A medical example of a Greek-based color word is erythrokinetics (e·ryth·ro·ki·net·ics), defined as «A study of the kinetics of red blood cells from their generation to destruction.»
A suffix is an inseparable form that cannot be used alone but that carries an indication of quality, action, or relation. When added to a combining form, it makes a complete word and will determine whether the word is a noun, adjective, verb, or adverb.
In English grammar, a root is a word or portion of a word from which other words grow, usually through the addition of prefixes and suffixes. By learning root words, you can decipher unfamiliar words, expand your vocabulary, and become a better English speaker.
A quick example in English: Backpack and ratpack contain what looks like a suffix (pack), but, as we know, pack is a noun and verb on its own.
(Note: breathing marks are missing. These forms and the other tables are excerpted from Hough’s book but have been modified based on corrections submitted by readers.)
And from the Latin, we have:
A suffix combined with a root is different from a compound word which, in loose English usage, is usually thought of as just another case of root + suffix. Sometimes two Greek or Latin words are put together to form a compound word. Often we think of these words as suffixes when they aren’t, technically, although they may be thought of as end forms.
Here are more combining forms that are important to know since they are numbers. If you’ve ever had trouble remembering whether millimeter or kilometer was closer to an inch, pay attention here. Note that the milli- is Latin and the kilo- is Greek; the Latin is the smaller unit, and the Greek the larger, so millimeter is a 1000th part of a meter (.0363 of an inch) and the kilometer is 1000 meters (39370 inches).
Some of these numerals are derived from adverbs, most from adjectives.
John Hough, Scientific Terminology; New York: Rhinehart & Company, Inc. 1953.
If you recognize the Greek and Latin prefixes and affixes, you’ll understand the words as a whole.
«As someone trained in foreign languages and theoretical linguistics, I completely agree with the experts quoted in Why your kids should learn Latin. I would add that the study of Ancient Greek stems and affixes is equally valuable. As a follow-up to this article, I would suggest that you compile a short course on the meanings of Greek and Latin stems and affixes, focusing upon their value as reading aids in English and the Romance languages.»
The content of this article is based on Scientific Terminology by expert John Hough. Rather than an introduction to linguistics, it is meant to be an introduction to Classical stems and affixes.
English is really a fascinating language. While learning new concepts and grammar techniques you generally come across a lot of words. Sometimes you are eager to know the meaning of the words and search through the dictionary.
Have to ever wonder how these words would have originated or from where they might have originated? The origin of these words is from different languages such as Sanskrit, French, Latin, Greek, and many more.
- Greek and Latin Root Words List – Meaning & Examples
- Table of Greek Root Words List with Meanings & Examples
- List of Common Latin Root Words – Meanings & Examples
- 4 Great Reasons to Learn Greek and Latin Root Words
- Know One Root, Know Many Words
- Know a Suffix, Know the Part of Speech
- Know a Prefix, Know Part of the Definition
- Know Your Roots Because You Will Be Tested
- The Roots of Words
- Greek Root Words
- Adjective + Root + Suffix = Word
- Root + Suffix = Word
- Why Study Terminology
- Root + Suffix/Prefix = Word
- Latin Root Words
Greek and Latin Root Words List – Meaning & Examples
But before moving ahead we need to understand what do we mean by root words.
We know that the English words are formed by using some basic words and deriving a combination of words by adding prefixes and suffixes. This basic word to which we add suffix and prefix is called the root words. They are called so because they form the basis or foundation of a new word. It is essential to know that the root words are worse in its own right. They are sometimes a stand-alone word. It is very essential to understand the meaning of the common root word as it will help you to deduce the meaning of the new words that you might encounter. Sometimes the root word may have more than one meaning. Suppose you come across a greek word ‘tele’, it means far. Now when you add proper suffix or prefix to the word, you can get a new word such as television, telegraph, or telephone.
Let’s see some of the new words which are derived from various Latin & Greek root words.
Table of Greek Root Words List with Meanings & Examples
That was a list of greet words. Let’s now have a quick look at different Latin origin words and their meanings.
List of Common Latin Root Words – Meanings & Examples
Phew!, that was a long list, you would not be able to learn all the words in one go.
Now, you are familiar with an extensive list of Latin as well as Greek Root words. These root words give rise to newly formed complex words which will help you to improvise your English vocabulary. Make sure that you use each word every day while drafting some content or use it in your conversation on a daily basis. These root words would be applicable to creating some innovating words.
4 Great Reasons to Learn Greek and Latin Root Words
Matt Lincoln / Getty Images
Greek and Latin roots aren’t always the most fun to memorize, but doing so pays off in a very big way. When you know the roots behind the vocabulary that we use in everyday language right now, you have a step up on vocabulary comprehension that other people may not have. Not only will this help you in school across the board (science fields are known for their use Greek and Latin terminology), but knowing Greek and Latin roots will help you on major standardized tests like the PSAT, ACT, SAT and even the LSAT and GRE.
