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Home / English / SAT Vocabulary Roots Prefix and Suffix

SAT Vocabulary Roots Prefix and Suffix: Boost Your Vocabulary Skills

Last Updated on Feb 19, 2025
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A high SAT score requires a strong vocabulary, and one of the most effective ways to build that vocabulary is by familiarizing yourself with SAT Vocabulary Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes. These three components are essential for deconstructing unfamiliar words, making it easier to figure out their meanings on test day. By mastering these elements, you’ll enhance both your vocabulary and reading comprehension, two key areas for achieving a top score.

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Why Study SAT Vocabulary Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes?
  • Increases Word Recognition: With knowledge of roots and prefixes, you can recognize and understand new words easily, even on the spot.
  • Improves Reading Comprehension: Once you are aware of word parts, you are able to read and comprehend lengthy passages quicker, enhancing your question-answering skill.
  • Enhances Context Clues: Whenever you come across a word you don't recognize, knowing the root or a prefix can be a clue to its meaning that you can then use to guess confidently.

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Common SAT Vocabulary Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

To perform well on the SAT exam, it is essential to master Common SAT Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes. They are tested most often and can greatly improve your understanding and vocabulary. Below is a list of Common SAT Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes along with examples for you to grasp and utilize effectively. Here’s a breakdown of some high-frequency roots, prefixes, and suffixes that frequently appear in SAT vocabulary. Mastering these can help you tackle unfamiliar words during the test:

Common Roots

Roots are the foundation of most English words, and learning them can significantly boost your SAT vocabulary. Below is a list of common SAT vocabulary roots, their meanings, and examples:

Also, Learn Important SAT Grammar Rules for Upcoming SAT Exam!

Root

Meaning

Example

Meaning of Example

cred

Believe

Credible

Believable, trustworthy

dict

Say, Speak

Dictate

To command or give orders

port

Carry

Portable

Easy to carry

scrib/script

Write

Manuscript

A handwritten document

bene

Good

Benevolent

Kind, charitable

Common Prefixes

Prefixes are added to the beginning of words to alter their meanings. Understanding these common prefixes can help you break down challenging words on the SAT:

Prefix

Meaning

Examples

Meaning of Example

a-, an-

Not, without

Atypical

Not typical

ab-

Away from

Absent

Not present

ad-

Toward

Advance

To move forward

ambi-

Both

Ambidextrous

Able to use both hands equally

ante-

Before

Antecedent

Something that comes before

anti-

Against

Antisocial

Against social interaction

auto-

Self

Autopilot

Self-operating

bene-

Good

Beneficial

Producing good results

bi-

Two

Bicycle

A two-wheeled vehicle

circum-

Around

Circumference

Distance around something

co-, com-, con-

Together

Cooperate

To work together

contra-, counter-

Against

Contradict

To say the opposite

de-

Remove, reverse

Deactivate

To turn off

dis-

Not, opposite

Disagree

To have a different opinion

en-, em-

Cause to

Enable

To make something possible

ex-

Out, away

Exit

A way out

extra-

Beyond, outside

Extraterrestrial

Beyond Earth

fore-

Before

Forecast

A prediction

hetero-

Different

Heterogeneous

Made of different parts

homo-

Same

Homogeneous

Made of the same parts

hyper-

Above, excessive

Hyperactive

Excessively active

hypo-

Under, below

Hypothermia

Low body temperature

il-, im-, in-, ir-

Not

Illegal

Not legal

inter-

Between

Interact

To communicate or engage with others

intra-

Within

Intramural

Within an institution

mal-

Bad

Malfunction

A failure to function properly

micro-

Small

Microscope

A device for viewing tiny objects

mis-

Wrong, bad

Misinterpret

To understand incorrectly

mono-

One

Monologue

A speech by one person

multi-

Many

Multitask

To do many things at once

non-

Not

Nonexistent

Not existing

omni-

All

Omniscient

All-knowing

post-

After

Postpone

To delay until later

pre-

Before

Preview

A look at something before it happens

pro-

Forward, in favor of

Promote

To support or encourage

re-

Again

Rewrite

To write again

semi-

Half

Semicircle

Half of a circle

sub-

Under

Submarine

A vessel that operates underwater

super-

Over, above

Supernatural

Beyond natural forces

trans-

Across

Transport

To move from one place to another

un-

Not

Uncertain

Not sure about something

Also, Get to Know SAT Reading Strategy for your Upcoming Exam!

