Prequel

How to spell prequel

7 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce prequel

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does prequel mean?

1. nounA film, book, or other story that depicts events occurring before those of an existing work.

Prequel in a sentence

• The studio announced a prequel that explores the hero's childhood years.

• Fans debated whether the prequel improved on the original trilogy.

Where does prequel come from?

Language of origin: Latin

Prequel is a modern blend word, formed by swapping the front of 'sequel' for the prefix 'pre-', which comes from Latin prae meaning 'before'. The word 'sequel' itself derives from the Latin sequi, 'to follow', so a sequel literally follows a story while a prequel comes before it. The coinage appears to have arisen in the world of film and fiction criticism around the mid twentieth century, with usage spreading widely once long-running movie franchises began telling stories set earlier than their originals. Its structure is a so-called blend, the same playful pattern that gives us 'brunch' from breakfast and lunch. The spelling trap is the middle of the word: writers often expect '-quel' to be spelled the way it sounds, but it preserves the 'qu' from sequel rather than a 'kw' or simple 'k'.

How the word is built

• pre- (before)
• -quel (from sequel, ultimately Latin sequi 'to follow')