Greek and Latin Roots

Learn common Greek and Latin roots to expand your English vocabulary. Understanding word origins helps you decipher the meaning of new words.

List of Roots

Root	Meaning	Examples
port	to carry	transport - carry across, report - carry back (information), support - carry under (provide backing), export - carry out, import - carry in, portable - able to be carried
dict	to say	predict - say beforehand, dictate - say aloud for writing, dictionary - book of words (said/defined), contradict - say against, verdict - true saying (from jury), benediction - good saying (blessing)
struct	to build	structure - something built, construct - build together, instruct - build knowledge into (guide), destruction - tearing down what was built, infrastructure - underlying structure, reconstruction - rebuilding
spec/spect	to see, look	inspect - look into closely, respect - look back with regard, spectator - one who looks, suspect - look under (with doubt), perspective - way of looking through, retrospect - look back
scrib/script	to write	describe - write down details, prescribe - write before (instructions), manuscript - written by hand, scripture - sacred writings, transcribe - write across (copy), inscription - something written into
tract	to pull, drag	attract - pull toward, contract - pull together (into agreement), distract - pull away (attention), extract - pull out, subtract - pull away (from total), traction - act of pulling
ject	to throw	project - throw forward, reject - throw back, inject - throw into, eject - throw out, object - something thrown against (opposition), subject - thrown under (authority/topic)
form	shape	transform - change shape, inform - give shape to knowledge, reform - shape again, uniform - same shape, formation - process of shaping, formality - fixed shape
miss/mit	to send	mission - act of sending, transmit - send across, submit - send under (authority), permit - send through (allow), admission - send into, emit - send out
duc/duct	to lead	produce - lead forth (bring out), reduce - lead back, conduct - lead together (guide), educate - lead out (draw forth knowledge), introduce - lead in, deduct - lead away
pos/pon	to place, put	position - place something, compose - put together, expose - put out (into view), oppose - put against, postpone - put after (delay), component - part put with others
tend/tens	to stretch	extend - stretch out, intend - stretch toward (aim), pretend - stretch forth (a false appearance), tension - state of being stretched, intense - highly stretched, extensive - widely stretched
graph	to write, draw	paragraph - written beside (text unit), biography - writing about a life, autograph - self-written (signature), photograph - drawing with light, graphic - related to writing/drawing, geography - writing about the earth
log/logy	word, study	biology - study of life, psychology - study of the mind, technology - study of craft/tools, dialogue - two-way talking, apology - speaking in defense, geology - study of the earth
vis/vid	to see	vision - act of seeing, video - I see (Latin), visible - able to be seen, evidence - things seen (proof), provide - see ahead (prepare), supervise - see over (watch/manage)
aud	to hear	audio - relating to hearing, audience - those who hear, audible - able to be heard, auditorium - place for hearing, audition - hearing test, inaudible - not able to be heard
cap/cept	to take, seize	capture - take by force, accept - take toward (receive), concept - something taken together (idea), capable - able to take/seize (handle), intercept - take between (stop), reception - act of taking/receiving
fac/fact	to make, do	factory - place where things are made, manufacture - make by hand, faculty - ability to do/make, facilitate - make easier, artifact - thing made by skill, benefactor - one who does good
phon	sound	telephone - sound from afar, microphone - small sound (amplifier), symphony - sounding together, phonics - study of speech sounds, saxophone - sound instrument, megaphone - big sound (amplifier)
sens/sent	to feel	sense - faculty of feeling, consent - feel together (agree), sentiment - feeling (expressed), sensor - device that feels, sensible - able to feel/reason, resentment - feeling again (bitterness)
bio	life	biology - study of life, biography - writing about a life, antibiotic - against life (germs), biodiversity - variety of life, biochemistry - chemistry of life, autobiography - self-written life story
geo	earth	geography - writing about the earth, geology - study of the earth, geometry - measuring the earth, geothermal - earth heat, geopolitics - earth + politics (power over land), geocentric - earth-centered
pend/pens	to hang, weigh	depend - hang down (rely on), suspend - hang up, pending - hanging (awaiting decision), expense - weighing out (money spent), pendulum - hanging weight, independent - not hanging on (self-reliant)
rupt	to break	interrupt - break between, disrupt - break apart, erupt - break out (suddenly), bankrupt - broken bench (historical symbol of failed business), corrupt - break morally, rupture - a breaking
press	to press	pressure - act of pressing, express - press out (words/feelings), impress - press into (the mind), compress - press together, depress - press down (emotion/mood), suppress - press under (hide/restrain)
voc/vok	to call	vocabulary - collection of words (calls), vocal - relating to voice (calling), invoke - call upon, provoke - call forth (response/anger), advocate - call for (public support), revoke - call back (cancel)