Why spend time learning the origins of a word? Well, read below and you’ll see.
Know One Root, Know Many Words
Knowing one Greek and Latin root means that you know many words associated with that root. Score one for efficiency.
If you understand that any time you see the root, theo-, you’re going to be dealing with «god» in some form, you’d know that words like theocracy, theology, atheist, polytheistic, and others all have something to do with a deity even if you’ve never seen or heard those words before. Knowing one root can multiply your vocabulary in an instant.
Know a Suffix, Know the Part of Speech
Knowing one suffix, or the word ending can often give you the part of speech of a word, which can help you know how to use it in a sentence.
A word that ends in -ist will usually be a noun and will refer to a person’s job, ability, or tendencies. For instance, a cyclist is a person who cycles. A guitarist is a person who plays the guitar. A typist is a person who types. A somnambulist is a person who sleepwalks (som = sleep, ambul = walk, ist = a person who).
Know a Prefix, Know Part of the Definition
Knowing the prefix, or the word beginning can help you understand part of the word, which is really helpful on a multiple choice vocabulary test.
Root: a-, an-
Definition: without, not
Atypical means not typical or unusual. Amoral means without morals. Anaerobic means without air or oxygen. If you understand a prefix, you’ll have a better time guessing the definition of a word you may not have seen before.
Know Your Roots Because You Will Be Tested
Every major standardized test requires you to understand more difficult vocabulary than you’ve seen or used before. No, you won’t have to write the definition of a word down or select a synonym from a list anymore, but you will have to know the complex vocabulary, anyway.
Take, for instance, the word incongruous. Let’s say it appears in the Redesigned PSAT Writing and Language Test. You have no idea what it means and it’s in the question. Your correct answer relies on your vocabulary comprehension. If you remember that the Latin root “congruence” means “to come together” and the prefix in- negates what’s behind it, then you may get that incongruous means «not together or inharmonious.» If you didn’t know the root, you wouldn’t even have a guess.
axon
axonography
axonometric
axiology
axiom
axiomatic
axis
axisymmetry
auspice
auspicious
avian
aviary
aviation
aviator
avarice
avaricious
avarous
ave
avid
avidity
autarchy
authentic
autism
autocracy
autograph
automatic
autonomy
aural
auricle
aurinasal
auscultate
auscultation
aureate
aureole
auction
augend
augment
augmentation
augur
augury
august
author
auxiliary
inauguration
audible
audio
audiology
audit
audition
auditorium
auditory
audacious
audacity
athlete
athletic
decathlon
pentathlon
triathlon
aster
asterisk
asteroid
astrology
astronomy
astronaut
diasterism geaster
monaster
asperity
exasperate
asinine
ass
easel
arthritic
arthritis
arthropod
arthroscopic
arthrosis
artifact
artifice
artificial
artificiality
artisan
inert
inertia
aristocracy
aristocrat
arid
argent
Argentina
aretaic
arete
arduous
ardent
ardor
arson
Antarctic
arctic
Arctic Ocean
palearctic
archaeology
archaic
archaism
anarchy
archangel
archetype
architect
archon
autarchism
autarchy
exarch
monarchy
oligarchy
patriarchy
polyarchy
synarchy
triarchy
arcane
arcanum
arbiter
arbitrage
arbitrary
arbitration
arable
aquamarine
aquarium
aqueduct
aquifer
aperient
apéritif
aperitive
aperture
overt
overture
pert
aphelion
apocrine
apocryphal
apogee
aporrhinosis
apostasy
apostate
anthropology
anthroposophy
anthropomorphic
misanthrope
philanthropy
anthracite
anthracycline
anthrax
anther
anthology
antebellum
antediluvian
anticipate
antiquarian
antiquated
antique
antiquity
antagonist
antagonize
antibiotic
antipodes
antirrhinum
anniversary
annual
centennial
millennium
perennial
animal
animation
anemograph
anemometer
anemone
anemophilous
anemophobia
anemotropism
androgen
android
polyandrous
polyandry
anabaptist
anaphylaxis
anarrhexis
anion
anode
anaerobic
anhydrous
ambrosia
arrhythmia
atheism
atypical
ample
amplify
amplitude
amphibian
amphibolic
amphitheatre
amphoterism
amiable
amicable
amity
enemy
enmity
inimical
ambulance
ambulatory
preamble
ambidexterity
ambient
ambiguous
ambit
ambition
ambivalent
amboceptor
amputation
ancipital
andante
amateur
amatory
amenity
amoration
amorous
enamoured
altimeter
altitude
allograph
allophone
