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Year 5 · English · Literacy

Prefixes and word meaning

Using common prefixes such as un-, re-, dis-, pre- and mis- to build words and work out their meanings.

Awaiting educator review. This material was drafted by our content team with AI assistance and is waiting for review by a qualified educator. Please check it suits your child before using it. Created 10 October 2026.

These lessons were written around Australian Curriculum strands and matched to New Zealand year levels by age (NZ Year 1 is the first year of school). They are not yet mapped to The New Zealand Curriculum, so check them against your own learning programme.

Learning goals

Learners will

  • Know the meanings of the prefixes un-, re-, dis-, pre- and mis-.
  • Use prefixes to work out the meaning of unfamiliar words.
  • Spell words with prefixes correctly, keeping the base word unchanged.

Success looks like

  • I can say what un-, re-, dis-, pre- and mis- mean.
  • I can split a word into its prefix and base word.
  • I can spell words like 'misspell' and 'unnecessary' correctly.

The big idea

A prefix is added to the front of a base word to change its meaning. Learning a handful of common prefixes unlocks hundreds of words.

  • un- means 'not' or 'the opposite of': unhappy, unlock, unfair
  • re- means 'again' or 'back': rewrite, replay, return
  • dis- means 'not' or 'the opposite of': disagree, disappear, dishonest
  • pre- means 'before': preview, preheat, prepay
  • mis- means 'wrongly' or 'badly': misspell, misplace, misunderstand

Adding a prefix does not change the spelling of the base word. That is why 'misspell' has two s's (mis + spell) and 'unnecessary' has two n's (un + necessary).

To work out an unfamiliar word, cover the prefix, read the base word, then add the prefix's meaning. 'Preheat' = before + heat = to heat something before using it.

Worked examples

Working out meaning

What does 'reheat' mean?

  1. Split the word: re + heat.
  2. 'Re-' means again.
  3. Combine: heat again.

Answer: 'Reheat' means to heat something again.

Making an antonym

Make the opposite of 'obey' using a prefix.

  1. Think of prefixes that mean 'not' or 'the opposite of': un- and dis-.
  2. Try each: 'unobey' is not a word; 'disobey' is.
  3. Check in a dictionary if unsure.

Answer: disobey

Spelling with a prefix

Add 'mis-' to 'spell'.

  1. Write the prefix: mis.
  2. Write the whole base word without changing it: spell.
  3. Join them: misspell (the double s is correct).

Answer: misspell

Practice check

Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.

  1. 1.What does the prefix 're-' mean in 'rebuild'?
  2. 2.Which word means 'not kind'?
  3. 3.What does 'misbehave' mean?
  4. 4.Which is spelled correctly?
  5. 5.Which prefix means 'before'?
  6. 6.Add a prefix to 'appear' to make a word meaning 'go out of sight'. Type the word.
  7. 7.Type the base word in 'unlucky'.
  8. 8.Type the prefix in 'return' (without the hyphen).
Answer guide for parents

  1. What does the prefix 're-' mean in 'rebuild'?

    again — 'Rebuild' means to build again.

  2. Which word means 'not kind'?

    unkind — 'Un-' means not, so 'unkind' means not kind.

  3. What does 'misbehave' mean?

    behave badly — 'Mis-' means wrongly or badly.

  4. Which is spelled correctly?

    misspell — mis + spell = misspell. The base word does not change.

  5. Which prefix means 'before'?

    pre- — 'Pre-' means before, as in 'preview'.

  6. Add a prefix to 'appear' to make a word meaning 'go out of sight'. Type the word.

    disappear — dis + appear = disappear.

  7. Type the base word in 'unlucky'.

    lucky — un + lucky. The base word is 'lucky'.

  8. Type the prefix in 'return' (without the hyphen).

    re — 'Re-' means back: return means to come back.

Watch out for

  • Thinking any word that starts with 're' or 'un' has a prefix. In 'read' or 'uncle', the letters are part of the base word. Check: is there a real base word left?
  • Dropping a letter when the prefix ends with the same letter the base word starts with ('mispell'). Keep both letters.
  • Assuming un- and dis- are interchangeable. Each word uses a particular prefix (unhappy, not dishappy), so check in a dictionary.

Tips for parents

  • When your child meets a long word, ask 'Can you see a prefix?' before they sound it out.
  • Make a prefix wall: one column per prefix, adding words as you find them.
  • Use two colours when writing words so the prefix stands out from the base word.

Go further

  • Play prefix dominoes: match prefix cards to base word cards to build real words.
  • Invent a new word with a prefix (such as 'unbedtime') and write a definition for it.
  • Find five words with prefixes in a newspaper or recipe and explain each meaning.