Dictionary full of root words

Words can be puzzling for students as they are often pieced together by many different word parts (morphemes). A single word might contain a prefix, a suffix, root, and a base or root word, each part holding important information. A root word can be defined as a basic standalone word in which affixes can be added to create new words. A root is the basis of a word and it typically does not stand alone. Teaching root words to kids can help increase students’ proficiency at identifying roots and forming complete words.

It is essential to start teaching root words to kids early so students can develop an understanding of root words, roots, and other morphemes in order to deconstruct words and build word meaning. Our root word spelling lists, used in conjunction with engaging root word games and exercises, are a great way to improve student understanding of how words are formed.

Prefixes and suffixes can be added to a root word to form many new words and change word meaning. Often the term base word is used interchangeably with root word. When affixes are added to them, they serve as the anchor of the word because they hold the word’s principle meaning.

While there are many conflicting definitions of root words and base words, teachers need to keep in mind the importance of teaching these topics. Knowledge of morphemes, like word roots, helps with reading fluency, vocabulary development, and reading comprehension.

Root Words Spelling Lists

Many words in the English language possess a Greek or Latin root. Below is a list of commonly used Greek and Latin roots, their meanings, and words containing them to use when teaching root words to kids.

English Root Word Lists

Root words are words in their own right, but are also the basis of many other words. Prefixes, suffixes, or both affixes may be added to expand upon a root word. Below are words containing English root words. To make teaching root words to kids easier than ever you can access additional word lists on VocabularySpellingCity and pair with root word games and exercises for engaging practice!

Use Our Root Word Lists to Create Engaging Root Word Games and Activities for Students of All Ages!

Only show roots with rootcasts

Only show common roots

Abil

handy, capable of

Abol

destroy, get rid of

Abs-

This root has an audio rootcast.

