A - French Prefix

Prefix: a

Type of prefix: adjectival, nominal

The French prefix a, known as a privatif (privative a), is added to adjectives and nouns to indicate negation or deprivation.

anormal - abnormal
(added to normal - normal)

alogique - alogical
(added to logique - logical)

atoxique - non-toxic
(added to toxique - toxic, poisonous)

asymétrie - asymmetry
(added to symétrie - symmetry)


When the a privatif precedes a vowel or h, a- changes to an-

analphabète - illiterate
(added to alphabète [rare] - literate)

anhistorique - ahistorical
(added to historique - historical)