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Root Words, Roots and Affixes

Familiarity with Greek and Latin roots, as well as prefixes and suffixes, can help students understand the meaning of new words. This article includes many of the most common examples.

Introduction

Many English words are formed by taking basic words and adding combinations of prefixes and suffixes to them. A basic word to which affixes (prefixes and suffixes) are added is called a root word because it forms the basis of a new word. The root word is also a word in its own right. For example, the word lovely consists of the word love and the suffix -ly.

In contrast, a root is the basis of a new word, but it does not typically form a stand-alone word on its own. For example, the word reject is made up of the prefix re- and the Latin root ject, which is not a stand-alone word.

Common Latin and Greek roots

Download a copy of the Common Latin Roots chart below.

Common Latin Roots
Latin RootDefinitionExamples
ambibothambiguous, ambidextrous
aquawateraquarium, aquamarine
audto hearaudience, audition
benegoodbenefactor, benevolent
centone hundredcentury, percent
circumaroundcircumference, circumstance
contra/counteragainstcontradict, encounter
dictto saydictation, dictator
duc/ductto leadconduct, induce
facto do; to makefactory, manufacture
formshapeconform, reform
fortstrengthfortitude, fortress
fractto break fracture, fraction
jectthrow projection, rejection
judjudgejudicial, prejudice
malbadmalevolent, malefactor
matermothermaterial, maternity
mitto sendtransmit, admit
mortdeathmortal, mortician
multimanymultimedia, multiple
paterfatherpaternal, paternity
port to carryportable, transportation
ruptto break bankrupt, disruption
scrib/scribeto write inscription, prescribe
sect/secto cutbisect, section
sent to feel; to sendconsent, resent
spectto lookinspection, spectator
structto builddestruction, restructure
vid/visto see video, televise
vocvoice; to call vocalize, advocate


Download a copy of the Common Greek Roots chart below.

Common Greek Roots
Greek RootDefinitionExamples
anthropoman; human; humanityanthropologist, philanthropy
autoselfautobiography, automobile
biolifebiology, biography
chrontimechronological, chronic
dynapowerdynamic, dynamite
dysbad; hard; unluckydysfunctional, dyslexic
gramthing writtenepigram, telegram
graphwritinggraphic, phonograph
heterodifferentheteronym, heterogeneous
homosamehomonym, homogenous
hydrwaterhydration, dehydrate
hypobelow; beneathhypothermia, hypothetical
logystudy of biology, psychology
meter/metrmeasure thermometer, perimeter
microsmallmicrobe, microscope
mis/misohatemisanthrope, misogyny
monoonemonologue, monotonous
morphform; shapemorphology, morphing
nymname antonym, synonym
phillovephilanthropist, philosophy
phobiafearclaustrophobia, phobic
phon soundphone, symphony
photo/phoslight photograph, phosphorous
pseudofalse pseudonym, pseudoscience
psychosoul; spiritpsychology, psychic
scopeviewing instrumentmicroscope, telescope
technoart; science; skilltechnique, technological
telefar offtelevision, telephone
thermheat thermal, thermometer

Affixes

One method of understanding the meanings of new words is to analyze the different parts of the word and the meanings of those parts. Many new words are formed by adding an affix to the beginning or end of a Latin or Greek root or root word. When affixes are added to the beginning of roots or root words, they are called prefixes For example, the most common prefix is un-, which meant not oropposite of. If you add un- to the word happy, the new word becomes unhappy, which means not happy. When affixes are added to the end of roots or root words, they are called suffixes. The most common suffixes are -s and -es, which mean more than one (or the plural) of the word. Adding -es to wish, changes the meaning o the word to more than one wish.

Download a copy of the Common Prefixes chart below.

Common Prefixes
PrefixDefinitionExamples
anti-againstanticlimax
de-oppositedevalue
dis-not; opposite ofdiscover
en-, em-cause toenact, empower
fore-before; front offoreshadow, forearm
in-, im-inincome, impulse
in-, im-, il-, ir-notindirect, immoral, illiterate, irreverent
inter-between; amonginterrupt
mid-middlemidfield
mis-wronglymisspell
non-notnonviolent
over-over; too muchovereat
pre-before preview
re-again rewrite
semi-half; partly; not fullysemifinal
sub-undersubway
super-above; beyondsuperhuman
trans-acrosstransmit
un-not; opposite ofunusual
under-under; too littleunderestimate


Download a copy of the Common Suffixes chart below.

