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.
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.»
Because several modern languages share some of the same ancestor languages, it’s not entirely uncommon for several related languages to share root words. For instance, the Latin root voc, described above, is shared by several Romance languages. Connections between languages can be found in the shared roots between them, although one always has to be wary of false cognates — that is, words that sound like they have the same roots (and thus related meanings) but actually don’t.
Greek Root Words
The table below defines and illustrates 25 of the most common Greek roots.
| Root | Meaning | Examples |
| anti | against | antibacterial, antidote, antithesis |
| ast(er) | star | asteroid, astronomy, astronaut |
| auto | self | automatic, automate, autobiograph |
| biblio | book | bibliography, bibliophile |
| bio | life | biography, biology, biodegradable |
| chrome | color | monochromatic, phytochrome |
| chrono | time | chronic, synchronize, chronicle |
| dyna | power | dynasty, dynamic, dynamite |
| geo | earth | geography, geology, geometry |
| gno | to know | agnostic, acknowledge |
| graph | write | autograph, graphic, demographic |
| hydr | water | dehydrate, hydrant, hydropower |
| kinesis | movement | kinetic, photokinesis |
| log | thought | logic, apologize, analogy |
| logos | word, study | astrology, biology, theologian |
| narc | sleep | narcotic, narcolepsy |
| path | feel | empathy, pathetic, apathy |
| phil | love | philosophy, bibliophile, philanthropy |
| phon | sound | microphone, phonograph, telephone |
| photo | light | photograph, photocopy, photon |
| schem | plan | scheme, schematic |
| syn | together, with | synthetic, photosynthesis |
| tele | far | telescope, telepathy, television |
| tropos | turning | heliotrope, tropical |
Latin Root Words
The table below defines and illustrates 25 of the most common Latin roots.
| Root | Meaning | Examples |
| ab | to move away | abstract, abstain, aversion |
| acer, acri | bitter | acrid, acrimony, exacerbate |
| aqu | water | aquarium, aquatic, aqualung |
| audi | hear | audible, audience, auditorium |
| bene | good | benefit, benign, benefactor |
| brev | short | abbreviate, brief |
| circ | round | circus, circulate |
| dict | say | dictate, edict, dictionary |
| doc | teach | document, docile, doctrinal |
| duc | lead, make | deduce, produce, educate |
| fund | bottom | founder, foundation, funding |
| gen | to birth | gene, generate, generous |
| hab | to have | ability, exhibit, inhabit |
| jur | law | jury, justice, justify |
| lev | to lift | levitate, elevate, leverage |
| luc, lum | light | lucid, illuminate, translucent |
| manu | hand | manual, manicure, manipulate |
| mis, mit | send | missile, transmit, permit |
| omni | all | omnivorous, omnipotent, omniscent |
| pac | peace | pacify, pacific, pacifist |
| port | carry | export, import, important |
| quit | silent, restive | tranquil, requiem, acquit |
| scrib, script | to write | script, proscribe, describe |
| sens | to feel | sensitive, sentient, resent |
| terr | earth | terrain, territory, extraterrestrial |
| tim | to fear | timid, timorous |
| vac | empty | vacuum, vacate, evacuate |
| vid, vis | to see | video, vivid, invisible |
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.
Sources
- Bryant, Alice, and Robbins, Jill. «Grow Your Vocabulary by Learning Root Words.» VOANews.com, 28 November 2017.
- Grammarly staff. «Why You Should Learn Roots.» Grammarly.com, 6 February 2016.
- McCammon, Ellen. «50 GRE Words You Should Know.» PrepScholar.com, 8 February 2017.
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The English language is a versatile and rich tapestry that combines influences from many different languages. As these influences leave their mark on English, it gets fuller and more interesting, giving us new vocabulary to describe different things and express different emotions.
In this article, we’ll be looking specifically at words that are derived from Greek, focusing particularly on Greek roots, suffixes, and prefixes.
Fig. 1 — A lot of the English language has been influenced by Greek.
Before we dive in, let’s look at some quick definitions:
Root, Prefix, and Suffix Definitions
What does each of these terms mean? Before we explore the specific ways in which Greek roots, suffixes, and prefixes have influenced the English language, we must first understand what these terms refer to.
Root word
A root word is the unaltered, basic form of a word before it has any suffixes or prefixes attached to it that change its meaning.
‘Fox,’ ‘Jump,’ and ‘Face’ are some examples of root words.
Suffix
A suffix is a morpheme (a small piece of language that cannot be broken down any further) that is added to the end of a root word. Suffixes add to or change the meaning of the root word.