parallax
alias
alibi
alien
alter
alternate
altruism
analgesic
arthralgia
neuralgia
albedo
albino
albumen
alacrity
allegro
agroforestry
agronomy
agriculture
peregrine
act
action
agenda
agent
agile
agitate
ambiguous
castigate
cogent
cogitate
cogitation
excogitate
mitigate
navigate
agony
antagonist
antagonize
demagogue
pedagogue
pedagogy
strategy
synagogue
age
coeval
eon
eternal
longevity
medieval
primeval
ether
ethereal
etheric
hypaethros
aesthesia
aesthesis
aesthete
aesthetics
anaesthetic
synesthesia
aerobic
aerodynamic
aeronautics
aeroplane
aerorrhachia
aerosol
aerotitis
adipocellular
adipose
accept
accurate
adapt
affect
agglomerate
aggrandize
aggregate
aggression
annectent
approximate
ascend
acerose
acupuncture
acute
acutifoliate
acrobatics
acromegaly
acronym
acrophobia
acropolis
acrostic
acidiferous
acidity
acidosis
acidulation
acidulous
acetate
acetic
acetone
acetum
acerbic
acrid
acrimony
exacerbate
abnormal
abrasion
absent
abstain
abstraction
auference
aversion
baculiform
baculum
bacteria
anabolic
anabolism
ball
ballista
ballistic
ballistospore
belomancy
belonephobia
bolide
catabolic
catabolism
devil
diabolic
emblem
emblematic
embolic
embolism
embolus
holometabolism
hyperbole
metabolism
parable
parabola
paraboloid
parle
parley
problem
problematic
symbol
symbolic
symbolism
taurobolium
thromboembolism
abaptiston
Anabaptist
baptism
baptize
barograph
barometer
barostat
barycentre
barycentric
baryogenesis
baryon
barysphere
baryton
barytone
hyperbaric
hypobaric
isobaric
base
basic
basis
basicranial
basioglossal
basirrhinal
basommatophoric
basolateral
debase
batholith
bathophobia
bathos
bathymetry
bathyscaphe
bathysphere
isobathic
beatification
antebellum
bellicose
belligerent
rebellion
beneficence
benefit
benevolent
benign
benignant
benignity
bicycle
biennial
bifocal
bigamy
binary
binoculars
biscotti
bib
beer
beverage
imbibe
bible
bibliography
biodiversity
biography
biohazard
biology
biome
biometric
biosphere
blastema
blastochyle
blastocoele
blastula
ectoblast
endoblast
entoblast
fibroblast
osteoblast
sideroblast
blennadenitis
blennophobia
blennosperma
blennorrhagia
bonify
bonitary
borealis
botanic
botanist
botanology
botany
beef
boor
bovine
bucinator muscle
brachiferous
brachial artery
brachiocubital
brachialgia
brachionerysipelas
brachionigraph
brachiorrhachidian
brachiosaurus
brachistochrone
brachycephaly
brachydactyly
bradycardia
bradysuria
bradytelic
branchiopneustic
branchiopod
nudibranch
abbreviate
brevextensor
brevicaudate
brevity
brief
bromatium
bromateccrisis
bromatherapy
bromatology
bromography
brome
Bromus
Bromus ramosus
bromate
bromide
bromine
bronchiole
bronchitis
bronchopneumonia
bronchus
Brontosaurus
brontology
brontophobia
buccal
buccilingual
buccolingual
bulbiform
bulbiparous
bulboartrial
bulborrhexis
bulbous
bulbule
bullectomy
bulliferous
ebullient
ebullism
bursa
bursalogy
bursar
bursary
bursectomy
bursiform
disburse
cachexia
cacodemon
cacography
cacophony
cacorrhacitis
kakistocracy
accident
cadaver
cadence
cascade
case
recidivism
caesura
excise
germicide
homicide
incisor
scissors
calisthenics
calligraphy
Callista
Callisto
calophyllous
kaleidoscope
calendar
claim
class
conciliate
conciliatory
council
intercalate
nomenclature
caldarium
caldera
calefacient
calefaction
calefactive
calefactory
calenture
calescent
calid
calor
calore
caloric
calorie
calorifacient
calorific
calorigenic
calorimeter
caudle
cauldron
chafe
chafery
chalder
chaldron
chaud-froid
chauffer
chauffeur
chauffeuse
decalescence
decalescent
nonchalance
nonchalant
recalescence
scald
calcite
calcitrant
calcium
calculate
calculus
chalicothere
chalk
recalcitrant
ecclesia
Ecclesiastes
ecclesiastic
ecclesiology
ecclesiophobia
epiclesis
paraclete
calumnious
calumny
cavil
challenge
apocalypse
calyx
epicalyx
eucalyptus
antechamber
bicameral
camaraderie
camber
camera
chamber
chamberlain
comrade
concamerate
concameration
multicamera
tricameral
unicameral
camisade
camisado
Camisard
camisole
chemise
camp
campaign
campesino
campestral
campicolous
campimetry
campsite
campus
champion
decamp
encamp
encampment
canaille
canary
canicule
canid
canine
Canis
Canis Major
cane
canister
canon
canonic
accent
cantata
canto
cantor
chant
enchant
recant
candela
candid
candle
candor
incandescent
incendiary
incense
capable
capacious
captive
caption
captivate
capture
conception
except
forceps
incipient
intercept
recipient
achievable
achieve
achievement
ancipital
ancipitous
biceps
bicipital
cabotage
cad
caddie
cadet