manu	hand	manual - done by hand, manufacture - make by hand, manuscript - written by hand, manipulate - handle skillfully (often deceitfully), manicure - care for hands/nails, emancipate - take from the hand (free from control)
ped/pod	foot	pedal - foot lever, pedestrian - one who travels by foot, podium - foot platform, tripod - three-foot stand, expedite - free the feet (speed up), centipede - hundred-foot creature
scope	to see	telescope - see far, microscope - see small, horoscope - see hour (star-based timing), periscope - see around, stethoscope - see/observe chest (via sound), kaleidoscope - see beautiful forms
chron	time	chronological - in time order, chronic - lasting long (time-based), synchronize - time together, chronicle - record of time (events), chronometer - time measurer, anachronism - time error (out of time)
therm	heat	thermal - relating to heat, thermometer - heat measurer, thermostat - heat regulator, hypothermia - low heat (body), geothermal - earth heat, exothermic - giving off heat
meter/metr	measure	meter - basic measure unit, thermometer - heat measurer, perimeter - measure around, diameter - measure across, geometry - earth measuring, symmetry - same measure (balanced parts)
path	feeling, disease	sympathy - feeling with, empathy - feeling in, pathetic - feeling-evoking (pitiful), apathy - without feeling, pathology - study of disease, telepathy - feeling/direct knowing at a distance
phil	love	philosophy - love of wisdom, philanthropist - lover of humanity (charity), Philadelphia - brotherly love city, bibliophile - book lover, philharmonic - music lover, anglophile - lover of English culture
auto	self	automatic - self-moving, automobile - self-moving vehicle, autobiography - self-written life story, autograph - self-written (signature), autonomous - self-governing, autopilot - self-steering
tele	far, distant	telephone - sound from afar, television - seeing from afar, telescope - see far, telegram - message from afar, telepathy - feeling/knowing at distance, telecommunication - communication over distance
micro	small	microscope - see small, microphone - small sound (amplifier), microwave - small wave (radiation), microorganism - small life form, microchip - small chip, microbiology - study of small life
poly	many	polygon - many angles, polyester - many ester units (fabric), monopoly - single seller (but root: many + seller → control over many), polygamy - many marriages, polynomial - many terms, polytheism - belief in many gods
mono	one, single	monopoly - single control (over trade), monologue - single speaking, monotone - single tone, monarchy - single ruler, monochrome - single color, monocle - single lens (eye glass)
bene	good, well	benefit - good deed/result, beneficial - producing good, benefactor - one who does good, benevolent - well-wishing, benediction - good saying (blessing), benign - good-natured (non-harmful)
mal	bad, evil	malicious - full of bad intent, malfunction - bad function, malnutrition - bad nutrition, malpractice - bad professional conduct, malevolent - wishing evil, malady - bad condition (illness)
multi	many	multiple - many folds, multiply - make many, multimedia - many media types, multicultural - many cultures, multitude - great number, multitask - do many tasks
uni	one	uniform - one form, unite - make one, unique - one of a kind, universe - turned into one (all things), universal - pertaining to one whole, unicorn - one horn
circum	around	circumference - measure around, circumstance - things standing around, circumnavigate - sail around, circumvent - go around (avoid), circumscribe - draw around (limit), circuit - path around
pre	before	predict - say before, prevent - come before (to stop), prepare - make ready before, prefix - fix before (word part), preview - view before, prehistoric - before recorded history
post	after	postpone - put after, postwar - after war, postscript - written after, posterior - coming after (back side), postgraduate - after graduation, postmortem - after death
re	again, back	return - turn back, review - view again, repeat - say/do again, revise - see again (correct), restore - give back (original state), reverse - turn back
trans	across, beyond	transport - carry across, transfer - carry across (move), transform - shape across (change), translate - carry across (language), transaction - action across (exchange), transparent - seen through (across)
sub	under, below	subway - way under, submarine - under sea, substitute - stand under (in place of), subtract - pull under (take away), submerge - merge under, subordinate - lower order (under command)
super	above, over	superior - above (higher rank), supernatural - above nature, supervise - see over, supersede - sit over (replace), superb - above (excellent), superficial - on the surface (above face)
aqua	water	aquarium - water container, aquatic - living in water, aqueduct - water lead (channel), aquifer - water bearer (rock layer), aquamarine - sea water color, subaquatic - under water
astr	star	astronomy - star arrangement (study), astrology - star study (influence), asteroid - star-like, astronaut - star sailor, astrophysics - star physics, disaster - bad star (ill omen)
cent	hundred	century - hundred years, percent - per hundred, centimeter - hundredth of meter, centipede - hundred-footed, centennial - hundred-year, centigrade - hundred steps (Celsius scale)
