For Other Professionals
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.
In this article:
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 Root | Definition | Examples |
| ambi | both | ambiguous, ambidextrous |
| aqua | water | aquarium, aquamarine |
| aud | to hear | audience, audition |
| bene | good | benefactor, benevolent |
| cent | one hundred | century, percent |
| circum | around | circumference, circumstance |
| contra/counter | against | contradict, encounter |
| dict | to say | dictation, dictator |
| duc/duct | to lead | conduct, induce |
| fac | to do; to make | factory, manufacture |
| form | shape | conform, reform |
| fort | strength | fortitude, fortress |
| fract | to break | fracture, fraction |
| ject | throw | projection, rejection |
| jud | judge | judicial, prejudice |
| mal | bad | malevolent, malefactor |
| mater | mother | material, maternity |
| mit | to send | transmit, admit |
| mort | death | mortal, mortician |
| multi | many | multimedia, multiple |
| pater | father | paternal, paternity |
| port | to carry | portable, transportation |
| rupt | to break | bankrupt, disruption |
| scrib/scribe | to write | inscription, prescribe |
| sect/sec | to cut | bisect, section |
| sent | to feel; to send | consent, resent |
| spect | to look | inspection, spectator |
| struct | to build | destruction, restructure |
| vid/vis | to see | video, televise |
| voc | voice; to call | vocalize, advocate |
Download a copy of the Common Greek Roots chart below.
| Common Greek Roots | ||
|---|---|---|
| Greek Root | Definition | Examples |
| anthropo | man; human; humanity | anthropologist, philanthropy |
| auto | self | autobiography, automobile |
| bio | life | biology, biography |
| chron | time | chronological, chronic |
| dyna | power | dynamic, dynamite |
| dys | bad; hard; unlucky | dysfunctional, dyslexic |
| gram | thing written | epigram, telegram |
| graph | writing | graphic, phonograph |
| hetero | different | heteronym, heterogeneous |
| homo | same | homonym, homogenous |
| hydr | water | hydration, dehydrate |
| hypo | below; beneath | hypothermia, hypothetical |
| logy | study of | biology, psychology |
| meter/metr | measure | thermometer, perimeter |
| micro | small | microbe, microscope |
| mis/miso | hate | misanthrope, misogyny |
| mono | one | monologue, monotonous |
| morph | form; shape | morphology, morphing |
| nym | name | antonym, synonym |
| phil | love | philanthropist, philosophy |
| phobia | fear | claustrophobia, phobic |
| phon | sound | phone, symphony |
| photo/phos | light | photograph, phosphorous |
| pseudo | false | pseudonym, pseudoscience |
| psycho | soul; spirit | psychology, psychic |
| scope | viewing instrument | microscope, telescope |
| techno | art; science; skill | technique, technological |
| tele | far off | television, telephone |
| therm | heat | 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prefix | Definition | Examples |
| anti- | against | anticlimax |
| de- | opposite | devalue |
| dis- | not; opposite of | discover |
| en-, em- | cause to | enact, empower |
| fore- | before; front of | foreshadow, forearm |
| in-, im- | in | income, impulse |
| in-, im-, il-, ir- | not | indirect, immoral, illiterate, irreverent |
| inter- | between; among | interrupt |
| mid- | middle | midfield |
| mis- | wrongly | misspell |
| non- | not | nonviolent |
| over- | over; too much | overeat |
| pre- | before | preview |
| re- | again | rewrite |
| semi- | half; partly; not fully | semifinal |
| sub- | under | subway |
| super- | above; beyond | superhuman |
| trans- | across | transmit |
| un- | not; opposite of | unusual |
| under- | under; too little | underestimate |
Download a copy of the Common Suffixes chart below.
| Common Suffixes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Suffix | Definition | Examples |
| -able, -ible | is; can be | affordable, sensible |
| -al, -ial | having characteristics of | universal, facial |
| -ed | past tense verbs; adjectives | the dog walked, the walked dog |
| -en | made of | golden |
| -er, -or | one who; person connected with | teacher, professor |
| -er | more | taller |
| -est | the most | tallest |
| -ful | full of | helpful |
| -ic | having characteristics of | poetic |
| -ing | verb forms; present participles | sleeping |
| -ion, -tion, -ation, -tion | act; process | submission, motion, relation, edition |
| -ity, -ty | state of | activity, society |
| -ive, -ative, -itive | adjective form of noun | active, comparative, sensitive |
| -less | without | hopeless |
| -ly | how something is | lovely |
| -ment | state of being; act of | contentment |
| -ness | state of; condition of | openness |
| -ous, -eous, -ious | having qualities of | riotous, courageous, gracious |
| -s, -es | more than one | trains, trenches |
| -y | characterized by | gloomy |
McEwan, E.K. (2008). The reading puzzle: Word analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Great list and who cares if not all of them are there (: its still amazing
Posted by: Anonymous | October 15, 2012 02:29 PMThanks to the information listed above.I learn a lot.
Posted by: analou (lot2x) | November 14, 2012 09:36 PMdidn't get what i was looking for, but I hope other people did.
Posted by: megan | November 28, 2012 05:30 PMThose 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 AMI have found that many roots can also be prefixes or suffixes. Is that correct?
Posted by: IB TCHN | January 07, 2013 10:29 PMto jb
i moved recently and am not in possesion of a dictionary for the time being because it got lost
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 PMgood! But I would like to know what determine the meaning between root and affix
Posted by: sam | May 07, 2013 03:30 AM
Comments
Do you have the greek root -logy I need some of those words for homework
Posted by: Anonymous | January 31, 2012 05:41 PM