cape
capital
capitular
capitulate
capitulation
captain
chapter
chaptrel
chattel
chef
chief
chieftain
co-captain
co-captaincy
decapitate
decapitation
occipital
occiput
precipitation
precipitous
quadriceps
recap
recapitulate
sincipital
sinciput
sous-chef
subcaptain
triceps
tricipital
unicipital
vice-captain
vice-captaincy
cab
caper
caprice
Capricorn
caprine
capsule
arbonara
bicarbonate
carbon
carbonate
carbonation
Carboniferous
carbuncle
radiocarbon
chancel
chancellery
chancellor
chancery
incarcerate
incarceration
subchancel
carcinogenic
carcinoma
cardiac
cardiograph
cardioid
cardiology
cardiomyopathy
electrocardiogram
endocardium
epicardium
hemicardia
myocardium
pericardium
cardinal
cardinality
kern
carnage
carnal
carnality
carnary
carnate
carnation
carneous
carnival
carnivore
carnose
carnosity
carrion
caruncle
carunculate
charcuterie
charnel
discarnate
incarnadine
incarnate
incarnation
reincarnate
reincarnation
acarpous
angiocarpous
anisocarpic
Carpo
carpogonium
carpology
carpophagous
carpophore
carpospore
cystocarp
endocarp
epicarp
mesocarp
monocarpic
pericarp
polycarpic
procarp
pseudocarp
carpal
carpal tunnel syndrome
carpus
metacarpus
caste
castigate
castrate
chaste
chastity
incest
catabolic
catacomb
catalyst
catarrhine
catastrophe
catatonia
cathode
cation
catenary
concatenation
catharsis
cathartic
caudal
coda
accuse
because
causal
causative
cause
excuse
calm
catacaustic
caustic
cauter
cauterize
cautery
diacaustic
holocaust
hypocaust
cave
cavity
excavation
accede
cede
concede
precede
procedure
proceed
procession
recede
secede
succeed
success
ceiling
clandestine
conceal
occult
acceleration
celerity
caenogastropod
caenogenesis
Cenozoic
cenotaph
kenosis
cenobite
coenesthesia
coenocyte
censure
census
cent
centennial
centurion
percent
centenarian
centenary
centesimal
centesimation
eccentric
central
center
concentrate
concentric
centrifugal
centripetal
acephalic
acephaly
anencephaly
autocephaly
brachiocephalic
brachycephalic
cephalic
cephalomancy
cephalometry
cephalon
cephalopagus
cephalopod
diencephalon
dolichocephalic
encephalitis
encephalogram
encephalopathy
holoprosencephaly
hydrocephalus
macrocephaly
mesaticephalic
mesencephalic
mesocephalic
metencephalon
microcephaly
myelencephalon
neencephalon
paleencephalon
prosencephalon
rhombencephalon
rhombencephalosynapsis
syncephalus
telencephalon
ceramic
keratin
triceratops
ascertain
certain
concern
concert
decree
discern
excrement
secern
secret
cervix
cervical
et cetera
chiral
chiropractic
chiroptera
chelonia
chlorine
chlorophyll
chloroplast
hypochondriasis
choreography
chorus
chordata
cord
chromatic
chrome
chromium
chromosome
monochrome
polychrome
anachronism
chronic
chronicle
chronology
chronometer
synchronize
chrysalis
chrysolite
cilia
supercilious
incineration
succinct
circle
circular
circulate
circus
circumcise
circumference
circumlocution
circumnavigate
circumscribe
cirrhosis
cirrus
citation
cite
excite
incite
solicit
solicitous
civic
civil
civilian
civility
civilization
clade
acclaim
claim
clamor
exclamation
proclamation
reclamation
clarity
clear
declaration
iconoclast
osteoclast
clause
claustrophobia
conclude
exclude
exclusive
include
occlusion
occult
recluse
seclude
clavichord
clavicle
conclave
cleistogamy
cleithrum
clemency
inclement
clinic
decline
declination
incline
inclination
recline
cochlea
blastocoel
coelom
spongocoel
colander
coulee
percolate
colliculus
accolade
collar
coloration
coloratura
tricolor
comity
coagulate
collide
compress
connect
connote
contain
corrode
quondam
conic
conical
conoid
condiment
contraband
contraception
contradict
contraindicate
contrast
contravene
copious
copy
cornucopia
coprolite
coprophagia
coprophilia
copula
copulation
couple
accord
cordial
core
concord
courage
discord
discordant
encourage
record
coracoid
excoriate
cornea
cornucopia
unicorn
corona
coronation
corporation
corporal
corporeal
corpse
corpulent
corpuscle
incorporate
cortical
cosmic
cosmonaut
cosmopolitan
cosmos
microcosm
cosmetics
cosmetology
costal
cotyledon
cranium
crassitude
creation
creature
creole
procreation
recreation
accreditation
credence
credentials
credibility
credible
credit
creditor
credo
credulity
credulous
creed
discredit
incredible
incredulous
miscreant
recreant
crepidoma
accresce
accrescence
accrescent
accrete
accretion
accrue
concrete
crescendo
crescent
crew
decrease
increase
recruit
recruitment
surcrew
cribble
cribrate
cricoid
crepe
crispate
cristate
crisis
criterion
critic
critical
