An affix is an addition to the base form or stem of a word in order to modify its meaning or create a new word. An affix is a morpheme which can attach before (as a prefix), after (as a suffix), inside (as an infix), or around (as a circumfix) the stem or base form of a word.
The following chart gives examples of different kinds of affixes in English and in Kunwinjku:
| AFFIX | ENGLISH EXAMPLE | KUNWINJKU EXAMPLE | SCHEMA | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prefix | un-do | Ngalwamud (female of Wamud skin) | prefix-stem | Appears before the stem |
| Suffix | look-ing | Sydney-beh (from Sydney | stem-suffix | Appears after the stem |
| Infix | abso〈flippin’〉lutely | kamre (he/she is coming – compare kare he/she is going) | st〈infix〉em | Appears within a stem |
| Circumfix | en⟩light⟨en | xxx | circumfix⟩stem⟨circumfix | One portion appears before the stem, the other after |