Decoding Meaning with Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes

Khan Academy

This educational video introduces the structural components of English words, specifically focusing on morphology: prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Narrated by David, the video moves beyond the basic concept that words are made of letters to explain how they are constructed from meaningful word parts. It uses clear, handwritten-style visuals and humorous examples to demonstrate how identifying these parts can help readers decode the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary. The content systematically breaks down the word "reusable" to define the three key word parts. It explains that prefixes attach to the beginning of words to change meaning, roots serve as the core meaning-carriers (often from Latin or Greek), and suffixes attach to the end. The video emphasizes the practical application of this knowledge through an interactive segment where viewers are challenged to define the complex word "unrevivable" by analyzing its components. For educators, this video serves as an excellent hook for lessons on vocabulary acquisition and reading strategies. It provides a distinct framework for morphological analysis that students can immediately apply to their reading. The conversational tone, visual diagrams of word breakdowns, and the interactive "quiz" portion make it a highly engaging resource for introducing or reviewing how to tackle multi-syllabic words.