Common Suffixes
SuffixDefinitionExamples
-able, -ibleis; can beaffordable, sensible
-al, -ialhaving characteristics ofuniversal, facial
-edpast tense verbs; adjectivesthe dog walked,
the walked dog
-enmade ofgolden
-er, -orone who;
person connected with
teacher, professor
-ermoretaller
-estthe mosttallest
-fulfull ofhelpful
-ichaving characteristics ofpoetic
-ingverb forms;
present participles
sleeping
-ion, -tion, -ation,
-tion
act; processsubmission, motion,
relation, edition
-ity, -tystate ofactivity, society
-ive, -ative,
-itive
adjective form of noun active, comparative,
sensitive
-lesswithout hopeless
-lyhow something islovely
-mentstate of being; act ofcontentment
-nessstate of; condition ofopenness
-ous, -eous, -ioushaving qualities ofriotous, courageous,
gracious
-s, -esmore than onetrains, trenches
-ycharacterized bygloomy

McEwan, E.K. (2008). The reading puzzle: Word analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Comments

(Note: Comments are owned by the poster. We are not responsible for their content.)

Do you have the greek root -logy I need some of those words for homework

Posted by: Anonymous  |  January 31, 2012 05:41 PM

i like this..

Posted by: merian toralde  |  July 21, 2012 03:22 AM

it was really helpful..
thanks.. :)

Posted by: victorique :)  |  July 24, 2012 09:37 AM

pretty good

Posted by: Wainer hadley  |  August 24, 2012 02:40 PM

great lists!

Posted by: onlyme  |  September 30, 2012 03:36 PM

good list but i need some examples for -geo-

Posted by: Anonymous  |  October 13, 2012 03:51 PM

Great list and who cares if not all of them are there (: its still amazing

Posted by: Anonymous  |  October 15, 2012 02:29 PM

Thanks to the information listed above.I learn a lot.

Posted by: analou (lot2x)  |  November 14, 2012 09:36 PM

didn't get what i was looking for, but I hope other people did.

Posted by: megan  |  November 28, 2012 05:30 PM

Those who don't think the lists were sufficient because it didn't help them complete their homework need to grow up.

You're right. The lists here aren't the most comprehensive lists you can find online, but this website is for teaching kids to read and those who struggle with reading to read better.

You need more roots, suffixes, and affixes so you can finish your homework? Don't rely on someone else to do your work for you. Use a dictionary.

Posted by: jb  |  December 10, 2012 01:28 AM

this is great it helps allot and easy to understand

Posted by: Hiram  |  December 10, 2012 08:16 PM

not a lot to chose from

Posted by: Anonymous  |  January 07, 2013 07:28 PM

I have found that many roots can also be prefixes or suffixes. Is that correct?

Posted by: IB TCHN  |  January 07, 2013 10:29 PM

to jb
i moved recently and am not in possesion of a dictionary for the time being because it got lost

Posted by: anon  |  January 08, 2013 05:57 PM

Ahhh...but you obviously have access to a computer, so try http://www.merriam-webster.com for the rest of your word needs.

Posted by: Mrs. H  |  January 13, 2013 02:46 PM

it helped alot

Posted by: Anonymous  |  January 25, 2013 02:45 PM

thanks

Posted by: Mark Z  |  March 12, 2013 08:58 AM

love it!

Posted by: meow  |  March 13, 2013 01:38 PM

this helped me with my project

Posted by: :-)  |  March 23, 2013 09:32 AM

THIS HELPS ME

Posted by: KARLA  |  April 04, 2013 08:13 PM

Not helpful at all! I need Greek affixes!

Posted by: Anna Cox  |  April 12, 2013 10:08 AM

This Is Very HelpFul :}

Posted by: Ii_Am_Rachel  |  April 23, 2013 11:12 AM

this is helpful

Posted by: jeremiah  |  April 25, 2013 09:03 AM

It helps

Posted by: Cameron  |  April 25, 2013 09:24 AM

good! But I would like to know what determine the meaning between root and affix

Posted by: sam  |  May 07, 2013 03:30 AM

What is the latin root word for change?

Posted by: Annalyn  |  May 18, 2013 05:13 PM

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