Prefix · across / through
Signals crossing, transformation, or movement through: transport, transform, translate, transfer.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Trans- comes from the Latin trans, which means "across" or "on the other side". It shows movement across something, or going from one state to another. The central idea is always crossing, carrying or changing sides.
Beyond physical movement, trans- shows a deep change of form or condition. In those words there is always a clearly different "before" and "after": something goes from being one thing to being another. If you see trans- next to a verb, ask yourself what crosses and what changes.
Attaches to verbs and nouns with no spelling change:
Pronunciation: /træns/, with a short "a" as in "cat."
trans-/træns/
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Although both etymologically mean "carry across," in modern English they are completely separate: translate = linguistic conversion; transport = physical movement. They are not interchangeable.
"A TRANSfer" (noun) vs "to transFER" (verb). This stress shift is a common English pattern shared by: record, permit, present, contest, and many others.
A trick to remember it
Picture crossing a bridge from one side to the other: trans- = across. transport, transform.
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"The caterpillar ___ into a butterfly over several weeks inside the cocoon."
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
What is the correct stress on "transfer" as a noun?
The prefix trans- signals crossing, transformation, or movement through: transport, transform, translate, transfer.
The prefix trans- is pronounced /træns/. For example, "transport".
"port" becomes "transport". It is a typical example of the trans- prefix.
un-, re-, pre-, dis-, over-, in-... every beginning you need to unlock thousands of English words at once.