Greek and Latin Roots

Most modern English words originated from other languages

act

Origin - Latin Meaning – do Examples

actionactorreacttransactenact

aero

Origin -Greek Meaning – air Examples

aerobicsaerodynamicsaeronauticsaerate

agr

Origin - Latin Meaning – field or farm Examples

agricultureagrarian agronomyagribusiness

alter

Origin - Latin Meaning – other Examples

alteralternatealternativealtercationalterego

anim

Origin - Latin Meaning –life or spirit Examples

animateanimosityanimalinanimate

ann or enn

Origin - Latin Meaning – year Examples

annualanniversaryannuitybiennial

aqua

Origin - Latin Meaning – water Examples

aquariumaquaticaqueousaquamarineaquafier

ast

Origin – Greek Meaning – star

astronautastronomydisasterasteriskasteroid

aud

Meaning – hear Examples

audienceauditorium audibleauditionaudiovisual

Sample Question 1. Read this sentence.

The children were unsure of the origin of the inanimate object they had found

The root word in inanimate means.

A exciting B large C has a negative charge D life

Sample Question2. Read this sentence.

The teacher offered Jack an alternative assignment.

The word alternative includes the root alter. What does alter mean?

A exciting B other C life D challenging

Create

Two sentences for each root discussed, accurately use the words containing the roots.

biblio

Origin - Greek Meaning – book Examples

bibliography biblebibliophile

bio

Origin -Greek Meaning – life Examples

biologybiographybiochemistrybiopsybiosphere

card, cord

Origin - Latin Meaning – heart Examples

cardiaccardiologycardigramaccordcordial

chron

Origin - Greek Meaning – time Examples

chronologicalsynchronizechronical

claim, clam

Origin - Latin Meaning –shout Examples

proclaimexclaimclamorexclamation

cogn

Origin - Latin Meaning – know Examples

recognizecognitionincognito

corp

Origin - Latin Meaning – body Examples

corporationcorpsecorps

cosm

Origin – Greek Meaning – universe Examples

cosmoscosmonaut microcosm

cred

Origin - Latin Meaning – believe Examples

creditdiscreditcredential

cycl

Origin - Greek Meaning – circle or ring Examples

bicyclecyclonerecycleencyclopedia

Example 1. Read this sentence.

The story was written in chronological order.

What does the root word in chronological mean?

A exciting B time C alphabetical D reverse

Example

8. Read this sentence.

McDonalds is a very large corporation with many locations.

The word corporation includes the root corp. What does corp mean?

