When reading a newspaper you come across the word subterranean You guess meaning of by breaking it into parts know that sub is prefix under and terra?

Here's how breaking down "subterranean" helps you understand its meaning:

* Sub: As you correctly identified, this prefix means "under" or "below".

* Terra: This comes from the Latin word for "earth" or "land".

Putting it together, "subterranean" means "under the earth" or "underground".

This is a great example of how knowing prefixes and roots can help you decipher unfamiliar words!