Word part · Latin prefix
Prefix multi- words: meaning and 14 examples
In short
The Latin prefix multi- (from Latin) means "many". Words with it include multicolored, multicultural, multimedia, multiplayer, multipurpose and multistory. Multi- joins whole words and keeps every letter: multi + color.
- Part
- multi-
- Meaning
- many
- Origin
- Latin
- Words listed
- 14
Multi- joins whole words and keeps every letter: multi + color. It answers the question how many: more than two.
Words with the Latin prefix multi-
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 |
|---|---|---|
| multiplayer | multi (prefix)+play (root or base)+er (suffix)→multiplayer | a game for many players at once |
| multitask | multi (prefix)+task (root or base)→multitask | do many jobs at the same time |
More words: multiple, multiply
Stretch: long or less common words (about grades 7 and 8)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| multicolored | multi (prefix)+color (root or base)+ed (suffix)→multicolored | having many colors |
| multicultural | multi (prefix)+cultural (root or base)→multicultural | made up of many cultures |
| multimedia | multi (prefix)+media (root or base)→multimedia | using sound, pictures and text together |
| multipurpose | multi (prefix)+purpose (root or base)→multipurpose | useful for many jobs |
| multistory | multi (prefix)+story (root or base)→multistory | having many floors |
| multitasking | multi (prefix)+task (root or base)+ing (suffix)→multitasking | doing many jobs at the same time, now |
| multilingual | multi (prefix)+lingual (root or base)→multilingual | able to speak many languages |
| multivitamin | multi (prefix)+vitamin (root or base)→multivitamin | one pill with many vitamins |
| multinational | multi (prefix)+nation (root or base)+al (suffix)→multinational | working in many countries |
More words: multiplication
How do you teach the prefix multi-?
Multi- means many, and it is a good prefix for math and science days. Students already say multicolored and multiplayer. Put those on the board and ask how many colors or players there are. The answer is always more than two. Then connect it to the counting prefixes they know: uni (one), bi (two), tri (three), multi (many).
A quick routine
Line up four cards: unicycle, bicycle, tricycle, and a blank. Say, "Uni is one, bi is two, tri is three. What do we say for many?" The student answers multi. Then build multicolored, multistory and multipurpose from cards. For each, the student says, "Many colors," "Many floors," "Many uses." It takes three minutes and ties the number prefixes together.
What do students mix up with multi-?
Multiply and multiple come from the same Latin word for many, so they belong to the family, but students can't peel off a base word. Treat them as relatives rather than as sums. Watch for mult inside unrelated words too, though there are very few. The bigger confusion is with poly, the Greek prefix that also means many.
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 multi- mean?
Multi- means "many". It is a Latin prefix. Multi- joins whole words and keeps every letter: multi + color. It answers the question how many: more than two.
What are some words with the prefix multi-?
Start with multiplayer, multitask, multiple and multiply. Then move to multicolored and multicultural. This page lists 14 words in all, most with a word sum that shows the parts.
What is the difference between multi- and poly-?
Both mean many. Multi- is Latin and joins everyday words (multicolored). Poly- is Greek and shows up in math and science words (polygon). If the other part of the word is Greek, expect poly.
Related word parts
- uni-one
- bi-two, or every two
- tri-three
- semi-half, or partly
- -alhaving to do with
- -era person or thing that does something
Terms on this page: morpheme, root, prefix, suffix, base word, word sum, morphology.
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