Vocabulary That Sticks: Prefixes and Suffixes for 11+

Word parts are a shortcut to meaning. When children understand prefixes and suffixes, they can decode unfamiliar words faster — and they stop feeling stuck when a “hard” word shows up in a text.

This isn’t about memorising huge lists. It’s about learning patterns that keep paying off.

Related guides: English & Verbal Reasoning · Vocabulary · 11+ Prep · All blog posts

Why word parts are a cheat code

• They reduce panic. Kids learn: “I don’t know the word… but I can work it out.”
• They improve comprehension. Understanding more words = understanding the text faster.
• They help spelling. Once kids spot patterns, spelling becomes less random.
• They show up everywhere. Prefixes and suffixes appear across reading, writing, and verbal reasoning.

High-impact prefixes

These show up everywhere and are easy to practise:

• un- (not) — unhappy, unfair
• re- (again) — rewrite, replay
• pre- (before) — preview, preheat
• mis- (wrong/badly) — misread, misunderstand
• anti- (against) — anti-social, anti-bullying

High-impact suffixes

Suffixes often tell you the “job” of a word (what kind of word it is) or how it changes meaning.

• -ful (full of) — helpful, joyful
• -less (without) — hopeless, careless
• -ment (result/action) — enjoyment, improvement
• -tion (process/thing) — education, attention
• -able (can be) — readable, manageable

How to practise (10 minutes)

Keep it fast and repeatable:

• Pick 1 prefix + 1 suffix for the day.
• Make 5 words using either one.
• Explain 2 of those words in kid-friendly language.
• Use 2 of those words in a sentence.

The one question that builds the skill

“What does this word part tell us?”

That’s the habit that transfers into reading and exams.

Easy examples you can do at the table

• un-: fair → unfair (not fair)
• re-: write → rewrite (write again)
• mis-: hear → mishear (hear wrongly)
• -less: hope → hopeless (without hope)
• -able: read → readable (can be read)

Try this next

Add a simple word of the day to dinner conversation.

• Say the word.
• Explain it in your own words.
• Use it in a sentence.

Vocabulary sticks when it becomes part of real life.

If you want a daily habit that pairs well with this, use: The 3-Word Habit (one new word, two sentences).