An infix is a type of affix that is inserted within the root of a word or its lexeme. Unlike prefixes (added before the root) and suffixes (added after), infixes modify the meaning of a word by being placed directly within it. Although relatively rare in English, infixes are found in certain expressions to emphasize or alter the original meaning.
Examples of Infixes in English
- Abso-friggin-lutely” – the infix “friggin” is inserted for emphasis
- “Un-freakin-believable” – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- “Fan-freakin-tastic” – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- “Father-in-law” becomes “Fathers-in-law” – the infix “s” is inserted to make the word plural
Infixes are separated from the rest of the word with angle brackets when marking text for interlinear glossing.
Here are some more examples of infixes in English:
- “Abso-bloomin-lutely” – the infix “bloomin” is inserted for emphasis
- “Un-bloody-believable” – the infix “bloody” is inserted for emphasis
- “Abso-posi-lutely” – the infix “posi” is inserted for emphasis
- “Un-flippin-believable” – the infix “flippin” is inserted for emphasis
- “Abso-freakin-lutely” – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
It’s worth noting that infixes are relatively rare in English and are not commonly used in formal writing.
- Mis-freakin-understood – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Blow-your-freakin-mind – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Un-in-freakin-spired – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Super-duper-awesome – the infix “duper” is inserted for emphasis
- Un-believ-freakin-able – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Over-the-top-amazing – the infix “the” is inserted to intensify the meaning
- Un-in-freakin-telligible – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Out-of-this-world-incredible – the infix “the” is inserted to intensify the meaning
- Un-con-freakin-firmed – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Rip-roaring-fun – the infix “roaring” is inserted for emphasis
- Un-de-freakin-niable – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Hyper-freakin-active – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Un-super-duper-stition – the infix “duper” is inserted for emphasis
- Mega-awesome-ness – the infix “awesome” is inserted to intensify the meaning
- Un-believably-incredible – the infix “ably” is inserted to intensify the meaning
- Proto-freakin-type – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Un-forget-freakin-table – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Jam-packed-fun – the infix “packed” is inserted for emphasis
- Un-sur-freakin-passed – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Out-freakin-standing – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Un-in-freakin-habited – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Under-the-sea-adventure – the infix “the” is inserted to intensify the meaning
- Un-mega-phenomenal – the infix “mega” is inserted for emphasis
- Ultra-freakin-violet – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Un-extraordinary – the infix “extra” is inserted to intensify the meaning
- Non-freakin-sense – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Un-be-spectacular – the infix “be” is inserted to negate the meaning
- Multi-freakin-dimensional – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Un-out-freakin-rageous – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Over-the-moon-happy – the infix “the” is inserted to intensify the meaning
- Un-duper-amazing – the infix “duper” is inserted for emphasis
- Re-freakin-markable – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Un-giga-normous – the infix “giga” is inserted for emphasis
- De-freakin-licious – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Un-super-ultra – the infix “super” is inserted for emphasis
- Pseudo-freakin-science – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Un-be-ludicrous – the infix “be” is inserted to negate the meaning
- Tele-freakin-vision – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis
- Un-quasi-reliable – the infix “quasi” is inserted for emphasis
- In-freakin-credible – the infix “freakin” is inserted for emphasis