diacritic
endocrine
hypocrisy
crossopterygii
crucial
crucifix
crucify
excruciating
crural
apocryphal
cryptic
cryptography
ctenophore
cubic
cuboid
incubation
succuba
culinary
culpable
culprit
exculpate
cuneiform
accurate
curative
curator
cure
curious
manicure
pedicure
secure
sinecure
concur
concurrent
corridor
courier
course
currency
current
cursive
cursor
cursory
discourse
excursion
incur
occur
recur
recursion
recursive
succor
cavort
curb
curvature
curve
bicuspid
colony
cult
cultivate
cultivation
culture
cutaneous
cuticle
cyanide
bicycle
cycle
cyclic
cyclone
cyclops
unicycle
cylinder
cynology
cynosure
cystic
cnidocyte
cytoplasm
English vocabulary has been greatly influenced by Latin, and many of the words we use today have Latin roots. Understanding these Latin roots can help improve our vocabulary and comprehension of the English language.
In this article, we have compiled a list of 77 common Latin roots and their English derivatives, providing a useful resource for anyone looking to expand their knowledge of English vocabulary.
The Latin term for ship is “navis,” which gave rise to the root “nav” found in English words such as naval, navy, and navigation. Roman shipbuilding was advanced and contributed to the expansion of the Roman Empire.
The Latin root “nat” comes from “natus,” which means “born,” and can be found in English words like natal, native, and natality.
The Latin root “fili” is derived from the word “filius,” which means “son.” Many English words have been formed from this root, including filial and affiliation.
The root “frat” originates from the Latin word “frater,” which means “brother.” This root is found in many English words such as fraternal and fraternity.
The root “lum” is derived from the Latin word “lumen,” meaning “light.” Many English words contain this root, including “illuminate,” “luminescent,” and “luminary.”
The word arbor means “tree” in Latin. This root appears in English vocabulary words such as arborescence (a tree-like structure) and arboretum (a place where different varieties of trees are planted), as well as the adjective arboreal.
From stella (the Latin word for “star”). This is the basis of the adjective stellar (which means having the characteristics of a star) and the noun constellation (an astronomy term referring to a formation of stars).
The Latin adjective “magnus” meaning “great” gave rise to the root “magn”. This root is used in various English vocabulary words such as magnificent, magnanimous, and the verb to magnify.
The root “mat” is derived from the Latin word “mater,” which means “mother.” This root is found in many English words such as maternal and maternity.
The root “lun” is derived from the Latin word “luna,” meaning “moon.” It is the basis for several English words, including lunar (relating to the moon) and lunatic.
The Latin root “fort” is derived from the Latin word “fortis,” which means “strong” or “powerful.” This root has been used to form many English words that denote strength or power, such as “fortify,” “fortitude,” “fortress,” and “effort.”
The Latin word lac, meaning “milk,” has given rise to several English words, including lactate and lactose (a sugar found in milk).
The Latin word “lingua,” meaning “language,” has given rise to the root “lingu” in English. This root can be found in many English words such as linguistics, bilingual, and multilingual.
The Latin root “annu” comes from “annus,” meaning “year.” It forms several English terms related to time, including “anniversary,” “annual,” “annuity,” and “perennial.”
The Latin root “don” comes from the Latin word “donare,” which means “to give.” This root is commonly found in English terms related to giving, such as donation, donor, and condone. To condone means to approve or tolerate something that is wrong or inappropriate.
The Latin root “aqua” means water and is present in many English words associated with water or liquids, such as aquarium, aqueduct, and aquatic.
The Latin root “vac” originates from the Latin word “vacare,” which means “to be empty.” It is the origin of several English words such as “vacant”, “vacuum”, “evacuate”, and “vacation”.
The root “doc” is derived from the Latin verb “docere” meaning “to teach”. It appears in English words such as doctrine, doctorate, and document.
The word “liber” is a Latin root which can be found in English words such as liberty and liberalism. This word means “free” in the Latin language.
