What does the prefix inter- mean?
Inter- comes from the Latin inter, which means "between" or "among". It shows a relation, action or position between two or more things, people or groups. The idea is always "between" or "connecting several".
ESEN
Prefix · between / among
inter-
Signals a relationship or action between two or more things: international, interact, internet.
Basic
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
A prefix that connects
Inter- is very productive, especially in technology and modern life, because almost everything that connects us today has it: think of how a network, a conversation or an interview works. Just be careful not to confuse it with intra-, which means "within": it has its own page.
How it is used
Attaches to nouns and verbs with no spelling change:
- inter- + nounnational → internationalnet → internetview → interviewface → interface
- inter- + verbact → interactpret → interpretrupt → interruptchange → interchange
Pronunciation: /ˈɪntər/, stressed on the first syllable. The final "e" is a schwa /ər/.
How it is pronounced
inter-/ˈɪntər/
Tap the button to hear how the prefix sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Root word
With inter-
In a phrase
- nationalinternationalThe conference brought together experts from forty countries.
- actinteractChildren learn social skills by interacting with their peers.
- netinternetThe internet changed how people shop and communicate daily.
- viewinterviewShe prepared all evening for her job interview downtown.
- ruptinterruptIt is rude to interrupt someone during a formal meeting.
- faceinterfaceThe new interface is so intuitive that users need no training.
- pretinterpretIt is hard to interpret someone's tone through text messages.
Common mistakes
inter- and intra- are the same
inter- = between different things; intra- = within one thing
"International" = between countries. "Intranational" = within one country. "Internet" = between different networks. "Intranet" = a network inside one organisation.
interrupt = only entering someone's conversation
interrupt = cut into or stop any action or process mid-course
"Interrupt" applies to any process being cut into: interrupt a speech, a signal, a meeting, or a computer process. The core sense is to break into the middle of something in progress.
A trick to remember it
Picture a bridge between two buildings: inter- = between. international, interact.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"The ___ between the two teams helped solve a problem neither could have solved alone."
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
What is the difference between "internet" and "intranet"?
Frequently asked questions
What does the prefix inter- mean in English?
The prefix inter- signals a relationship or action between two or more things: international, interact, internet.
How do you pronounce inter-?
The prefix inter- is pronounced /ˈɪntər/. For example, "international".
Can you give an example of a word with inter-?
"national" becomes "international". It is a typical example of the inter- prefix.
Other useful prefixes
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un-, re-, pre-, dis-, over-, in-... every beginning you need to unlock thousands of English words at once.