8th Grade English: Ms. Rauschenberg

Greek and Latin Roots

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Many of the words we use in English are actually made up of word pieces from other languages. Some of the most common examples are the Greek and Latin roots that form the core of so many of our words:

Greek Roots

Root

Meaning

Examples
aero air aerospace, aeronautics, aerosol, aeroplane (alternate spelling of airplane)
ast star astronaut, astronomy, disaster, asterisk
bio life, living biology, biography
cycl circle, ring bicycle, cyclone, cycle, encyclopedia, cyclops
derma skin dermitologist, epidermis
geo earth geography, geology, geothermal
gram letter, writing telegram, diagram, grammar, epigram, monogram
graph write telegraph, photograph, phonograph, autograph
meter measure thermometer, centimeter, diameter, barometer
phon sound phonograph, symphony, telephone, microphone, phonics
photo light photograph, photography, telephoto, photosynthesis
pop people population, popular, populace
scop see microscope, telescope, periscope, stethoscope
tele distance, far telegraph, telephone, telescope, telephone
therm heat thermometer, thermal, thermostat, thermos

 

Latin Roots

Root

Meaning

Examples
act do action, react, transact, actor, enact
ang bend angle, triangle, quadrangle, angular
aud hear auditorium, audience, audiovisual, audible, audition
credit believe credit, discredit, incredible, credulous
dict speak predict, contradict, dictate, verdict, diction
duc, duct lead conduct, aqueduct, duct, induct, educate
fac make, do factory, manufacture, benefactor, facsimile (fax)
loc place locate, dislocate, relocate, location, allocate
man hand manual, manufacture, manuscript, manipulate
migr move migrate, immigrant, emigrate, migratory
miss send missile, dismiss, missionary, mission, remiss
mob move automobile, mobile, mobility, mobilize
mot move motion, motor, promote, demote
ped foot pedal, pedestrian, biped, pedestal
pop people population, popular, pop, populace
port carry transport, import, portable, porter
rupt break erupt, interrupt, rupture, bankrupt, abrupt
sign mark signature, signal, significate, insignia
spec see inspect, suspect, respect, spectator, spectacle
tract pull, drag tractor, subtract, attraction, traction
urb city urban, suburb, suburban, urbane
vac empty vacant, vacation, vacuum, evacuate, vacate
vid see video, evidence, provide, providence

Along with the root words, we have prefixes. These allow us to add on to or change the meaning of words:

Common Prefixes

Prefix

Meaning

Examples
anti-, contra- against antifreeze, contradict, antiperspirant, contrapose
bi-/bin- two bicycle, binary, bipolar
cent- hundred century, centennial, cent
inter- among interpersonal, interstellar, interstate, interagency
micro- small microphone, microscope, microwave
non- not nontoxic, nonlethal
over- too much overdose, oversleep, overprotect, overwork
pre- before pregame, predict, pretend, premonition
re- again return, restate, regain, rewrite, retake
sub- below subpar, submarine, substandard
super- above, more than supervise, superstructure, superimpose, superintendent
trans- across transport, transfer, transmit, transcontinental
tri- three triangle, tricycle, triad, trio
under- below underground, understate
uni- one unicorn, unicycle

Let's try some more
post after  
mid- middle midlevel, midweek
mis- bad misinform, mistake, misunderstand
pro forward produce, progress
a, ab away  
un- not unfair, unlikely, unknowingly
in, ir, im not  
mono one monograph, monogamy, monolingual
poly many polygraph, polygamy
hydro water hydroelectric, hydrate, dehydrate
ex out exchange, extend
con together congregate
de-/dis- opposite destabilize, disinfect, disinfectant, disintegrate
semi- half semisweet
auto- self autobiography, autograph
Questions? Comments?  Email me at jrauschenberg@loganhocking.k12.oh.us
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