PREFIXED NOUNS

Abstract

The paper discusses prefix derivation of nouns in the Slovak language. Prefixation is typical of verbs and in Slovak nouns are primarily formed with suffixes. This paper lists the most frequent domestic prefixes. The adding of the prefix to the base does not change the word class, whereas the adding of the suffix often does. Prefixes keep their meaning. The phonetic change that can occur at the prefix boundaries is assimilation. The larger group of prefixes consists of several categories. One of them is the special groups of denominal prefixes, whereas another group includes prefixes that are used both in deverbal and denominal derivation.  The third group consists of prefixes that function as independent words in language, i.e. as prepositions.