Morphemes in “onset”
“onset” has 2 morphemes: on- + set.
on
prefix
+
set
root
Spelling changes when the parts join: the boxes show the letters as written; the morphemes themselves are on- + set.
Each morpheme explained
| Morpheme | Type | Free / bound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| on- | derivational prefix | bound | on, forward (particle used as a prefix) |
| set | free root | free | put into a certain place or abstract location |
How the word is built
set → onset
Each step adds one affix to the word before it; the root “set” is where the chain starts.
Break any word into morphemes
Prefixes, roots and suffixes with glosses, free and in your browser.
Open the morphological analyzer →Segmentation derived from MorphyNet (Batsuren, Bella & Giunchiglia, 2021; CC BY-SA 3.0, built from Wiktionary), with hand-written affix glosses and root meanings from WordNet. Reviewed for classroom use; tell us if you spot an error.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many morphemes are in "onset"?
"onset" has two morphemes: on- + set.
How do you break "onset" into morphemes?
on- + set. The root is "set"; on- is a derivational prefix.
What is the root word of "onset"?
The root of "onset" is "set", built up as set → onset.
Is this morphology tool free?
Yes. The Fixie morphological analyzer is free with no signup and runs in your browser.