When you learn how English prefixes are pronounced, you unlock the pronunciation of hundreds of words at once. Prefixes are small word parts added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning, and each one has a predictable sound.
UN- (not, the opposite of)
UN- is always pronounced /ʌn/ (like "un" in "uncle"). The stress stays on the root word, not the prefix.
More UN- words: unlikely, unusual, unfair, unknown, unbelievable, undo, unpleasant
RE- (again, back)
RE- can be /riː/ (long E) or /rɪ/ (short I) depending on the word. In careful speech, re- usually says /riː/.
More RE- words: return, review, rebuild, remind, remove, rewrite, replace, reconsider
Note: When RE- means "back" or "again" as a clear prefix, it often has secondary stress: re-TURN, re-PLACE. When RE is just part of a word with no prefix meaning, it often reduces: refer /rɪˈfɜːr/, result /rɪˈzʌlt/.
DIS- (not, away from)
DIS- is pronounced /dɪs/ (short I). The stress falls on the root word.
More DIS- words: discover, discuss, dislike, disconnect, display, distance, disaster, disease
MIS- (wrongly, badly)
MIS- is pronounced /mɪs/ (short I). It shows that something was done incorrectly.
More MIS- words: mislead, mispronounce, misplace, misspell, misread, misbehave
PRE- (before)
PRE- is usually pronounced /priː/ (long E). It means "before."
More PRE- words: predict, prefer, prevent, preorder, prehistoric, premium
PRO- (for, forward, before)
PRO- is usually /proʊ/ (long O). It can also reduce to /prə/ in unstressed syllables.
ANTI- (against)
ANTI- is pronounced /ˈænti/ in American English (short A, short E). British English often says /ˈæntaɪ/.
- antibiotic /ˌæntibaɪˈɒtɪk/ - a medicine that kills bacteria
- antisocial /ˌæntiˈsoʊʃəl/ - avoiding social contact
- antivirus /ˌæntiˈvaɪrəs/ - software that protects against viruses
INTER- (between, among)
INTER- is pronounced /ˈɪntər/ or /ɪnˈtɜːr/ depending on where the stress falls.
- international /ˌɪntərˈnæʃənəl/ - involving many countries
- interview /ˈɪntərvjuː/ - a formal conversation for a job or media
- internet /ˈɪntərˌnɛt/ - the global computer network
Quick Reference
| Prefix | Pronunciation | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| UN- | /ʌn/ | not | unhappy, unlikely |
| RE- | /riː/ | again | redo, replay, return |
| DIS- | /dɪs/ | not, away | disagree, disappear |
| MIS- | /mɪs/ | wrongly | mistake, mislead |
| PRE- | /priː/ | before | preview, predict |
| PRO- | /proʊ/ | forward, for | progress, promote |
| ANTI- | /ˈænti/ | against | antibiotic, antivirus |
| INTER- | /ˈɪntər/ | between | international, internet |