If you’ve been trying to learn French vocabulary, you may have noticed repeated beginnings or endings in French words? These are French prefixes and suffixes, and in today’s article French tutor Tyler S. breaks down everything you need to know so you can become a master French speaker…
Whether you are just starting out on your French language journey or you’re looking to expand your current knowledge of this romantic language, it’s important to understand French suffixes and prefixes.
But, what exactly are suffixes and prefixes? Why must we use them? And most importantly, how do we properly use them in a sentence? Read on to learn more. And, don’t miss our handy lists of French prefixes, suffixes, and common vocabulary words to help you master this beautiful language.
Why is it Important to Learn French Prefixes and Suffixes?
Prefixes and suffixes save us time and energy when learning French vocabulary and using the language. Instead of using multi-word phrases, prefixes and suffixes help us be informative and concise in language. This is helpful both in spoken and written communication because you can use fewer words to make your point. In this case, less is more.
For example, it’s much easier to attach the prefix “a-“ to the beginning of “typical” to form the word “atypical” than it does to express the equivalent meaning in the multi-word phrase “the opposite of typical”. You’ll find plenty of examples of these French opposite adjectives as you dive into this language. After all, why use more words when simply adding an extra letter or two will do the trick?
French is a great example of a language that’s rich with prefixes and suffixes that are derived primarily from Latin and Greek. If you are at all familiar with these ancient languages, you will begin to recognize French words with Latin roots and Greek ones, too.
If you want to clearly understand French vocabulary and learn how to speak French with precision, learning to use prefixes and suffixes is a must! This article will provide you with a quick reference for the most commonly used French prefixes and suffixes so that you can continue to master French à l’aise (with ease).
Once you get comfortable with these elements of French vocabulary, you’ll be unstoppable when it comes to speaking and writing the language.
The Basic Rule: Categorize Nouns, Adjectives, and Verbs
French prefixes have a specific category (nouns, adjectives, and verbs) of words they can go with which you’ll see in the charts below. In every language around the world, words are composed of individual “building blocks” that combine to modify and create meaningful expressions. The first step is to be able to identify if a given French word falls into the noun category, the adjective category, or the verb category.
This is vital to learn because, in French vocabulary, words have rules for which suffixes or prefixes can combine with each of the three categories. If one aspect is missing, or if you use one incorrectly, it won’t equate to the correct meaning.
For example, the suffix -able in English may only attach to some verbs such as the verb “do”. We combine the two to get do + able = doable. You cannot merely attach -able to any word in English, and the same rule applies in French. In many ways, English and French are close relatives because their usage of prefixes and suffixes are historically linked. Because of this, you may have an easier time understanding French suffixes and prefixes if you are already fluent in English.
You might also be interested in: 25 Conversational French Phrases Every Beginner Should Know [Audio]
French Prefixes
Let’s take a look at a list of French prefixes that are the most common, the category of words it goes with (nouns, adjectives, or verbs), the prefix meaning, and examples of each prefix in a word.
| Prefix | Root Type | Prefix Meaning | Example(s) |
| a, an | adjective | without, opposite of | atypique, anallergique |
| anté | noun, adjective | before, in front of | antérieur |
| anti- | noun, adjective | opposite of, against | antidater |
| auto- | noun, adjective | by itself, auto | autobiographique |
| béné, bien | adjective, verb | good | bénéfique, bienfaisant |
| contra, contre | noun | not, opposite of | contraception, contrenquête |
| dé, dés, dis | verb | not separate from | débrancher, désobeir, disculper |
| dys | noun, adjective | difficult, trouble with | dyslexie |
| en, em | verb | into, in | enfouir, embarquer |
| ex, ef, é | noun, adjective, verb | outside of | exhumer, effeuiller, épiler |
| In, im | verb | into, in | Insérer, immigrer |
| in, im, ir, il | adjective | not, opposite of | incertain, illicit, irrégulier, impossible |
| mé, més, mal, mau | noun, adjective, verb | bad, mis- | méconnaitre, mésentente, malheureux, maudit |
| pré- | noun, adjective | before | préhistoire |
| re, ré, ra, r | verb | repeatedly, multiple, times | refaire, redire, réviser, reconter |
| super, sur | noun, adjective, verb | above, over, on top of | superposer, surface |
French Suffixes
Again, this list of common French suffixes shows the suffix, root type, meaning, and examples. Studying this will inevitably help you master French vocabulary.
| Suffix | Root Type | Prefix Meaning | Example(s) |
| able | verb | able to be, capable of | agréable, |
| ail | adjective | instrument for, type of object | épouvantail |
| ain, aine | noun, adjective | person, collection, nationality | chatelain, chatelaine |
| ais, aise, ois, oise, éen, éenne | noun | nationality | Francais, Francaise, Kransaskoise, Coréen, Coréenne |
| ateur, atrice | verb | person that + (verb) | acteur, actrice |
| é | noun | characteristic of, a profession | bonté |
| eau, elle, elet, et, ette, ot, otte | noun | ette, little, smaller | marceau, ruelle, maigrelet, garçonnet, menotte |
| er, ier, iere, eron, eur, eure, euse | verb | person that + (verb) | plombier, forgeron, entrepreneure |
| isme | noun | Profession, state of being, -ism | journalisme |
| iste | adjective | profession, state of being, -ism | graphiste, socialiste, indépendantiste |
Bonus: Common French Vocabulary Words
As you learn more and more about French vocabulary, starting with prefixes and suffixes, it becomes more and more fun. Here are a few common French words!
| Bonjour | Hello, Good morning |
| Au revoir | Goodbye |
| Bonsoir | Good evening |
| Bonne Nuit | Goodnight |
| Oui | Yes |
| Non | No |
| Merci | Thank you |
| Merci beaucoup | Thank you very much |
| S’il vous plaît | Please |
| Fille | Girl |
| Garçon | Boy |
| Femme | Woman |
| Homme | Man |
| Chien | Dog |
| Chat | Cat |
To learn more French words, check out this article on French numbers and other math vocabulary.
Enjoy Learning French Vocabulary!
Bonne chance la pratique! Good luck studying!
For more help learning French vocabulary, try studying with a private tutor. Tutors are available to work with you online or in person depending on locations and availability.
With one-on-one instruction, you can focus on whatever aspect of the language you need the most practice, whether that’s French affixes, prefixes, or anything in between. When you sign up for online French lessons, you can learn wherever is most convenient for you, as long as you have an internet connection. Find your French tutor now to further your understanding of this beautiful language.
Tyler S. teaches in-person Spanish and French lessons in Minneapolis, MN. He received his Bachelor’s degree in German and linguistics from the University of Minnesota, and has experience working as a teaching assistant and private tutor with TakeLessons since 2008. What’s more? He can speak 7 different languages! Learn more about Tyler here!
Photo by eefeewahfah
Megan L.