‘-es’, ‘-ing’, and ‘-ation’ are some examples of suffixes (‘Boxes‘, ‘Fishing‘, ‘Aggravation‘).
Prefix
A prefix is a type of morpheme added to the beginning of a root word. Prefixes also add to or change the meaning of the root word.
‘-un’, ‘-hyper’, and ‘-in’ are some examples of prefixes (‘Unrealistic’, ‘Hyperactive’, ‘Insecure’).
Top Tip: If you’re finding it tricky to tell if something is a suffix or a prefix, think about the word ‘prefix’ itself. It begins with ‘-pre’, which means ‘before.’ For example, if you go out for a meal that has been ‘prepaid,’ this means the meal was paid for before you ate it.
Greek Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes Examples
Now that we’ve got our definitions down, we can move on to looking at some examples of Greek words, suffixes, and prefixes that have been assimilated into the English language.
Greek Roots Examples
-
‘Anthrop’ meaning ‘human’
-
‘Bio’ meaning ‘life’
-
‘Chrome’ meaning ‘color’
-
‘Auto’ meaning ‘self’
Fig. 2 — Many scientific terms come from Greek.
Greek Suffixes Examples
-
‘-ism’ meaning ‘the act or state of’
-
‘-graph’ meaning ‘a written or drawn representation’
-
‘-logy’ meaning ‘the study, theory, or science of something’
Greek Prefixes Examples
-
‘-anti’ meaning ‘against’
-
‘-pan’ meaning ‘all’
-
‘-micro’ meaning ‘small’
Greek Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes Words
In the above section, we can see examples of each of the three parts of a word: the root, the prefix, and the suffix. But how do these parts work together to form new words?
Here are some examples using our Greek roots from the above section:
- Greek root ‘anthrop’ + Greek suffix ‘-ology’ = ‘anthropology’, which in English refers to the study of humans.
- Greek root ‘bio’ + ‘Greek suffix ‘-ology’ = ‘biology’, which in English is the study of living things or the study of life.
- Greek prefix ‘mono’ + Greek root ‘chrome’ = ‘monochrome’, which in English refers to when something is only one color.
- Greek root ‘auto’ + Old French root ‘mobile’ = ‘automobile’, which in English means ‘self-moving’ and refers to a car.
Here are some examples using our Greek suffixes:
- English root ‘capital’ + Greek suffix ‘-ism’ = ‘capitalism’, which in English refers to the economic system used by most countries in the world.
- Greek root ‘seismos’ + Greek suffix ‘-graph’ = ‘seismograph’, which in English is a method of measuring and recording earthquakes.
- Greek root ‘physic’ + Greek suffix ‘-ology’ = ‘physiology’, which in English is the study of the functions of living things.
Here are some examples using our Greek prefixes:
- Greek prefix ‘anti’ + English root ‘histamine’ = ‘antihistamine’, which in English refers to a medicine used to relieve allergy symptoms.
- Greek prefix ‘pan’ + Latin root ‘cardiacus’ = ‘pancardiac’, which in English refers to something involving the heart organ.
- Greek prefix ‘micro’ + Greek root ‘scope’ = ‘microscope’, which in English refers to an optical instrument used for observing minuscule objects.
Greek Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes Review
As you can see in the examples used above, Greek roots, suffixes, and prefixes can be combined with roots, suffixes, and prefixes from different languages to create the English words we use today. Most of the words in the examples above are derived completely from Greek, or a combination of Greek and Latin/ French.
Why, then, does English have so many words comprised of Greek roots, suffixes, and prefixes mixed with other languages?
Greek Influence on the English Language
Much of the influence of Greek on English is rooted in the Renaissance, when European society (including England) placed a great deal of significance on Ancient Greek literature and drama, and Greek philosophy.
What was the Renaissance?
A period of cultural, economic, and political upheaval after the Middle Ages, between the 14th and 17th centuries.
Ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle were held in high esteem during the Renaissance, and many ancient Greek philosophies made their way into English law.
Plato believed that the rule of law is better than that of the individual, meaning that all members of society should abide by set laws, regardless of their hierarchical position in society. Due to the existence of laws, people cannot act in a way unregulated by consequences, and the existence of these consequences forms the basis of justice and judgment.
The law is not the only aspect of modern society influenced by Ancient Greece. Works of Ancient Greek literature and drama, such as Homer’s The Odyssey and Sophocles’ Oedipus, are still widely revered and studied today, despite being written and published over 2000 years ago.
Some literature-based words that came from Greek include: ‘irony,’ ‘climax,’ and ‘protagonist.’
Ancient Greek disciplines such as medicine, mathematics, and astrology have also contributed significantly to modern English by introducing new concepts and language to modern times.
