Morphemes in “unbearable”
“unbearable” has 3 morphemes: un- + bear + -able.
un
prefix
+
bear
root
+
able
suffix
Spelling changes when the parts join: the boxes show the letters as written; the morphemes themselves are un- + bear + -able.
Each morpheme explained
| Morpheme | Type | Free / bound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| un- | derivational prefix | bound | not, opposite of; reverse the action |
| bear | free root | free | massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws |
| -able | derivational suffix | bound | capable of being; having the quality of |
How the word is built
bear → bearable → unbearable
Each step adds one affix to the word before it; the root “bear” is where the chain starts.
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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 "unbearable"?
"unbearable" has three morphemes: un- + bear + -able.
How do you break "unbearable" into morphemes?
un- + bear + -able. The root is "bear"; un- is a derivational prefix, -able is a derivational suffix.
What is the root word of "unbearable"?
The root of "unbearable" is "bear", built up as bear → bearable → unbearable.
Is this morphology tool free?
Yes. The Fixie morphological analyzer is free with no signup and runs in your browser.