The Latin root “pater” is derived from the Latin word for “father.” Many English words have been derived from this root, and they all relate to the concept of fatherhood or authority figures. For example, the word “paternal” is an adjective that describes something relating to a father or a father’s side of the family. The term “paternity” refers to the state of being a father or the identity of a child’s father. Additionally, the word “patriarch” refers to the male head of a family or tribe.
The Latin root “fem” is derived from the word “femina,” which means “woman.” Several English words have been derived from this root, such as female, feminine, and feminist.
The Latin verb “vivere”, meaning “to live”, has given rise to the root “viv” in English, which can be found in words such as vivid, survive, and vivacious.
The Latin root “aev” is derived from the Latin word “aevum,” which means “age” or “era.” This root has been used to form many English words conveying the idea of a particular historical period or era. For example, the term “medieval” is derived from “aev,” and refers to the period in history between the 5th and 15th centuries. Another derivative of this root is the word “primeval,” which refers to the earliest period in history. The Latin root “aev” has also given rise to the term “longevity”.
The Latin word “anima,” meaning “soul,” is the origin of the root anim. Many English words have been derived from this root, including animal, animosity, and animation.
The Latin root “cept” from the verb “capere,” meaning “to take” or “to seize,” has been used in English to form words which are often related to the concept of receiving something. Examples include “accept,” “conception,” “perception,” and “reception.”
From the Latin verb credere, which means “to trust” or “to believe”. There are many English words that are derived from this root, such as accreditation, credentials, and to discredit.
The Latin word “cura,” meaning “care” or “concern,” has provided the root word “cur” in English. It is found in several words related to taking care of something or showing concern, such as “curator” for managing collections, “curative” for healing, and “curious” for expressing a strong desire to learn or know something.
The Latin root “dic” means “to say” or “to speak” and has been used to form many English words, such as “dictionary”, “diction”, “edict”, and “predict”. It is also the basis for words like “verdict”, “indictment”, and “benediction”.
The Romans are known for their aqueducts, which are structures that carry water from one place to another. The word “aqueduct” is derived from two Latin roots, “aqua” meaning “water” and “ductus” meaning “leading.” English words such as to deduce, to produce and to reduce all come from the root “duc”. This root’s origin is the Latin verb “ducere,” which means “to lead”.
The Latin saying “Caveat emptor” means “buyer beware”. The Latin root “empt” means “bought” or “purchased” and is the origin of English words such as “redemption”, “exempt”, and “preempt”.
The root “fac” (or “fact”) comes from the verb “facere,” which means “to make”. Other than it being the root of the commonly used English word “fact,” it can also be found in words such as benefactor, satisfaction, and artifact.
Words like conference, prefer, and fertile all contain the root “fer,” which is derived from the Latin verb “ferre” meaning “to carry” or “to bear”.
From the Latin verb facere (which means “to make” or “to do”). English language words such as magnificent, deficient, and sacrifice have all been derived from this common Latin root.
“Fin” comes from the word “finis,” which means “to end” in Latin. Words such as final, definition, and fine have been derived from this root.
While the word “flu” has meaning in English on its own, it is actually a Latin root as well. Flu can be found in many different English words that people use on a day-to-day basis, such as influence, fluid, and fluency. This root comes from the Latin origin word “fluere,” which means “to flow”.
The Latin root “gress” is derived from the Latin word “gressus” (or “gradus”), which means “step” or “way.” This root is found in many English words that convey the idea of movement or progress, both physical and abstract. For example, the term “progress” is derived from “gress,” and refers to the movement towards a goal or the advancement of something. Another derivative of this root is the word “congress,” which refers to a gathering of people for a specific purpose or to make progress in a particular field. The Latin root “gress” has also given rise to words such as “digress” and “transgress.”
In English, the words inhale, exhale, and exhalant all come from the Latin root “hal”, which is derived from the verb “halare” meaning “to breathe”.
The root “insul” comes from the Latin word “insula,” which means “island”. It appears in English words such as insular and insulation. Basically, the root “insul” evokes the notion of being isolated, either physically or mentally, like an island is separated from the rest of the world by water.
“Jac” comes from the word “jaceo,” which means “to be thrown” in Latin. However, the root jac is often understood to mean “lie” in English. This root word can be found in English words such as adjacent and circumjacent.
The Latin root “ject” comes from the verb “jacere,” which means “to throw.” In English, it is used to form words that relate to the act of throwing or casting. “Eject” means to throw or expel something, and “project” refers to throwing something forward or projecting it into the future.
The Latin verb “jungo” meaning “to join” gave rise to the root “junct” in English, which appears in words like junction, conjunction, and subjunctive.
Words such as jury, to abjure, and to conjure come from the Latin root “jur”. The origin word of this root is “ius,” which means “law”.
“Lect” is a root that is used in English words such as collection, intellect, and election. It comes from the Latin verb “legere,” which means “to choose” or “to gather”.
