Building Vocabulary with French Prefixes & Suffixes

Total Word Count: 1,850+ words

What if you could understand a word you've never seen before? By learning common prefixes and suffixes, you can decode meaning on the fly.

This is especially useful in the TEF/TCF Reading Section, where you'll encounter academic or technical vocabulary. Instead of panicking, you can deconstruct.

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Part 1: Common Prefixes (Les Préfixes)

1. Negation

Part 2: Common Suffixes (Les Suffixes)

1. Creating Nouns (Actions / States)

Part 3: Decoding Practice

Word: Surpopulation.

• Prefix: Sur- (Over/Excess).
• Root: Population.
• Meaning: Overpopulation.

Irresponsable.

Part 4: Why This Matters for Exams

In Reading Section C, you might encounter:

• "L'insoutenabilité du modèle actuel est patente."
  • In- (Not) + Soutenable (Sustainable) + (Quality).

Conclusion

Think of prefixes and suffixes as your vocabulary "cheat codes". Memorize the top 10 of each, and suddenly a vast swath of French becomes transparent. This isn't about learning words one by one; it's about learning the building blocks.