The prefix con- (sometimes spelled com-, col-, cor-, or co-) means “with” or “together.” It comes from Latin and appears at the beginning of hundreds of English words, turning them into words about joining, combining, or doing things alongside others.

When you cooperate with classmates on a group project, you're working with them (co- + operate). When things connect, they link together (con- + nect). When you collaborate on a science experiment, you labor with your partner (col- + labor). The spelling changes depending on what letter comes next, but the meaning stays the same.

This prefix shows up everywhere. To collect stamps means to bring them together. To feel compassion means to feel with someone who's suffering. When a teacher asks students to convene for an assembly, she's calling them to come together.

Learning to spot con- helps you decode unfamiliar words. If you see consolidate, you can guess it means bringing things together into something solid. If someone conspires, they're “breathing together” in secret. Once you recognize this prefix, you'll notice it constantly, like suddenly seeing a pattern you never noticed before.