Common Suffixes

Suffixes are added to the end of words to change their meanings or forms. Familiarity with these common suffixes will help you recognize word patterns and enhance your ability to read and understand unfamiliar words on the SAT:

Root

Meaning

Example

Meaning of Example

act

Do, move

Action

The process of doing something

ambul

Walk, move

Ambulance

A vehicle for moving sick people

anim

Life, spirit

Animated

Full of life or excitement

aqua

Water

Aquatic

Relating to water

aud

Hear

Audible

Able to be heard

bene

Good

Benevolent

Kind, charitable

bio

Life

Biology

The study of life

brev

Short

Abbreviate

To shorten a word or phrase

cept

Take, receive

Intercept

To stop or seize something

chron

Time

Chronological

Arranged in order of time

cred

Believe

Incredible

Hard to believe

dict

Say, speak

Dictate

To say or read aloud

duc, duct

Lead, bring

Conduct

To lead or manage something

fac, fact

Make, do

Manufacture

To make something on a large scale

fer

Carry, bring

Transfer

To move something from one place to another

fract, frag

Break

Fracture

A break in something solid

gen

Birth, race, kind

Generate

To produce or create

gram, graph

Write, draw

Graphite

A form of carbon used in pencils

hydr

Water

Hydration

The process of adding water

ject

Throw

Eject

To throw out

junct

Join

Conjunction

A word that joins sentences

log, logy

Word, study

Geology

The study of Earth

luc, lum

Light

Illuminate

To brighten with light

magn

Great

Magnify

To make larger

man

Hand

Manual

Done by hand

mater, matr

Mother

Maternity

Relating to motherhood

morph

Shape, form

Metamorphosis

A transformation in shape

mort

Death

Immortal

Not subject to death

omni

All

Omnipresent

Present everywhere

path

Feeling

Empathy

Understanding someone’s feelings

ped

Foot, child

Pedestrian

A person walking

phon

Sound

Symphony

A harmonious musical composition

port

Carry

Portable

Able to be carried

scrib, script

Write

Manuscript

A handwritten document

sect

Cut

Dissect

To cut apart for study

sens, sent

Feel

Sentiment

A feeling or emotion

spec

Look, see

Spectator

A person watching an event

struct

Build

Structure

Something built or constructed

terr

Earth

Territory

A specific land area

therm

Heat

Thermometer

A device for measuring heat

tract

Pull, draw

Tractor

A machine for pulling loads

ven, vent

Come

Advent

The arrival of something notable

vert, vers

Turn

Convert

To change into another form

vid, vis

See

Visual

Related to seeing

voc

Voice, call

Vocal

Relating to voice

volv, volut

Roll, turn

Revolve

To move in a circular path

Pro Tips for Mastering SAT Vocabulary Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

  • Look for Word Families: If you know the meaning of "credible," you can easily guess words like "incredible" or "credibility."
  • Use Flashcards: Write the root, prefix, or suffix on one side and examples on the other. Review them regularly.
  • Practice with Real SAT Questions: Apply your knowledge to actual SAT reading passages to see how these roots, prefixes, and suffixes appear in context.
  • Break Down Unfamiliar Words: On test day, even if you don’t know a word, try identifying its root or prefix to help deduce its meaning.

Mastering SAT vocabulary roots, prefixes, and suffixes is a powerful tool that can give you a significant edge in your test preparation. With consistent practice, you'll find that understanding and interpreting difficult words becomes effortless, ultimately helping you score higher on the SAT.

SAT Vocabulary Roots Prefix and Suffix FAQs

Knowing these elements improves word recognition, reading comprehension, and your skill at using context clues to infer the meanings of unknown words on the SAT.

Typical SAT roots are "cred" (believe), "dict" (say), "port" (carry), "scrib/script" (write), and "bene" (good). Knowing these roots can make it easy for you to recognize and comprehend new words.

Prefixes such as "pre-" (before), "anti-" (opposite), and "un-" (not), as well as suffixes such as "-able" (having the ability) and "-ology" (science of), enable you to speedily dissect and learn tough words, both vocabulary and reading.

Practice with flashcards, search for word families, and use your knowledge in actual SAT reading passages. Analyzing unfamiliar words during the test through your understanding of roots, prefixes, and suffixes can also assist you in understanding their meanings.

Some examples are recognizing words with the base "scrib/script" (e.g., "transcribe," "inscription") or applying the prefix "pre-" to see words such as "preview." By doing practice questions like these, you will enhance your vocabulary for the SAT.
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