Common Greek and Latin Word Roots
Expand Your Vocabulary by Studying Greek and Latin Word Roots
By Richard Nordquist, About.com Guide
A root, as its name suggests, is a word or word part from which other words grow, usually through the addition of prefixes and suffixes. The root of the word vocabulary, for example, isvoc, a Latin root meaning "word" or "name." This root also appears in the words advocacy, convocation, evocative, vocal, and vociferous.
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 and various shades of meaning. In addition, words that look similar may derive from different roots. So when you meet up with a new word, be sure to rely on a dictionary to check its definition.
The table below defines and illustrates 30 of the most common Greek and Latin roots. The letter in parentheses indicates whether the root word is Greek (G) or Latin (L).
Word Roots
| ROOT | MEANING | EXAMPLES |
| -ast(er)-(G) | star | asteroid, astronomy |
| -audi- (L) | hear | audible, audience |
| -auto- (G) | self | automatic, autopsy |
| -bene- (L) | good | benefit, benign |
| -bio- (G) | life | biography, biology |
| -chrono- (G) | time | chronic, synchronize |
| -dict- (L) | say | dictate, diction |
| -duc- (L) | lead, make | deduce, produce |
| -gen- (L) | give birth | gene, generate |
| -geo- (G) | earth | geography, geology |
| -graph- (G) | write | autograph, graph |
| -jur-, -jus- (L) | law | jury, justice |
| -log-, -logue- (L) | thought | logic, obloquy |
| -luc- (L) | light | lucid, translucent |
| -man(u)- (L) | hand | manual, manure |
| -mand-, -mend- (L) | order | demand, recommend |
| -mis-, -mit- (L) | send | missile, transmission |
| -omni- (L) | all | omnivorous |
| -path- (G) | feel | empathy, pathetic |
| -phil- (G) | love | philosophy, bibliophile |
| -phon- (G) | sound | phonics, telephone |
| -photo- (G) | light | photograph, photon |
| -port- (L) | carry | export, portable |
| -qui(t)- (L) | quiet, rest | acquit, tranquil |
| -scrib-, -script- (L) | write | ascribe, script |
| -sens-, -sent- (L) | feel | resent, sensitive |
| -tele- (G) | far off | telecast, telephone |
| -terr- (L) | earth | terrain, territory |
| -vac- (L) | empty | evacuate, vacate |
| -vid-, -vis- (L) | see | visible, video |
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