• An English word can consist of three parts: the root, a prefix and a suffix. The root is the part of the word that contains the basic meaning (definition) of the word. The root is the base element of the word.
• Many roots to English words come from Greek or Latin words. Knowing Greek and Latin roots can help you figure out the meaning of words you don’t already know.
Common Greek Roots
auto
= self
autobiography
automatic
automobile
bio
= life, living
biology
biography
biome
geo
= life, living
geography
geology
graph
= write
autograph
biography
meter
= measure
meter (length)
kilometer
centimeter
phil
= love
philosophy
bibliophile
phobe
= fear
phobia
arachnophobia
claustrophobia
photo
= light
photograph
photosynthesis
phon
= sound
telephone
phonics
phonograph
tele
= distance
telephone
television
telescope
teleport
Common LatinRoots
act
= do
react
action
actor
aud
= hear
audio
aural
audience
fac
= make, do
facilitate
manufacture
factory
jur / jus
= law
jury
justice
jurisdiction
loc
= place
location
allocate
relocate
mob
= move
mobility
automobile
ped
= foot
pedals
pedestrian
sign
= mark
signature
signal
signify
spec
= see
spectacles (glasses)
spectacle (show)
spectator
vac
= empty
vacant
evacuate
vacuum
What are pre-fixes?
• Prefixes are word parts that you add to the beginning of the root or base word. Prefixes can change the meaning of a word.