A month B body C life D year

dic

Origin - Latin Meaning – Speak Examples

dictatepredictcontradictverdict

don or donat

Origin - Latin Meaning – Give Examples

donationdonorpardondonate

doc

Origin - Latin Meaning – teach Examples

doctrinedocumentdoctorindoctrinate

duc

Origin - Latin Meaning – lead Examples

ductconducteducate inductaquaduct

fac or fic

Origin - Latin Meaning – make or do Examples

factorymanufacture benefactorefficient beneficial

flect or flex

Origin - Latin Meaning – bend Examples

reflectdeflectreflectionflexiblereflex

form

Origin - Latin Meaning – shape Examples

formuniformtransformformalreform

gen

Origin - Greek Meaning – birth or race Examples

generategenealogygenerationgenocide

gram

Origin - Greek Meaning – letter, written Examples

telegramdiagramgrammarmonogram

geo

Origin - Latin Meaning – Earth Examples

geographygeologygeometrygeophysics

graph

Origin - Greek Meaning – write Examples

photographphonographautographgraphite

homo, hom

Origin - Latin Meaning – man Examples

homagehomo sapienshomicide

junct

Origin - Latin Meaning – join Examples

junctureconjunctionadjunctinjunction

jud, jur, jus

Origin – Latin Meaning – law Examples

judgejudicialjusticejustifyjury

lab

Origin - Latin Meaning – work Examples

laborlaboratory collaborate elaborate

liber

Origin - Latin Meaning – free Examples

libertyliberalliberate

loc

Origin - Latin Meaning – place Examples

locationlocatedislocateallocate

man

Origin - Latin Meaning – hand Examples

manualmanufacturemanipulatemanuscript

mar

Origin - Latin Meaning – sea Examples

marinemarinersubmarinemaritime

mater, matr

Origin - Latin Meaning – mother Examples

maternal matrimonymatron

meter

Origin - Greek Meaning – measure Examples

thermometerdiametercentimeter

migr

Origin - Latin Meaning – change, move Examples

migrationimmigrantemigrate

miss, mit

Origin - Latin Meaning – send Examples

missiledismisstransmitadmit

mob, mot, mov

Origin - Latin Meaning – move Examples

mobiledemoteremovemotion

morph

Origin – Greek Meaning – shape Examples

metamorphosisamorphous morphology

mort

Origin - Latin Meaning – death Examples

mortalimmortalmortuary

nat

Origin - Latin Meaning – born Examples

natalnationnative

ordin, ord

Origin - Latin Meaning – row, rank Examples

orderordinance extraordinary

ortho

Origin - Greek Meaning – straight, right Examples

orthodoxorthodontistorthopedist

pater, patr

Origin - Latin Meaning – father Examples

paternitypaternalpatriarch

path

Origin - Greek Meaning – disease, feeling Examples pathology sympathy empathy

ped

Origin - Greek Meaning – child Examples pedagogy pediatrician

ped

Origin - Latin Meaning – foot Examples pedal pedestrian biped

phil

Origin - Greek Meaning – love Examples philosophy philharmonic philanthropist

phon

Origin - Greek Meaning – sound Examples phonograph symphony telephone microphone

photo

Origin - Greek Meaning – light Examples photograph telephoto photogenic photosynthesis

pod

Origin - Greek Meaning – foot Examples podiatrist podium tripod

poli

Origin - Greek Meaning – city Examples metropolis police political

port

Origin - Latin Meaning – carry Examples portable transport import export porter

psych

Origin - Greek Meaning – mind, soul Examples psychology psyche psychiatrist

ques, quer, quis Origin - Latin Meaning – ask, seek Examples question inquest request inquisitive

rad Origin - Latin Meaning – ray, spoke Examples radius radio radiation radiator

rect Origin - Latin Meaning – straight Examples erect rectangle rectify correct

rupt Origin - Latin Meaning – break Examples interrupt erupt rupture abrupt

san Origin - Latin Meaning – health Examples sanitary sane insanity sanitation

saur Origin - Greek Meaning – lizard Examples dinosaur brontosaurus stegosaurus

sci Origin - Greek Meaning – know Examples science conscious omniscient conscience

scop Origin - Greek Meaning – see Examples stethoscope microscope telescope periscope

scribe, script Origin - Latin Meaning – write Examples inscribe describe prescribe transcript scripture

sign Origin - Latin Meaning – mark Examples signal signature significant insignia

spec Origin - Latin Meaning – see Examples inspect suspect respect spectator

struct Origin - Latin Meaning – build Examples structure construct instruct destruction

tact Origin - Latin Meaning – touch Examples tactile intact contact tact

terr Origin - Latin Meaning – land Examples territory terrain terrestrial terrace

therm Origin - Latin Meaning – heat Examples thermometer thermostat thermal thermos

tract Origin - Latin Meaning – pull or drag Examples tractor attract subtract extract

tribe Origin - Latin Meaning – give Examples contribute tribute tributary attribute

vac Origin - Latin Meaning – empty Examples vacant vacuum evacuate vacate

var Origin - Latin Meaning – different Examples vary variable variety various

vid or vis Origin - Latin Meaning – see Examples video evidence provide visible

voc Origin - Latin Meaning – voice Examples vocal advocate convocation evocation

void Origin - Latin Meaning – empty Examples void avoid unavoidable voided