Words such as ‘clinic,’ ‘pi,’ and ‘galaxy’ all come from Greek.
Fig. 3 — Many facets of Ancient Greek society have influenced our language today.
Greek Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes List
Although we’ve already looked at a few brief examples for context, you might like to see a broader range of Greek roots, suffixes, and prefixes that have been adopted by the English language.
These tables should give you a wider overview:
| Greek Roots | Meaning | Examples |
| anthrop | human | anthropology, philanthropy |
| bio | life | bioluminescence, biofuel |
| path | feeling | sympathy, psychopath |
| ped | child | pediatrician, pedagogy, |
| dem | people | demographic, endemic |
| Greek Prefixes | Meaning | Examples |
| geo | Earth | geography, geologist |
| macro | large | macro lens, macroscopy |
| neo | new | neologism, neonatal |
| therm | heat | thermometer, thermostat |
| a | without, not | atypical, amoral |
| Greek Suffixes | Meaning | Examples |
| ist | relating to | cyclist, sexist |
| meter | measure | barometer, spedometer |
| gram | a written or drawn record | telegram, mammogram |
| phobe | one with an intense fear | arachnophobe, hydrophobe |
| oid | resembling, similar to | humanoid, cuboid |
Greek Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes — Key Takeaways
- Many English words are derived from Greek and can be formed from Greek roots, suffixes, and prefixes mixed with roots, prefixes, and suffixes of other languages.
- A root is the basic form of a word, a prefix is a morpheme that is added to the beginning of a root word, and a suffix is a morpheme that is added to the end of a root word.
- Prefixes and suffixes alter or add to the meaning of a root word.
- Ancient Greek philosophy, culture, and science heavily influenced modern English as English borrowed many words from these Ancient Greek practices.
30 Must Know Greek Root Words
- Greek Root: anthrop. Meaning: human.
- Greek Root: aqu. Meaning: water.
- Greek Root: anti. Meaning: opposing.
- Greek Root: bio. Meaning: life.
- Greek Root : biblio. Meaning: book.
- Greek Root: byss. Meaning: Bottom.
- Greek Root: chrome. Meaning: colour.
- Greek Root: cosm. Meaning: universe.
What is the opposite word for anti?
Wiktionary. anti-(prefix) Antonyms: pro-
What’s the difference between a root word and a base word?
‘Root’, ‘stem’ and ‘base’ are all terms used in the literature to designate that part of a word that remains when all affixes have been removed. A root is a form which is not further analysable, either in terms of derivational or inflectional morphology. A base is any form to which affixes of any kind can be added.
What’s a word that has anti IN IT?
Explore the Words
- antithesis. exact opposite.
- antipathy. a feeling of intense dislike.
- antibiotic. a substance used to kill microorganisms and cure infections.
- anticlimax. a disappointing decline after a previous rise.
- antidote. a remedy that stops or controls the effects of a poison.
- antiseptic.
- antisocial.
- antihero.
Does anti mean instead of?
What does anti mean? Anti is most commonly encountered as the prefix anti–, meaning “against” or “opposite of.” In the bathroom, you might wash your hands with antibacterial soap. In literature, we discuss the attributes of an antihero. In politics, people are described as anti-gun or anti-abortion.
What does anti mean before a word?
anti- a prefix meaning “against,” “opposite of,” “antiparticle of,” used in the formation of compound words (anticline); used freely in combination with elements of any origin (antibody; antifreeze; antiknock; antilepton). Also before a vowel, ant-.
What does antipathy mean?
1 : a strong feeling of dislike an antipathy to taxes a deep antipathy between the groups. 2 : something disliked : an object of aversion …
What causes antipathy?
Antipathy is a voluntary or involuntary dislike for something or somebody, the opposite of sympathy. While antipathy may be induced by experience, it sometimes exists without a rational cause-and-effect explanation being present to the individuals involved.
What is a synonym for sanguine?
pessimistic, gloomy. 2’a sanguine complexion’ SYNONYMS. florid, ruddy, red, red-faced, reddish, rosy, rosy-cheeked, pink, pinkish, roseate, rubicund.
What does public antipathy mean?
antipathy Add to list Share. An antipathy is a deep-seated dislike of something or someone. If you look at the Greek roots of this word — anti- (“against”) and pathos (“feeling”) — you can see that antipathy is a feeling against someone or something.
What is the difference between apathy and antipathy?
As nouns the difference between antipathy and apathy is that antipathy is contrariety or opposition in feeling; settled aversion or dislike; repugnance; distaste while apathy is complete lack of emotion or motivation about a person, activity, or object; depression; lack of interest or enthusiasm; disinterest.
