I assume "migrate" and "immigrate" are two opposite words. Then what does the prefix "i-" mean?

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Actually! They're not quite opposites. But the words are related! "Migrate" means to move from one place to another. Whereas "immigrate" means to move from one place to another to live there permanently. The prefix "I-" or "Im-" in this case actually means to "enter into." The opposite of "immigrate" is "emigrate," which means to leave a place, as opposed to entering a place. Although, they're used interchangeably. Ex: Whales migrate toward colder poles during summer. Ex: The family is planning to immigrate to New Zealand next year. = The family is planning to emigrate to New Zealand next year.

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