To connect is to tie together, to combine is to put together and to collect is to gather together. The Latin prefix con- means “with” or “together,” and it is the most common prefix on the list: thirty-six words use it. Greek has a partner, syn-, in synonym (a word with the same meaning) and symphony (sounds together).
Key idea
con- (also com-, col-, cor-, co-) = with, together; sometimes thoroughly. syn- (also sym-, syl-) = together, with (Greek).
con- changes shape to match the next sound: com- before b, m and p (compel, commend), col- before l (colloquial, collusion), cor- before r (corroborate) and co- before vowels and h (coerce, coherent). Greek syn- does the same: sympathy, syllable.
The parts and their words
Words taken apart
| Word and meaning | Parts, and what they say |
|---|---|
| consensus general agreement | con- together + sens feel → “feeling together” |
| concur to agree | con- together + cur run → “run together” |
| congregate to gather into a crowd or group | con- together + greg flock + -ate → “flock together” |
| contemporary living or happening at the same time; also, modern | con- with + tempor time + -ary → “of the same time” |
| collusion secret cooperation for a dishonest purpose | col- together + lus play + -ion → “playing together (in secret)” |
| corroborate to confirm with more evidence | cor- together + robor strength + -ate → “strengthen together” |
| convivial friendly and lively; fond of good company | con- together + viv live + -ial → “living (feasting) together” |
| synchronize to make things happen at the same time | syn- together + chron time + -ize → “make the same time” |
| sympathy sharing or understanding another’s sorrow | sym- with + path feeling + -y → “feeling with” |
Worked example: Use the parts
The nurse was compassionate, gentle with every frightened patient. What does compassionate mean?
- Take it apart: com- (with) + passion (suffering, as in the older sense of the word) + -ate.
- Literally: “suffering with” someone.
- The sentence fits: she felt for her patients.
Answer: Feeling for others’ suffering and wanting to help.
Meet the words
Common mistake
Missing con- in its other shapes: com-, col-, cor- and co- are all the same prefix (commend, collusion, corroborate, coerce). And sometimes con- does not add “together” at all but only makes a word stronger, meaning “thoroughly”: to confound is to confuse thoroughly.