Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to the meanings of words

Key Notes :

Why Study Roots?

Many English words are built from smaller parts, including Greek and Latin roots. Understanding these roots can help you:

• Decode unfamiliar words: Even if you’ve never seen a word before, recognizing its root can give you a clue to its meaning.
• Expand your vocabulary: Learning a few common roots can unlock the meanings of dozens of words.
• Improve reading comprehension: A stronger vocabulary makes it easier to understand complex texts.
• Enhance your writing: You’ll be able to choose more precise and sophisticated words to express your ideas.

Common Greek Roots

Root	Meaning and Examples
hemi	Hemisphere Half of a sphere
three	Triangle Shape with three sides
mono	Monologue Speech by one person
dec	Decade Period of ten years
penta	Pentagon Shape with five sides
path	Sympathy Sharing feelings with others
psych	Psychology tudy of the mind

Common Latin Roots

Root	Meaning and Examples
dict	say dictate (to say aloud) predict (to say beforehand)
duc/duct	lead conduct (to lead) deduct (to lead away)
fac/fact	make, do factory (place where things are made) artifact (something made by skill)
port	carry transport (to carry across) portable (able to be carried)
scrib/script	write scribble (to write carelessly) manuscript (written by hand)
spec/spect	look, see inspect (to look into) spectator (one who watches)
vid/vis	see video (see an image) visible (able to be seen)

Putting It Together: How Roots Determine Meaning

To figure out a word’s meaning, break it down into its root and any prefixes or suffixes.

Example 1: Retrospect

• retro- (prefix meaning “backward”) + spect (root meaning “look”)
• Therefore, retrospect means “to look back on something.”
• Sentence: In retrospect, I wish I had studied harder for the test.

Example 2: Biology

• bio- (root meaning “life”) + -logy (suffix meaning “study of”)
• Therefore, biology means “the study of life.”
• Sentence: She is fascinated by biology, especially the study of marine animals.

Example 3: Audible

• aud- (root meaning “hear”) + -ible (suffix meaning “able to”)
• Therefore, audible means “able to be heard.”
• Sentence: The speaker’s voice was barely audible in the back of the room.

Practice Makes Perfect

Try to identify the roots in the following words and determine their meaning:

• Dictator
• Telescope
• Conduct
• Autobiography
• Portable

Next Steps

Continue to practice identifying Greek and Latin roots in new words you encounter. Use online resources and dictionaries to explore the meanings of different roots. The more you practice, the easier it will become to decode unfamiliar words and expand your vocabulary!

Let’s practice!