Which term describes the smallest unit of meaning that may be a prefix or a full word?

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Multiple Choice

Which term describes the smallest unit of meaning that may be a prefix or a full word?

The smallest unit of meaning in a language is a morpheme. A morpheme carries meaning and can be a standalone word, like “cat,” or a prefix/suffix that attaches to a word, such as “un-” in “unfold” or “-ness” in “happiness.” This distinguishes morphemes from phonemes (sound units), graphemes (written letters), and syllables (pronunciation chunks that may not carry meaning on their own). So morpheme is the term that describes the smallest meaningful unit, whether it’s a prefix or a full word.

The smallest unit of meaning in a language is a morpheme. A morpheme carries meaning and can be a standalone word, like “cat,” or a prefix/suffix that attaches to a word, such as “un-” in “unfold” or “-ness” in “happiness.” This distinguishes morphemes from phonemes (sound units), graphemes (written letters), and syllables (pronunciation chunks that may not carry meaning on their own). So morpheme is the term that describes the smallest meaningful unit, whether it’s a prefix or a full word.

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