cred	to believe	credit - belief (trust in payment), incredible - not believable, credible - believable, credential - belief token (proof), creed - belief statement, discredit - remove belief
dem	people	democracy - rule by people, demographic - people writing (stats), epidemic - upon the people (disease spread), demagogue - people leader (often manipulative), endemic - in the people (local disease), pandemic - all people (worldwide disease)
derm	skin	dermatology - skin study, epidermis - upon skin (outer layer), hypodermic - under skin, dermatitis - skin inflammation, taxidermy - arranging skin (stuffed animals), pachyderm - thick skin (e.g., elephant)
hydr	water	hydrate - add water, dehydrate - remove water, hydroelectric - water electricity, hydrant - water outlet, hydrophobic - water fearing (repelling), hydroponics - water farming
morph	form, shape	morphology - study of form, metamorphosis - change of form, amorphous - without form, anthropomorphic - human-shaped, morpheme - smallest meaning unit (word form), geomorphic - earth-shaped
psych	mind, soul	psychology - study of mind, psychic - of the soul/mind, psychiatry - healing the mind, psychosis - mind condition (break from reality), psychotherapy - mind healing, metempsychosis - soul transfer (reincarnation)
sect	to cut	section - cut part, intersect - cut between, dissect - cut apart, bisect - cut in two, sect - cut off group (religious), vivisection - cutting living things
tri	three	triangle - three angles, tricycle - three wheels, triple - three times, trilogy - three works, tripod - three feet, triumvirate - group of three rulers
verb	word	verbal - relating to words, verbatim - word for word, proverb - words before (wisdom saying), adverb - word added to verb, verbose - full of words, verbiage - excessive wording
viv/vit	life	vivid - full of life (lively), revive - bring back to life, vital - pertaining to life, vitamin - life-giving amine, vivacious - lively, survive - live beyond
anthrop	human	anthropology - study of humans, philanthropy - love of humans, misanthrope - hater of humans, anthropomorphic - human-shaped, anthropoid - human-like, lycanthrope - wolf-human (werewolf)
arch	ruler, chief	monarch - single ruler, hierarchy - sacred ruler system, anarchy - without ruler, archbishop - chief bishop, matriarch - female ruler, architect - chief builder
cide	to kill	homicide - human killing, suicide - self-killing, insecticide - insect killer, genocide - tribe/race killing, pesticide - pest killer, fungicide - fungus killer
cogn	to know	recognize - know again, cognitive - relating to knowing, cognition - act of knowing, incognito - not known (disguised), precognition - knowing beforehand, cognizant - aware (knowing)
corp	body	corporation - body of people (legal entity), corpse - dead body, incorporate - put into a body (unite), corporeal - bodily, corpus - body (collection of texts), corpulent - having a large body
dyna	power	dynamic - full of power, dynamite - power substance, dynasty - power line (ruling family), aerodynamic - air power (efficient movement), dynamo - power generator, hydrodynamic - water power (flow)
gen	birth, race	generate - bring into birth, genetics - study of birth traits, generation - act of producing, genealogy - birth writing (family tree), genesis - beginning (birth), eugenics - good birth (improvement)
hetero	different	heterogeneous - different kinds, heterosexual - different sex attraction, heteronym - same spelling, different meaning/pronunciation, heterodox - different belief, heterozygote - different genes
homo	same	homogeneous - same kind, homosexual - same sex attraction, homonym - same name (spelling/sound), homogenize - make same, homophone - same sound, homologous - same relation
macro	large	macroscopic - visible to naked eye, macroeconomic - large-scale economy, macromolecule - large molecule, macrocosm - large world (universe), macronutrient - large-need nutrient
mega	large, great	megabyte - large byte (10⁶ bytes), megaphone - large sound, megalith - large stone, megalomania - delusion of greatness, megastar - great star, megawatt - large watt
omni	all	omnipotent - all-powerful, omniscient - all-knowing, omnipresent - present everywhere, omnivore - eats all (plants & animals), omnibus - for all (collection), omnidirectional - all directions
photo	light	photograph - light drawing, photosynthesis - light putting together (plants), photocopy - light copy, photon - light particle, photogenic - light-friendly (looks good in photos), photovoltaic - light-electricity
pseudo	false	pseudonym - false name, pseudoscience - false science, pseudopod - false foot (cell extension), pseudo-intellectual - false intellectual, pseudocode - false code (description)
retro	backward	retrospect - look backward, retroactive - acting backward (in time), retrograde - going backward, retrofit - fit backward (upgrade old system), retrospective - looking back, retrovirus - backward virus (RNA → DNA)
soph	wisdom	philosophy - love of wisdom, sophisticated - wise in a complex way, sophomore - wise fool (2nd year, overconfident), sophistry - false wisdom (deceptive argument), sophist - wise teacher (often paid), pansophy - all wisdom
theo	god	theology - study of god, theist - believer in god, atheist - without god belief, polytheism - many gods, pantheon - all gods house, theocracy - god rule
vor	to eat	carnivore - meat eater, herbivore - plant eater, omnivore - all eater, voracious - eager to eat (greedy), devour - eat completely, insectivore - insect eater

