An affix is any group of letters added to a word. There are three kinds of affixes:
| Element | Definition | Comparative Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | Letters added to the front of a word. | cf prefix forms, augment |
| Infix | Letters added to the middle of a word. | cf hifil, tense formative |
| Suffix | Letters added to the end of a word. | pronominal suffix, case endings |
Affixation is, thus, the linguistic process speakers use to form new words by adding sounds (affixes) at
- the beginning (prefix),
- the middle (infix) or
- the end (suffix) of words.