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1.Most English root words come from the Greek and Latin languages. Latin Root Words Greek Root Words
2. One useful method for building vocabulary through root words is to first look at a base word and then look for familiar prefixes and suffixes that go with that base.
3. Example:
4. 10 Common Root Words
Root
Meaning
bio-
life
auto-
self
phon-
sound
tele-
distance, far
geo-
earth
photo-
light
vac-
empty
scrib-, script-
write
vis-, vid-
see
port-
carry
sens-, sent-
feel
5. (G) indicates that a root is Greek in origin, and (L) indicates that a root is Latin.
1. Psych — (G) Mind
Psychology (the study of the mind)
2. Phil — (G) Love
Cinephile (movie lover)
3. Struc — (L) Build
Structure (parts or pieces built into something complex)
4. Vac — (L) Empty
Vacuous (having an empty mind, not thinking)
5. Ver — (L) True
Veritable (real, true, authentic)
6. Scrib/Scrip — (L) Write
Prescription (a written note signed by a doctor which provides instructions for medicine or treatment)
7. Mega — (G) Great, large
Megaphone (a large device which makes your voice louder)
8. Mono — (G) Single
Monochromatic (having only one color)
9. Luc — (L) Light
Lucid (bright, clear)
10. Mal — (L) Bad
Malevolent (wanting to do bad or evil things)
11. Mar — (L) Sea
Marina (a port or harbor for boats and ships)
12. Manu/Mani — (L) Hand
Manicure (a treatment to make your hands look clean, neat and polished)
13. Min — (L) Small
Miniscule (very small in size)
14. Fort — (L) Strong
Fortitude (strength)
15. Mort — (L) Death
Mortician (someone who prepares dead bodies to be buried)
16. Nas/Nat — (L) Birth
Nascent (coming into existence, something just recently created)
17. Trans — (L) Across
Transatlantic (something which crosses the Atlantic Ocean)
18. Voc/Vos — (L) Voice
Vociferous (loud, someone who speaks loudly or talks a lot)
19. Aqua — (L) Water
Aquarium (a tank of water where fish are kept as pets)
20. Bene — (L) Good
Benevolent (wanting good things for people, generous, kind)
21. Chron — (G) Time
Chronological (organized by time of occurrence)
22. Bio — (G) Life
Biology (the study of living things)
23. Theo — (G) God
Theology (the study of religion)
24. Phone — (G) Sound
Telephone (a device used to talk with other people)
25. Omni — (L) All
Omniscient (knowing everything)
26. Sens/Sent — (L) Feel
Sentimental (emotional, attaching emotional value to things)
27. Terr — (L) Earth
Terrarium (a container for land animals kept as pets, often containing rocks, dirt or sand)
28. Vid/Vis — (L) See
Visible (able to be seen)
29. Auto — (G) Self
Automatic (happens on its own)
30. Poly — (G) Many
Polyglot (person who can speak many languages)