port

Meaning: to carry

Examples: transport - carry across, report - carry back (information), support - carry under (provide backing), export - carry out, import - carry in, portable - able to be carried

dict

Meaning: to say

Examples: predict - say beforehand, dictate - say aloud for writing, dictionary - book of words (said/defined), contradict - say against, verdict - true saying (from jury), benediction - good saying (blessing)

struct

Meaning: to build

Examples: structure - something built, construct - build together, instruct - build knowledge into (guide), destruction - tearing down what was built, infrastructure - underlying structure, reconstruction - rebuilding

spec/spect

Meaning: to see, look

Examples: inspect - look into closely, respect - look back with regard, spectator - one who looks, suspect - look under (with doubt), perspective - way of looking through, retrospect - look back

scrib/script

Meaning: to write

Examples: describe - write down details, prescribe - write before (instructions), manuscript - written by hand, scripture - sacred writings, transcribe - write across (copy), inscription - something written into

tract

Meaning: to pull, drag

Examples: attract - pull toward, contract - pull together (into agreement), distract - pull away (attention), extract - pull out, subtract - pull away (from total), traction - act of pulling

ject

Meaning: to throw

Examples: project - throw forward, reject - throw back, inject - throw into, eject - throw out, object - something thrown against (opposition), subject - thrown under (authority/topic)

form

Meaning: shape

Examples: transform - change shape, inform - give shape to knowledge, reform - shape again, uniform - same shape, formation - process of shaping, formality - fixed shape

miss/mit

Meaning: to send

Examples: mission - act of sending, transmit - send across, submit - send under (authority), permit - send through (allow), admission - send into, emit - send out

duc/duct

Meaning: to lead

Examples: produce - lead forth (bring out), reduce - lead back, conduct - lead together (guide), educate - lead out (draw forth knowledge), introduce - lead in, deduct - lead away

pos/pon

Meaning: to place, put

Examples: position - place something, compose - put together, expose - put out (into view), oppose - put against, postpone - put after (delay), component - part put with others

tend/tens

Meaning: to stretch

Examples: extend - stretch out, intend - stretch toward (aim), pretend - stretch forth (a false appearance), tension - state of being stretched, intense - highly stretched, extensive - widely stretched

