. They are:
In general, the rule for spelling prefixes in Spanish is that they must always be placed next to the base word (root), without a hyphen or blank space.
Examples:
Bidirectional, anti-robot, extraordinary, multi-response, plurinational, pre-inscription, anti-system, senseless, synrazón, coadyuvante, autoescuela, vicerrectoría, microelectrónica.
HYPHEN
Despite the general rule, the hyphen can also be used to add a prefix to a word in Spanish.
This happens when the base word starts with a capital letter , when it is an acronym, a number or a proper name.
Examples:
Anti-ALCA, under-21, pro-Obama. mini-USB, super-8, post-Gorbachev.
BLANK
There are also cases where a blank space is used between the prefix and the root in Spanish.
This occurs when the root is formed by more than one word, which together form a single meaning.
Examples:
Anti penalty of death, pre Second World War, pro human rights, super in shape, vice prime minister.
Some prefixes in Spanish, such as ex- , anti- and pro- , are predisposed to be used in bases with more than one word. For this reason, these are often classified as prefijos separables (separable prefixes).
It can be noted that what determines whether a prefix in Spanish will be written next to the word, with a hyphen or with a space will be the base word – and not the prefix itself.
Therefore, it is common and in accordance with spelling rules for the same prefix to be added differently to different words.
See the cases below:
Pro : proverb, pro-Obama, pro human rights
Super : surplus, super-8, super fit
Anti : antibiotic, anti-NATO, anti lactic acid
« Read also: Online Spanish Dictionary | The 5 Most Complete Options »
What types of prefixes are there in Spanish?
There are two categories of prefixes in Spanish :
those that are indispensable to give meaning to the radical
These are prefixes used before terms that, without them, do not constitute words with their own meaning in Spanish.
those added to an existing word to form a new one
In this case, the base words already have meaning without the addition of the prefix. These can, however, be attached to words to form new words, with a slightly altered or completely different meaning.
Below are lists with examples for these two distinct types of prefixes in Spanish.
List of prefixes in Spanish – essential for the meaning of the root
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE
THE purpose or direction Approach
BENE good Benevolent
WELL good Welcome
BI two/twice Bipolarity
CON with Contract
AGAINST against Contrary
DIS, DI inverted direction distance
DES inverted direction Destroy
EN, EM in/within Bury
IN, IM in/within Internal
BETWEEN between Train
EX out Excuse
EXTRA out Extravagant
PER from one extreme to the other Striker
PRE before Prepare
PRO in favor of/for Propose
POS, POST after/after Postponer
RE return or intensity Resolve
SUB below Subsidize
TRANS through Transmit
TRA, TRAS through Translate
List of Spanish Prefixes – Added to an Existing Word
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE
MULTI much, plurality Multifunctional
PLURI much, plurality Plurinational
BI two, twice Bidirectional
POLY large number, much Multisport
CO concomitance, simultaneity Brotherhood
SUPER superior position, excess Superpose
HYPER above, over, over, very Hyperinflation
ON above, superior Surname
MINI small, low Minibar
MICRO very small Microchip
HYPO below or lower position Hypothesis
I negation, contrary Unreal
IN negation, contrary Undoubtedly
BAD negation, contrary Feeling unwell
PRE before predisposition
POS after Postponer
POST after Postgraduate
BEFORE before Anteayer
ANTI opposition Non-slip
AGAINST opposition Contradict
PRO defense Proactive
CEO & Founder of Essential. Follow me on Instagram for daily English content!
Marco Castello
CEO & Founder of Essential. Follow me on Instagram for daily English content!
They are even similar or completely identical to Portuguese prefixes – which makes them much simpler to understand.
What are prefixes in Spanish?
Prefixes in Spanish are particles placed in front of a noun, adjective, verb or adverb, without altering the original spelling of the word.
They are used to form new words , changing their meaning.
They can often be of two forms:
a cultured form, originating from Latin or Greek; and shopify website design a popular form, which reflects the evolution of the language.
Rules for writing prefixes in Spanish
As for how to write a word in Spanish with a prefix, there are a few different ways to form this new spelling. They are:
In general, the rule for spelling prefixes in Spanish is that they must always be placed next to the base word (root), without a hyphen or blank space.
Examples:
Bidirectional, anti-robot, extraordinary, multi-response, plurinational, pre-inscription, anti-system, senseless, synrazón, coadyuvante, autoescuela, vicerrectoría, microelectrónica.
HYPHEN
Despite the general rule, the hyphen can also be used to add a prefix to a word in Spanish.
This happens when the base word starts with a capital letter , when it is an acronym, a number or a proper name.
Examples:
Anti-ALCA, under-21, pro-Obama. mini-USB, super-8, post-Gorbachev.
BLANK
There are also cases where a blank space is used between the prefix and the root in Spanish.
This occurs when the root is formed by more than one word, which together form a single meaning.
Examples:
Anti penalty of death, pre Second World War, pro human rights, super in shape, vice prime minister.
Some prefixes in Spanish, such as ex- , anti- and pro- , are predisposed to be used in bases with more than one word. For this reason, these are often classified as prefijos separables (separable prefixes).
It can be noted that what determines whether a prefix in Spanish will be written next to the word, with a hyphen or with a space will be the base word – and not the prefix itself.
Therefore, it is common and in accordance with spelling rules for the same prefix to be added differently to different words.
See the cases below:
Pro : proverb, pro-Obama, pro human rights
Super : surplus, super-8, super fit
Anti : antibiotic, anti-NATO, anti lactic acid
« Read also: Online Spanish Dictionary | The 5 Most Complete Options »
What types of prefixes are there in Spanish?
There are two categories of prefixes in Spanish :
those that are indispensable to give meaning to the radical
These are prefixes used before terms that, without them, do not constitute words with their own meaning in Spanish.
those added to an existing word to form a new one
In this case, the base words already have meaning without the addition of the prefix. These can, however, be attached to words to form new words, with a slightly altered or completely different meaning.
Below are lists with examples for these two distinct types of prefixes in Spanish.
List of prefixes in Spanish – essential for the meaning of the root
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE
THE purpose or direction Approach
BENE good Benevolent
WELL good Welcome
BI two/twice Bipolarity
CON with Contract
AGAINST against Contrary
DIS, DI inverted direction distance
DES inverted direction Destroy
EN, EM in/within Bury
IN, IM in/within Internal
BETWEEN between Train
EX out Excuse
EXTRA out Extravagant
PER from one extreme to the other Striker
PRE before Prepare
PRO in favor of/for Propose
POS, POST after/after Postponer
RE return or intensity Resolve
SUB below Subsidize
TRANS through Transmit
TRA, TRAS through Translate
List of Spanish Prefixes – Added to an Existing Word
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE
MULTI much, plurality Multifunctional
PLURI much, plurality Plurinational
BI two, twice Bidirectional
POLY large number, much Multisport
CO concomitance, simultaneity Brotherhood
SUPER superior position, excess Superpose
HYPER above, over, over, very Hyperinflation
ON above, superior Surname
MINI small, low Minibar
MICRO very small Microchip
HYPO below or lower position Hypothesis
I negation, contrary Unreal
IN negation, contrary Undoubtedly
BAD negation, contrary Feeling unwell
PRE before predisposition
POS after Postponer
POST after Postgraduate
BEFORE before Anteayer
ANTI opposition Non-slip
AGAINST opposition Contradict
PRO defense Proactive
CEO & Founder of Essential. Follow me on Instagram for daily English content!
Marco Castello
CEO & Founder of Essential. Follow me on Instagram for daily English content!