Words such as manicure, manuscript, and to manipulate are all derived from the Latin root “man,” which comes from the word “manus,” meaning “hand”.
The root word “memor” means “remember” in Latin. There are many English words that have been derived from this root, such as to commemorate or memoir.
In Latin, “merge” comes from the verb “mergere,” which means “to plunge” or “to dip”. The verbs to emerge and to submerge are examples of English words which contain the root “merge”.
“Miser” is a Latin root that is used in many common English words. It means “unhappy” or “wretched” and can be found in words such as commiseration, misery, and miserable.
Derived from the Latin word “mittere,” which means “to send,” the root “mit” is found in many English words. Examples of terms with the “mit” root include “admit,” “submit,” “emit,” and “permit,” which all involve some aspect of sending, allowing, or putting forth.
The Latin word “modus” means “measure” or “method” and is the origin of the root “mod” in English. This root has been used to create words like “immodest”, “mode” and “model”.
The root “pass” originates from the Latin word “passus,” which means “a step” or “a pace.” This root is found in many English words, including “passage” and “compass.”
The Latin root “pend” is widely used in English and is derived from the Latin verb “pendere,” which means “to hang down.” It appears in words like “append,” “depend,” “pendant,” and “suspense.”
The Latin root “ple” is derived from the verb “plere,” meaning “to fill”. It is present in several English words, including deplete, complete, and supplementary.
The root “plic” comes from the Latin verb “plicare,” which means “to fold.” It is present in words like “replicate,” “application,” and “complicated.”
The Latin root “port” comes from the verb “portare,” meaning “to carry.” It has given rise to English words such as “portable,” “porter,” “transportation,” and “report.”
The Latin verb “ponere” meaning “to put” gave rise to the root “posit” in English, which can be found in words such as opposite, position, and deposit.
The words correct, director, and rectangle are all examples of English words which contain the Latin root “rect”. “Rect” comes from the verb “regere,” which means “to direct”.
The Latin root “regul” originates from the noun “regula,” meaning “rule.” English words like “regular” and “regulation” are derived from this root.
The root “sacr” (or “secr”) comes from the verb sacrare, which means “to consecrate” or “to swear”. It can be found in English language words such as to consecrate, sacred, and sacrifice.
Words such as insolence, insolent, and obsolete come from the Latin root “sole,” which comes from “solere,” meaning “accustomed” or “in the habit of”.
The root “somn” comes from the Latin word “somnus,” meaning “sleep,” and it has made its way into many English words that relate to snoozing and slumber. For example, the word “insomnia” comes from this root and describes the inability to sleep. Another word derived from this root is “somnolent,” which means feeling drowsy or sleepy. You might also recognize the term “somnambulist,” which refers to a sleepwalker, someone who is up and about while still in a state of slumber.
The Latin root “son,” derived from the Latin word “sonus” meaning “noise” or “sound,” has contributed to a variety of English words. Some common examples include “unison,” “sonic,” and “consonant.”
The Latin verb “spectare” means “to look at,” and from it comes the root “spect” in English. Many English words contain this root, including “spectator” and “spectacular.”
The Latin root “sper” originates from the verb “sperare,” which means “to hope.” Many English words have been derived from this root, including “desperate” and “prosper.”
The Latin verb “struere,” meaning “to build” or “to construct,” gave rise to the root “stru” in English. This root is present in several English words, including constructive, instruct, and structural.
The root “ten” comes from the Latin verb “tenere,” which means “to hold”. It is the root of English words such as tenant, maintenance, and tenor. Other words derived from this word include sustenance and tenure.
This root comes from the noun “terra,” which means “earth” or “land”. Words derived from this root include extra-terrestrial, terracotta, and subterranean.
The Latin root “tract” derives from the Latin verb “tractare,” which means “to draw or pull.” In English, this root has been used to create a plethora of words with a range of meanings, often related to the idea of drawing or pulling something. For example, the term “attract” is derived from this root and describes the ability of something to draw in or pull towards itself. Another example is the word “detract,” which means to draw away from or diminish the value of something. The term “tractable” is another derivative of this root, denoting something easily managed or controlled.
“Und” comes from the word “unda,” which means “wave” in Latin. You can find this root in English words such as to abound, to surround, and abundance.
The root “us” is derived from the Latin noun “usus,” which means “use.” Several English words have been formed from this root, including “abuse,” “usurpation,” and “peruse.”
The Latin root “vag” comes from the verb “vagare,” which means “to wander”. It is the origin of English words such as extravagant, vagabond, and vague.
“Val” is a very common Latin root that appears in many different English words. For example, ambivalence, to validate, invalid, and value. “Val” comes from the verb “valere,” which means “to have strength”.
The English words verb and verbose are derived from the root “verb” which comes from the Latin noun “verbum,” meaning “word”.