graph

Meaning: to write, draw

Examples: paragraph - written beside (text unit), biography - writing about a life, autograph - self-written (signature), photograph - drawing with light, graphic - related to writing/drawing, geography - writing about the earth

log/logy

Meaning: word, study

Examples: biology - study of life, psychology - study of the mind, technology - study of craft/tools, dialogue - two-way talking, apology - speaking in defense, geology - study of the earth

vis/vid

Meaning: to see

Examples: vision - act of seeing, video - I see (Latin), visible - able to be seen, evidence - things seen (proof), provide - see ahead (prepare), supervise - see over (watch/manage)

aud

Meaning: to hear

Examples: audio - relating to hearing, audience - those who hear, audible - able to be heard, auditorium - place for hearing, audition - hearing test, inaudible - not able to be heard

cap/cept

Meaning: to take, seize

Examples: capture - take by force, accept - take toward (receive), concept - something taken together (idea), capable - able to take/seize (handle), intercept - take between (stop), reception - act of taking/receiving

fac/fact

Meaning: to make, do

Examples: factory - place where things are made, manufacture - make by hand, faculty - ability to do/make, facilitate - make easier, artifact - thing made by skill, benefactor - one who does good

phon

Meaning: sound

Examples: telephone - sound from afar, microphone - small sound (amplifier), symphony - sounding together, phonics - study of speech sounds, saxophone - sound instrument, megaphone - big sound (amplifier)

sens/sent

Meaning: to feel

Examples: sense - faculty of feeling, consent - feel together (agree), sentiment - feeling (expressed), sensor - device that feels, sensible - able to feel/reason, resentment - feeling again (bitterness)

bio

Meaning: life

Examples: biology - study of life, biography - writing about a life, antibiotic - against life (germs), biodiversity - variety of life, biochemistry - chemistry of life, autobiography - self-written life story

geo

Meaning: earth

Examples: geography - writing about the earth, geology - study of the earth, geometry - measuring the earth, geothermal - earth heat, geopolitics - earth + politics (power over land), geocentric - earth-centered

pend/pens

Meaning: to hang, weigh

Examples: depend - hang down (rely on), suspend - hang up, pending - hanging (awaiting decision), expense - weighing out (money spent), pendulum - hanging weight, independent - not hanging on (self-reliant)

rupt

Meaning: to break

Examples: interrupt - break between, disrupt - break apart, erupt - break out (suddenly), bankrupt - broken bench (historical symbol of failed business), corrupt - break morally, rupture - a breaking

press

Meaning: to press

Examples: pressure - act of pressing, express - press out (words/feelings), impress - press into (the mind), compress - press together, depress - press down (emotion/mood), suppress - press under (hide/restrain)

voc/vok

Meaning: to call

Examples: vocabulary - collection of words (calls), vocal - relating to voice (calling), invoke - call upon, provoke - call forth (response/anger), advocate - call for (public support), revoke - call back (cancel)

manu

Meaning: hand

Examples: manual - done by hand, manufacture - make by hand, manuscript - written by hand, manipulate - handle skillfully (often deceitfully), manicure - care for hands/nails, emancipate - take from the hand (free from control)

ped/pod

Meaning: foot

Examples: pedal - foot lever, pedestrian - one who travels by foot, podium - foot platform, tripod - three-foot stand, expedite - free the feet (speed up), centipede - hundred-foot creature

scope

Meaning: to see

Examples: telescope - see far, microscope - see small, horoscope - see hour (star-based timing), periscope - see around, stethoscope - see/observe chest (via sound), kaleidoscope - see beautiful forms

chron

Meaning: time

Examples: chronological - in time order, chronic - lasting long (time-based), synchronize - time together, chronicle - record of time (events), chronometer - time measurer, anachronism - time error (out of time)

therm

Meaning: heat

Examples: thermal - relating to heat, thermometer - heat measurer, thermostat - heat regulator, hypothermia - low heat (body), geothermal - earth heat, exothermic - giving off heat

meter/metr

Meaning: measure

Examples: meter - basic measure unit, thermometer - heat measurer, perimeter - measure around, diameter - measure across, geometry - earth measuring, symmetry - same measure (balanced parts)

