đź“ť Understanding French Prefixes and Suffixes (for Beginners)
Learning prefixes and suffixes is a great way to expand your French vocabulary quickly. These small parts added to the beginning (prefixe) or end (suffixe) of a word can change its meaning or function.
This guide will introduce you to the most common French prefixes and suffixes, with simple examples for beginners.
1. What Are Prefixes and Suffixes?
-
Prefixe = comes before the word → changes its meaning.
Example: possible → impossible (not possible) -
Suffixe = comes after the word → often changes the word class (verb → noun, adjective → noun, etc.).
Example: chanter (to sing) → chanteur (singer)
2. Common French Prefixes
Here are some beginner-friendly prefixes you’ll see often:
| Prefix | Meaning | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| re- | again, back | revenir | to come back |
| in-/im- | not | impossible | impossible |
| dé-/dés- | opposite, undo | défaire | to undo |
| pré- | before | préhistoire | prehistory |
| anti- | against | antivirus | antivirus |
| sous- | under | sous-sol | basement |
| sur- | over, above | surcharge | overload |
3. Common French Suffixes
Suffixes often change the function of a word.
| Suffix | Meaning/Use | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| -eur | person doing an action | danseur | dancer |
| -ette | small, diminutive | maisonnette | little house |
| -able | able to | adorable | adorable |
| -ment | adverb (manner) | rapidement | quickly |
| -tion | noun (action, result) | information | information |
| -iste | profession, ideology | journaliste | journalist |
| -age | action, result | voyage | trip |
4. How Prefixes and Suffixes Help Vocabulary
By learning prefixes and suffixes, you can guess the meaning of new words.
-
Relire → lire = to read → relire = to read again.
-
Chanteur → chanter = to sing → chanteur = singer.
-
Prévoir → voir = to see → prévoir = to foresee / plan.
-
Rapidement → rapide = fast → rapidement = quickly.
5. Examples in Sentences
-
Ce problème est impossible à résoudre. → This problem is impossible to solve.
-
Il est journaliste à Paris. → He is a journalist in Paris.
-
Nous allons revenir demain. → We will come back tomorrow.
-
Elle court très rapidement. → She runs very quickly.
âś… Quick Recap
-
Prefixes go before the root word → change the meaning (possible → impossible).
-
Suffixes go after the root word → change the word class or nuance (chanter → chanteur).
-
Learning them helps you understand and build vocabulary faster.
🎯 Practice Exercise
Guess the meaning of these words using their prefix or suffix:
-
refaire (faire = to do)
-
lecture (lire = to read)
-
chanteuse (chanter = to sing)
-
débrancher (brancher = to plug in)
-
lisible (lire = to read)
Answers:
-
redo, do again
-
reading
-
female singer
-
to unplug
-
readable
Conclusion
Understanding French prefixes and suffixes is a simple but powerful tool for beginners. With just a few common ones like re-, in-, dé-, -eur, -ment, -tion, you can quickly expand your vocabulary and recognize the meaning of many new words.
👉 Pro tip: Each time you learn a new French word, check if it has a prefix or suffix. It will help you understand and remember it more easily.
TAGS: French prefixes and suffixes, how to expand vocabulary in French, French grammar basics, French word formation for beginners, French vocabulary building