Is added to the beginning of a word alter its meanin?

It seems like you're asking about adding a prefix to a word! Yes, adding a prefix to the beginning of a word almost always alters its meaning.

Here's why:

* Prefixes add meaning: Prefixes are small units of meaning that attach to the beginning of a word. They usually indicate:

* Negation: "un-", "in-", "non-" (e.g., happy vs. unhappy)

* Direction: "re-", "pre-" (e.g., write vs. rewrite)

* Size or degree: "super-", "mini-" (e.g., market vs. supermarket)

* Number: "bi-", "tri-" (e.g., cycle vs. bicycle)

* They modify the base word: By adding a prefix, you're changing the original word's meaning in a specific way.

For example:

* Happy vs Unhappy: "un-" negates the meaning of "happy".

* Write vs Rewrite: "re-" indicates repetition or redoing the action of "writing".

* Able vs Unable: "un-" negates the meaning of "able".

There are some exceptions where prefixes don't significantly change the meaning:

* Redundant prefixes: "co-" in words like "co-worker" are sometimes considered redundant because "worker" already implies collaboration.

* Certain prefixes for technical terms: Prefixes like "endo-" and "exo-" have specific meanings in biology and chemistry.

In general, though, adding a prefix is a powerful way to modify the meaning of a word, creating a new word with a distinct meaning.