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Prefix · direction · away from

ab-

Means "away from" or "off": absent, abstract, abnormal, absorb, abuse, abandon, abrupt.

Basic

Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated

What does the prefix ab- mean?

Ab- comes from Latin and means "away from". When you see it at the start of a word, think of something moving away, separating or turning aside. It is a handy clue for new words: if something drifts away from what is normal, concrete or expected, it probably starts with ab-.

Ab- is not the same as a-

Do not mix ab- up with a-, a different prefix that means "without". Ab- is about moving away, while a- is about something missing. One more thing to watch for: before the letters c and t, ab- often turns into abs-, so a word that starts that way is still the same prefix in disguise.

How it is used

Attaches to Latin roots to signal departure, separation, or deviation:

  • ab- + Latin root
    sent → absentsorb → absorbnormal → abnormalstract → abstractrupt → abrupt
  • abs- before c/t
    tain → abstaintract → abstractcess → abscessolute → absolute

Pronunciation: /æb/ (stressed) or /əb/ (unstressed). The variant "abs-" appears before c and t: abstain, abstract, absolute, abscess.

How it is pronounced

ab-/æb/ /əb/

Tap the button to hear how the prefix sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.

Examples

  • sentabsentThree students were absent from class on Monday morning.
  • stractabstractThe essay was too abstract and lacked concrete, specific examples.
  • normalabnormalThe doctor said the test results were abnormal and needed investigation.
  • sorbabsorbA sponge can absorb large amounts of liquid very quickly.
  • useabuseThe charity works to prevent the abuse of vulnerable children.
  • andonabandonThey had to abandon the project due to funding cuts.
  • ruptabruptThe meeting ended abruptly when the fire alarm went off.

Common mistakes

ab- and a- (negation) are the same prefix
ab- means "away from" (directional); a- before Greek roots means "without/not" (negative)

"Ab-" (Latin "ab" = away from): absent = away from the place; abrupt = broken off away. "A-" before Greek roots (negation): amoral = without morals; atypical = not typical; asymmetry = without symmetry. They look similar but have different origins and meanings. Ab- is Latin and directional; a- is Greek and negative.

A trick to remember it

Picture walking away from something: ab- = away from. absent, abnormal.

Practise what you learned

Exercise 1 · Form the word

Three students were ___ from class on Monday due to the flu.

Hint: ab- + Latin "esse" (to be) = away from being here

Exercise 2 · Pick the right one

What is the difference between "ab-" and "a-" before Greek roots?

Frequently asked questions

What does the prefix ab- mean in English?

The prefix ab- means "away from" or "off": absent, abstract, abnormal, absorb, abuse, abandon, abrupt.

How do you pronounce ab-?

The prefix ab- is pronounced /æb/ /əb/. For example, "absent".

Can you give an example of a word with ab-?

"sent" becomes "absent". It is a typical example of the ab- prefix.

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