Introduction
Many English words are created from Greek or Latin root words. Root words hold the most basic meaning of a word. Most root words need a prefix and/or suffix to create a stand-alone word — for example, the Latin root word aud- meaning “to hear or listen” is not a word on its own, but it is the root of words such as audio, audible, or auditorium. Some root words can be stand-alone words — for example, the Greek root word scope meaning “viewing instrument” in the words microscope and telescope.
Common Latin and Greek roots
Download a copy of the Common Latin Roots chart shown 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 shown 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 shown 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 shown 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 |
Citation
McEwan, E.K. (2008). The Reading Puzzle: Word Analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Reprints
You are welcome to print copies for non-commercial use, or a limited number for educational purposes, as long as credit is given to Reading Rockets and the author(s). For commercial use, please contact the author or publisher listed.