Irish/Prefixes

As in many other languages, Irish adds prefixes (réimíreanna) to words to create new words. If you become familiar with the prefixes below, you may double your vocabulary! Note that some prefixes are separated from the base word by a hyphen, and some prefixes cause lenition. prefixmeaningexamplesain-negation (in-, un-, not-)over-ceart (right) becomes aincheart (unjust). fios (knowledge) becomes ainfhiosracht (overcurious).an-verymaith (good) becomes an-mhaith (very good).ard-high, arch-rí (king) becomes ardrí (high king). deagánach (deacon) becomes ard-deagánach (arch-deacon).ath-re-déan (do, make) becomes athdéan (redo, remake).ban-female (-ess, -ix)údar (author) becomes banúdar (authoress).breac-ceann-chief, main -headedlitir (letter) becomes ceannlitir (capital letter).comh-mutual, jointceol (music) becomes comhcheol (harmony).dea-good, wellscéal (news, story) becomes dea-scéal (piece of good news).dearg-red-, real, uttergráin (hatred) becomes dearg-ghráin (intense hatred).dé-bi-, di-, two-taobh (side) becomes déthaobhach (bilateral).di-de-, dis-, in-, un-scéal (news, story) becomes díscéil (uninformative).do-in-, un-, not-déanta (done, complete) becomes dodhéanta (impossible, hard to do),droch-dú-for-overly, more than pro- (in various senses)daonna (human) becomes fordaonna (superhuman). dubh (dark, black) becomes fordhubh (gloomy). ainm (noun) becomes forainm (pronoun).gar-near; rough, approximate great- or grand- (for relations)amharc (sight, view) becomes gar-amharc (close-up). meastachán (estimate) becomes garmheastachán (rough estimate) uncail (uncle) becomes garuncail (grand-uncle).il-many, multi-eochair (key) becomes ileochair (master key).in-capable ofcreidte (believed) becomes inchreidte (believable).iar-íos-lán-totalcead (permission) becomes lánchead (full permission).leath-meán-mí-mion-small, micro-insint (telling) becomes mioninsint (detailed report).neamh-oir-os-príomh-of importance, main focus cathair (city) becomes príomhchathair (capital city)réamh-pre-, preliminaryfeiceáil (seeing) becomes reamhfheiceáil (foresight).ró-over-minic (often) becomes rómhinic (too often).sár-exceeding, ultra-riail (rule) becomes sár-riail (golden rule).sean-so-easybriste (broken) becomes sobhriste (fragile, easily broken).