What does anticipating mean?
transitive verb. 1 : to give advance thought, discussion, or treatment to. 2 : to meet (an obligation) before a due date. 3 : to foresee and deal with in advance : forestall.
What does umbrage mean?
1 : a feeling of pique or resentment at some often fancied slight or insult took umbrage at the speaker’s remarks. 2 : shady branches : foliage. 3 : shade, shadow.
Can I take umbrage?
take umbrage to feel upset or annoyed, usually because you feel that someone has been rude or shown no respect to you: Will she take umbrage if she isn’t invited to the wedding?
What word is similar to umbrage?
Some common synonyms of umbrage are dudgeon, huff, offense, pique, and resentment. While all these words mean “an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity,” umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another’s motives.
What is the opposite of umbrage?
What is the opposite of umbrage?
| calmness | cheer |
|---|---|
| calm | kindness |
| sweetness | satisfaction |
| contentment | sympathy |
| composure | good will |
Is umbridge a word?
noun. offense; annoyance; displeasure: to feel umbrage at a social snub; to give umbrage to someone; to take umbrage at someone’s rudeness. the slightest indication or vaguest feeling of suspicion, doubt, hostility, or the like.
What does I take umbrage mean?
Feel resentment, take offense, as in Aunt Agatha is quick to take umbrage at any suggestion to do things differently. This expression features one of the rare surviving uses of umbrage, which now means “resentment” but comes from the Latin umbra, for “shade,” and presumably alludes to the “shadow” of displeasure. [
Which word is opposite of sneer?
What is the opposite of sneer?
| admire | applaud |
|---|---|
| approve | commend |
| compliment | flatter |
| laud | praise |
| respect | weaken |
What’s another word for sneer?
Some common synonyms of sneer are fleer, flout, gibe, jeer, and scoff. While all these words mean “to show one’s contempt in derision or mockery,” sneer stresses insulting by contemptuous facial expression, phrasing, or tone of voice.
What are some synonyms for sneer?
other words for sneer
- belittle.
- deride.
- grin.
- jeer.
- scoff.
- taunt.
- dump.
- twit.
What is the antonyms for sneered?
antonyms of sneered
- compliment.
- praise.
- admire.
- applaud.
- approve.
- commend.
- flatter.
- laud.
by Erinn Stam
If you enjoy learning new languages, or just want to increase your knowledge of English, you’ll want to learn Greek root words. Understanding the definitions of Greek root words and how they are used in the English language will help you tremendously.
How Knowing Greek Root Words Will Help You Grasp English Better
Even if English is your native language, you’ll find that learning Greek root words will increase your vocabulary. If you recognize the Greek root words and know what they mean, you’ll be able to figure out the definitions of new words, even if you’ve never seen them before or see them out of context. English is based off Latin and Greek, so these root words are the building blocks of our language.
Greek root words make up much of our medical and scientific language, so you’ll find these root words particularly helpful if you’re going into one of those two fields.
How Knowing Greek Roots Words Will Help You Learn a New Language
When you study the root words, you are building for yourself a set of tools that can be used to take apart and then rebuild new words you encounter. Since many of the languages we speak have their roots in Latin and Greek, you’ll find that learning the root words will enable you to decipher meanings and recognize language patterns of other language patterns. Just learning how to decipher the roots of your native language will help you figure out how other languages are structured. In essence, the study of how a language is devised and used will help you figure out how other languages are put together.
Important Greek Root Words to Memorize
You’ll find there are several Greek root words that you will recognize once you learn them. For example, you’ll recognize the root word «auto», which means «self» and is in the words «autocratic» and «autonomous». Another root word you’ll recognize is «geo», which means «earth» and is in the words «geological» and «geocentric».
It will serve you well to research the definitions of and memorize the following root words:
- aster = star
- auto = self
- bio = life
- chrono = time
- geo = earth
- graph = to write
- path = feel, hurt
- phon = sound
- photo = lifht
- tele = far, end
- anthrop = human
- dem(o) = people
- morph = form, shape
- ped = child
To truly get a good grasp of the roots of the English language, it’s a good idea to learn a good many more Greek and Latin root words in addition to the ones listed above. If you invest in learning these root words, you’ll find learning a language such as Italian or French will be much easier to tackle.
Author
Erinn Stam is the Managing Editor for nursing schools. She attends Wake Technical Community College and is learning about nursing schools in CA. She lives in Durham, NC with her lovely 4-year-old daughter and exuberant husband.
Links
Details of Greek words in English
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_words_with_English_derivatives
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Greek_and_Latin_roots_in_English
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0907013.html
http://english.glendale.cc.ca.us/roots.dict.html
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