Word part · Latin prefix
Prefix contra- words: meaning and 14 examples
In short
The Latin prefix contra- (from Latin) means "against, or opposite". It is also spelled counter. Words with it include contradict, contradicts, contradicted, contradicting, contradiction and contradictions. Counter is the same prefix after it passed through French.
- Part
- contra-
- Meaning
- against, or opposite
- Origin
- Latin
- Also spelled
- counter
- Words listed
- 14
Counter is the same prefix after it passed through French. Contra- is the older Latin spelling.
Words with the Latin prefix contra-
The list runs from shorter, common words to longer ones. The bands are a rough guide built from syllable count and how common each word is in our word list, not a grade-level standard. Read each word, then its word sum.
Colors:prefixroot or basesuffix
Next: longer words (about grades 5 and 6)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| contradict | contra (prefix)+dict (root or base)→contradict | say the opposite of what someone said |
| contradicts | contra (prefix)+dict (root or base)+s (suffix)→contradicts | says the opposite (one person, now) |
| contraband | contra (prefix)+band (root or base)→contraband | goods brought in against the law |
| contraflow | contra (prefix)+flow (root or base)→contraflow | traffic moved to run against the usual direction |
More words: counterpart, counterweight, counteract
Stretch: long or less common words (about grades 7 and 8)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| contradicted | contra (prefix)+dict (root or base)+ed (suffix)→contradicted | said the opposite in the past |
| contradicting | contra (prefix)+dict (root or base)+ing (suffix)→contradicting | saying the opposite, now |
| contradiction | contra (prefix)+dict (root or base)+ion (suffix)→contradiction | two things that cannot both be true |
| contradictions | contra (prefix)+dict (root or base)+ion (suffix)+s (suffix)→contradictions | more than one contradiction |
More words: counterclockwise, counterattack, counterbalance
How do you teach the prefix contra-?
Teach contra- with contradict, because the sum spells out the meaning: contra (against) plus dict (say). To contradict is to say against. Students who already know dict from predict and dictionary pick it up in seconds. Then show counter, the same prefix in its French spelling. Counterclockwise is the word to start with there, since every student knows what clockwise means.
A quick routine
Say a sentence and have the student contradict it: "The sky is green today." The student says, "No, it's blue." Then say, "You just contradicted me. Contra means against, dict means say. You said against what I said." Write contradiction and counterclockwise. The student underlines the prefix in each and explains it in four words or fewer.
What do students mix up with contra-?
Counter has two lives. In counterclockwise and counteract it is the prefix meaning against. A kitchen counter and a person who counts are different words with the same spelling. Contract and contrast look close too, but con is the prefix there, not contra. Have the student check whether against makes sense before calling it this prefix.
For the sounds inside these words, see the phonics word lists. Routines that fit: meanings of prefixes and suffixes, circle the parts, read the base and flexible routine for big words.
Questions people ask
What does the prefix contra- mean?
Contra- means "against, or opposite". It is a Latin prefix, also spelled counter. Counter is the same prefix after it passed through French. Contra- is the older Latin spelling.
What are some words with the prefix contra-?
Start with contradict, contradicts, contraband and contraflow. Then move to contradicted and contradicting. This page lists 14 words in all, most with a word sum that shows the parts.
Is counter the same prefix as contra?
Yes. Counter is how the Latin prefix contra came into English through French. Both mean against or opposite: contradict means say against, and counterclockwise means against the way a clock turns.
Related word parts
- anti-against
- dictsay, or tell
- con-with, or together
- de-down, away, or remove
- -tionthe act of, or the result of
Terms on this page: morpheme, root, prefix, suffix, base word, word sum, morphology.
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