The Latin root “vers” has its origin in the word “versus” that signifies “turn.” Numerous common English words incorporate this root, including “adverse,” “conversation,” and “anniversary.”
The root “vid” comes from the Latin verb “videre,” which means “to see”. It is the basis for several English words that relate to vision or observation. For example: evidence and video.
The root “vil” originates from the Latin adjective “vilis,” which can mean “cheap” or “vile.” Several English words have evolved from this root, including “revile” and “vilify.”
The Latin root “vor” derives from the Latin word “vorare,” meaning “to devour.” This root is used in English to create words related to eating. Words derived from this root include “carnivore,” “omnivore,” and “voracious.”
In Latin, the root “vot” comes from the verb “vovere,” which means “to promise” or “to vow”. Words such as devoted, vote and votary have all been derived from this common Latin root.
Understanding Latin roots is essential for improving one’s English vocabulary. This list of 77 Latin roots commonly used in English can serve as a helpful reference for learners and educators alike.
By recognizing the roots and their meanings, one can decipher the meanings of unfamiliar words and expand one’s language skills. Learning the etymology of English words can also provide a fascinating insight into the history of the language and its evolution over time.
The Roots of Words
Most words in the English language are based on words from ancient Greek and Latin. The root of the word «vocabulary,» for example, is voc, a Latin root meaning «word» or «name.» This root also appears in such words as «advocacy,» «convocation,» «evocative,» «vocal,» and «vowel.» By dissecting words such as these, etymologists can study how a word has evolved over time and tell us about the cultures they came from.
In some cases, root words might be slightly transformed en route to becoming part of words that we’re familiar with. In the above example, «vowel» is a word that’s clearly related to the voc root and its family of derivative words, and yet the «c» in «voc» is not present. There are several reasons for this sort of pattern, and the changes often depend on what language each individual word comes from, but it serves as a reminder that not every word with the same root will look exactly the same.
Root words are also useful for creating new words, especially in technology and medicine, where new innovations occur frequently. Think of the Greek root word tele, which means «far,» and inventions that traverse long distances, such as the telegraph, telephone, and television. The word «technology» itself is a combination of two other Greek root words, techne, meaning «skill» or «art,» and logos, or «study.»
Greek Root Words
The table below defines and illustrates 25 of the most common Greek roots.
Adjective + Root + Suffix = Word
Root + Suffix = Word
The suffix on please is an e. If you look at the word pleas-ure, it makes sense, since removing its suffix leaves the same root as in pleas-e. As John Hough, in Scientific Terminology, points out, roots rarely exist alone. They usually precede suffixes. The same is true of Greek and Latin, even if, when borrowing, we sometimes drop the suffix. Thus, the word cell in English is really the Latin cella, from which we’ve dropped the a suffix.
Not only do almost all English words contain roots plus suffixes, but, according to Hough, suffixes can’t stand alone. A suffix does not have meaning on its own but needs to be connected to the root.
Why Study Terminology
How knowing the etymology of rhinoceros will help you understand your doctor’s diagnoses:
«Sometime during the 14th century someone decided to give this mammal its present day name. The characteristic of the animal that struck them the most was the large horn that grew from its nose. The Greek word for nose is rhis, and the combining form (the form that is used when it is combined with other word elements) is rhin-. The Greek word for horn is keras. So this animal was named a «nose-horn animal» or a ‘rhinoceros […] You take a peek in your file and discover that [… the doctor] wrote ‘acute rhinitis’ as your diagnosis. Now having taken this course, you know that ‘acute’ just means sudden onset […] and you know that «-itis» simply means an inflammation.»
Root + Suffix/Prefix = Word
Prefixes are usually adverbs or prepositions derived from Greek or Latin that can’t be used alone in English and appear at the beginnings of words. Suffixes, which appear at the ends of words, aren’t usually adverbs or prepositions, but they can’t be used alone in English, either. While suffixes are often joined to the end of roots by separate connecting vowels, the transformation of these prepositional and adverbial prefixes is more direct, even though the final letter of the prefix may be changed or eliminated. In 2-letter prefixes, this can be confusing. Among other changes, n can become m or s and a final b or d may be changed to match the first letter of the root. Think of this confusion as designed to ease pronunciation.
This list won’t help you figure out antipasto, but it will prevent you from describing the antonym of precedent as antident or polydent.
Note: Greek forms are capitalized, Latin in normal case.
Latin Root Words
The table below defines and illustrates 25 of the most common Latin roots.
Understanding the meanings of the common word roots can help us deduce the meanings of new words that we encounter. But be careful: root words can have more than one meaning as well as various shades of meaning. In addition, words that look similar may derive from different roots.
In addition, a handful of root words can stand on their own as whole words in and of themselves. This list includes words such as photo, kinesis, chrome, port, and script. Words like this tend to have related meanings on their own, then can also act as roots for longer, more complex words.