This is common root

Acerb

bitter, sharp, tart

-acious

inclined to, abounding in

-acity

sharp, keen, fierce

-acy

state of being something

sharp, keen, point

Ac-

attach to, add, give to

-ade

thing or person made by a certain process

-ado

possessing a quality

Ad-

influenced, strongly moved

Af-

to do something

-age

leading, drawing forth

Agon

struggle, contest, conflict

Agr

do, act, drive

Ag-

cause to grow, feed

-al

of or relating to

Al-

walk, go around

Amb-

state or condition

-ancy

of or pertaining to

Ang

being in a state or condition

Ant-

burn, be on fire

-arian

to divide into small joints; speak clearly

Art

person or thing belonging to

-ary

rough, harsh, roused to anger

Aster

possessing a certain quality

-ate

to make have a certain quality

-ation

act of doing something

state or quality of

-atory

of or belonging to

At-

hear, listen to

Augur

desire, be eager

forms a noun

to, towards, at

Barr

to treat in a certain way

Bio

warm, be hot

Cand

be of brilliant whiteness

Canon

rule, straight rod, standard

Cant

burnt, red hot

Caut

assessed, judged, rated

Centr

sift, perceive, decide

Cert

compete, strive, contend

Chart

sheet of paper

Chast

pure, without stain

-cide

moved, stirred up

Civ

mercy, mildness, calmness

-cle

sloping region; zone of the Earth; ladder

Clin

common, public, general

Com

join, win over

Cond

hide, put away

Congru

come together, agree

Conn

buffet, cuff, blow

Cover

grow, arise, increase

Cret

sift, discern, separate

Crimin

shout out in complaint

Culp

fault, blame, guilt

Cult

worry, anxiety, attention

Cuss

become used to

Cyn

suitable, graceful, proper

Del

destroy, wipe out

Demn

loss, penalty, injury

Demon

spirit, divine power

mocked, made fun of

Dextr

apt at teaching

Dif-

apart, not, away from

Dign

separate into parts

Divis

separated into parts, divided

Di-

feel pain, grieve, suffer

Domin

dragon, snake, serpent

Dramat

out of, from

-ed

having a particular state

bring about, accomplish

Ef-

made of, pertaining

-eous

wander, make a mistake

-ery

act or practice

-escent

becoming; beginning to be

Ess

fix the value of

Eu-

used for spelling and pronunciation

Fab

easy, easily accomplished

Fact

trick, deceive, be in error

Famil

household, familiar group

foolish, silly, stupid

Fat

speak, talk, say

Fav

boil, be hot

Fer

carry, bring, bear

Fid

end, form a boundary

Firm

fastened, nailed, secured

Flagr

struck, struck down

Flor

flow, stream, glide

Foc

strong, vigorous, powerful

pour, pour out, spread out

Fract

forehead, foremost part

Fruit

full of, resembling

Funct

bottom, depths, basis

Fur

rage, be mad

Fus

innate quality, inborn talent

Gent

kind, type, class

Germ

bear, bring, carry

Gest

gathered into a ball-shaped mass

Glori

swallow, gulp down

Gnost

line, stroke of a pen, letter

Grand

great, lofty, powerful

Grat

heavy, serious, burdened

Greg

steer a ship

Gyn

stick, cling, hold fast

Hes

human being, man

Hort

tremble, dread, shudder

Hospit

of or connected with

-ian

one relating to

Idio-

own, personal, private

Idol

image, likeness, shape

-id

that which does something

-ify

produce, bring forth

Ig-

tending to do or be something

Il-

command, provide leadership

Impet

one who shows, forefinger

-ine

a or of a continuous action

Insul

between, within, among

Intro-

be envious of

In-

in, on, into

-ion

of the nature of

-ish

verging upon, somewhat

-ism

action or process of doing something

set of beliefs

distinctive trait of language

name of a certain system

-istic

one who performs an action; believer

-ite

of or that which does something

-ize

make or treat in a certain way

-i-

join, attach, form a link

Journ

pertaining to the day, daily

Judic

swear, take an oath, law

Juven

young, young man

Juxta-

next to, beside

Kine

be sluggish, wilt, lack vigor

Later

loosen, take one’s ease

Lect

letter of the alphabet; document

Lev

light, of little weight

Lex

left behind, abandoned

Lic

it is permitted, one may

Lid

line, string, thread

Lion

flow, be liquid

Liter

tie, bind, link

Locut

study, science, theory

word, study, reason

Long

struggle, fight against

light, brightness, clarity

Lud

in a particular way or manner

plan, trick, artifice

Maci

middle, in the middle, in half

Medl

blend, mingle, mix

Mega-

fault, defect, lying

Mens

act of measuring

Ment

earned, gained, deserved

Mers

lean forward, threaten

lessen, make smaller

Misc

measure, method, manner

Moll

grind in a mill

Moment

of or resembling

Mono-

showed, pointed out

warn, advise, remind

Morph

custom, habit, manner

die, decay, death

Mot

gift, public service

Mur

delay, stay behind

deny, say not

Neo-

state, quality, condition

Neur

well known, famous

Noc

carpenter’s square, pattern

Not

gotten to know, found out

messenger, message, report

Nov

against, in the way

Ob-

smear with oil

-on

to, towards, against

order, row, series

Organ

furnished with organs

Orn

one who does something

full of, having

-osis

state; process; condition

Oti

possessing the nature of

Overt

fasten, drive in

Pac

stroke, caress, touch

Pan-

come to sight

Pass

around, near, about

Person

seek, attack, go for

Phan

cause to appear, show

Phas

pity, right conduct

cleanse, make honest

Plac

please, suit, be acceptable

Plaint

mourn for, beat

Plais

smooth, refine, polish

Ponder

have or take control of

Postulat

pause, temporary halt

Potent

having prayed or entreated

Pred

seize hold of

Prehend

seized hold of

Press

before, in front

Prim

previous, in front

Pris

prove, test, approve

Prol

proper, fitting, one’s own

Prot-

pointed, stabbed, pierced

Pung

point, pierce, prick

rotten, stinking, decaying

Put

of what kind?

Quant

rested, stilled, calmed

Quir

seek, strive for

Quisit

rest, be still, stay calm

who, what, which

Radic

be rotten, stink

Rap

snatch, grab, seize

Rar

loose-knit, spaced thinly

Ras

ruled, guided, put right

Red-

rule, guide, direct

Remedi

stay put, stand still

Retro-

place for; thing used for

chew, eat away

Rog

leap, spring forward, jump

Sanct

in good taste, wise

Sat

form, shape, manner

Sch

sit, settle, rest

Seem

felt, sensed, perceived

Sent

feel, sense, perceive

old man, elder, old

Sequ

keep, guard, save

Serv

wait on, serve

Sever

mark, seal, sign

Simil

pretend, copy, imitate

curve, fold, hollow

Sist

be in the habit of

having a certain quality

Somn

see, observe, look, watch over

Spec

see, look at, observe

Spers

seed, a sowing, a scattering

Spous

stand, stand still

Stas

standing, standing still

Stat

mark, brand, tattoo-mark

Still

set up, decided

Stor

drawn tight, confined

String

draw tight, tighten, confine

Struct

become dazed, be amazed

Suad

make sweet, urge

Suav

under, from below

Suc-

taken up, put on

take up, put on

Super-

arrange, put in order

Techn

skill, art, craft

Tedi

cover, shield, protect

Temper

stretch, stretch out

stretched, stretched out

Tenu

boundary, end, limit

Terr

witness, proof, indicator

Text

proposition, idea put forth

Therm

relating to a process or state

Tim

fear, be afraid

Tinct

touch, reach, affect

Titul

label, title, description

Tol

be stiff, be numb

Torr

twisted, wound, wrapped

Tot

divided, granted, given credit

Tric

entangle, make difficulties

Trit

rubbed, worn away

Tri-

trunk, removed by chopping

Trus

confusion, turmoil, disorder

Turg

beat, blunt, deaden the senses

Tut

protect, catch sight of

Typ

blow, impression, form

-ty

rich in, full of

Un-

not, opposite of

-uous

of a city

-ure

shows actions or results

-urnal

active during a given period

-us

forms a noun

wander, roam, rove

Val

be strong, be of value

Vant

steam, spoiled, flat

Vari

go, proceed, advance

Vect

worship, revere, honor

Veng

get even, revenge

Vent

shake, quickly move to and fro

Vic

instead of, change

Vid

see, take care

View

act, be lively

Vil

avenger, defender, revenge

Vin

excellence of character

Vir

entrails, internal organs

Visc

road, way, journey

Vocat

called, called upon

Void

call, call upon

Volat

fly, move swiftly, speed

Volum

rolled, wrapped up

Volv

roll, wrap up, turn round

Vulg

make common, publish

Vuls

pluck, tear up

Wan

towards a place

Wast

desolate, laid waste

Writ

eager rivalry, fierceness

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