What does the prefix ambi- mean?
Ambi- comes from the Latin ambo, which means "both". It always points to two sides, two options or two ways of seeing something. If a word starts with ambi-, there is almost always a hidden "two" in its meaning.
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Prefix · quantity · both
ambi-
Means "both" or "on both sides": ambidextrous, ambiguous, ambivalent, ambiguity, ambivert.
Basic
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Two sides, three kinds of words
In English, ambi- shows up in three kinds of words: skills (being able to do something with either hand), thinking (being open to two readings, or feeling two things at once) and personality (sitting somewhere between two extremes). The thread is always two sides at the same time, which makes new ambi- words easy to guess.
How it is used
Combines with Latin and Greek roots to express duality or both-sided presence:
- ambi- + ability/positiondextrous → ambidextrouslateral → ambilateralvert → ambivert
- ambi- + mental stateguous → ambiguousvalent → ambivalentguity → ambiguityvalence → ambivalence
Pronunciation: /ˈæm.bɪ/.
How it is pronounced
ambi-/ˈæm.bɪ/
Tap the button to hear how the prefix sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Root word
With ambi-
In a phrase
- dextrousambidextrousAmbidextrous players are rare and highly valued in competitive sports.
- guousambiguousThe contract had an ambiguous clause that confused both parties.
- valentambivalentShe felt ambivalent about the move because of the added stress.
- guityambiguityRemove all ambiguity from the instructions before sharing them.
- vertambivertAn ambivert gains energy from both social time and quiet solitude.
- valenceambivalenceHer ambivalence about the role was obvious in every meeting.
- anceambianceThe restaurant's warm ambiance made every dinner feel special.
Common mistakes
confusing "ambiguous" with "ambivalent"
"ambiguous" = having two or more possible meanings (describes something external); "ambivalent" = feeling two opposite emotions at once (describes a person's internal state)
Both use ambi- but apply differently: "The instructions are ambiguous" (the text can be read two ways). "I feel ambivalent about the promotion" (I feel excited and worried simultaneously). "Ambiguous" describes things; "ambivalent" describes how a person feels.
A trick to remember it
Picture someone ambidextrous, using both hands equally well: ambi- = both. ambiguous (can be read two ways).
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
If an instruction is "ambiguous", it means...
Frequently asked questions
What does the prefix ambi- mean in English?
The prefix ambi- means "both" or "on both sides": ambidextrous, ambiguous, ambivalent, ambiguity, ambivert.
How do you pronounce ambi-?
The prefix ambi- is pronounced /ˈæm.bɪ/. For example, "ambidextrous".
Can you give an example of a word with ambi-?
"dextrous" becomes "ambidextrous". It is a typical example of the ambi- prefix.
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