How well do you know your Spanish prefixes?

Prefixes (part of words that are added before other words to give it a new meaning) are an excellent trick to learn new words and expand your vocabulary.
Some prefixes are the same in English and in Spanish as for example hiper- , extra- , post- or intern-.
The list below contains examples with lesser-known prefixes so you can really get working on your Spanish.
Des-
Meaning :deprivation, denial of
Examples:
-
Intoxicar/desintoxicar
Intoxicate/detoxify
-
Hacer/deshacer
Do/undo
-
Aparecer/desaparecer
Appear/disappear
Sobre-
Meaning : above
Examples:
-
Sueldo/Sobresueldo
Salary/bonus
-
Vivir/sobrevivir
Live/ survive
-
Natural/sobrenatural
Natural/ supernatural
Contra-
Meaning : opposite, contrary
Examples:
-
Peso/Contrapeso
Weight/ counterweight
-
Decir/contradecir
Tell/ contradict
-
Tiempo/contratiempo
Time/ setback
Ante-
Meaning : previous
Examples:
-
Ayer/Anteayer
Yesterday/ before yesterday
-
Poner/anteponer
Put/ put above
-
Sala/antesala
Room/ prelude or anteroom
Entre-
Meaning : between
Examples:
-
Piso/entrepiso
flat/ mezzanine
-
Abrir/entreabrir
Open/ half-open
-
Ver/entrever
See/ glimpse
Infra-
Meaning : lower position, below
Examples:
-
Humano/infrahumano
Human/ subhuman
-
Mundo/inframundo
World/ underworld
-
Valorado/infravalorado
valued/ undervalued
Check out our word of the day posts
This article has been contributed by LAE Madrid, the leading Spanish academy in Madrid. Accredited by the Insitituto Cervantes, it offers Spanish courses for all levels and also has Spanish classes for kids and families.
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Some prefixes are the same in English and in Spanish as for example hiper- , extra- , post- or intern-.
The list below contains examples with lesser-known prefixes so you can really get working on your Spanish.
Des-
Meaning :deprivation, denial of
Examples:
-
Intoxicar/desintoxicar
Intoxicate/detoxify
-
Hacer/deshacer
Do/undo
-
Aparecer/desaparecer
Appear/disappear
Sobre-
Meaning : above
Examples:
-
Sueldo/Sobresueldo
Salary/bonus
-
Vivir/sobrevivir
Live/ survive
-
Natural/sobrenatural
Natural/ supernatural
Contra-
Meaning : opposite, contrary
Examples:
-
Peso/Contrapeso
Weight/ counterweight
-
Decir/contradecir
Tell/ contradict
-
Tiempo/contratiempo
Time/ setback
Ante-
Meaning : previous
Examples:
-
Ayer/Anteayer
Yesterday/ before yesterday
-
Poner/anteponer
Put/ put above
-
Sala/antesala
Room/ prelude or anteroom
Entre-
Meaning : between
Examples:
-
Piso/entrepiso
flat/ mezzanine
-
Abrir/entreabrir
Open/ half-open
-
Ver/entrever
See/ glimpse
Infra-
Meaning : lower position, below
Examples:
-
Humano/infrahumano
Human/ subhuman
-
Mundo/inframundo
World/ underworld
-
Valorado/infravalorado
valued/ undervalued
Check out our word of the day posts
This article has been contributed by LAE Madrid, the leading Spanish academy in Madrid. Accredited by the Insitituto Cervantes, it offers Spanish courses for all levels and also has Spanish classes for kids and families.
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