path

Meaning: feeling, disease

Examples: sympathy - feeling with, empathy - feeling in, pathetic - feeling-evoking (pitiful), apathy - without feeling, pathology - study of disease, telepathy - feeling/direct knowing at a distance

phil

Meaning: love

Examples: philosophy - love of wisdom, philanthropist - lover of humanity (charity), Philadelphia - brotherly love city, bibliophile - book lover, philharmonic - music lover, anglophile - lover of English culture

auto

Meaning: self

Examples: automatic - self-moving, automobile - self-moving vehicle, autobiography - self-written life story, autograph - self-written (signature), autonomous - self-governing, autopilot - self-steering

tele

Meaning: far, distant

Examples: telephone - sound from afar, television - seeing from afar, telescope - see far, telegram - message from afar, telepathy - feeling/knowing at distance, telecommunication - communication over distance

micro

Meaning: small

Examples: microscope - see small, microphone - small sound (amplifier), microwave - small wave (radiation), microorganism - small life form, microchip - small chip, microbiology - study of small life

poly

Meaning: many

Examples: polygon - many angles, polyester - many ester units (fabric), monopoly - single seller (but root: many + seller → control over many), polygamy - many marriages, polynomial - many terms, polytheism - belief in many gods

mono

Meaning: one, single

Examples: monopoly - single control (over trade), monologue - single speaking, monotone - single tone, monarchy - single ruler, monochrome - single color, monocle - single lens (eye glass)

bene

Meaning: good, well

Examples: benefit - good deed/result, beneficial - producing good, benefactor - one who does good, benevolent - well-wishing, benediction - good saying (blessing), benign - good-natured (non-harmful)

mal

Meaning: bad, evil

Examples: malicious - full of bad intent, malfunction - bad function, malnutrition - bad nutrition, malpractice - bad professional conduct, malevolent - wishing evil, malady - bad condition (illness)

multi

Meaning: many

Examples: multiple - many folds, multiply - make many, multimedia - many media types, multicultural - many cultures, multitude - great number, multitask - do many tasks

uni

Meaning: one

Examples: uniform - one form, unite - make one, unique - one of a kind, universe - turned into one (all things), universal - pertaining to one whole, unicorn - one horn

circum

Meaning: around

Examples: circumference - measure around, circumstance - things standing around, circumnavigate - sail around, circumvent - go around (avoid), circumscribe - draw around (limit), circuit - path around

pre

Meaning: before

Examples: predict - say before, prevent - come before (to stop), prepare - make ready before, prefix - fix before (word part), preview - view before, prehistoric - before recorded history

post

Meaning: after

Examples: postpone - put after, postwar - after war, postscript - written after, posterior - coming after (back side), postgraduate - after graduation, postmortem - after death

re

Meaning: again, back

Examples: return - turn back, review - view again, repeat - say/do again, revise - see again (correct), restore - give back (original state), reverse - turn back

trans

Meaning: across, beyond

Examples: transport - carry across, transfer - carry across (move), transform - shape across (change), translate - carry across (language), transaction - action across (exchange), transparent - seen through (across)

sub

Meaning: under, below

Examples: subway - way under, submarine - under sea, substitute - stand under (in place of), subtract - pull under (take away), submerge - merge under, subordinate - lower order (under command)

super

Meaning: above, over

Examples: superior - above (higher rank), supernatural - above nature, supervise - see over, supersede - sit over (replace), superb - above (excellent), superficial - on the surface (above face)

aqua

Meaning: water

Examples: aquarium - water container, aquatic - living in water, aqueduct - water lead (channel), aquifer - water bearer (rock layer), aquamarine - sea water color, subaquatic - under water

astr

Meaning: star

Examples: astronomy - star arrangement (study), astrology - star study (influence), asteroid - star-like, astronaut - star sailor, astrophysics - star physics, disaster - bad star (ill omen)

cent

Meaning: hundred

Examples: century - hundred years, percent - per hundred, centimeter - hundredth of meter, centipede - hundred-footed, centennial - hundred-year, centigrade - hundred steps (Celsius scale)

cred

Meaning: to believe

Examples: credit - belief (trust in payment), incredible - not believable, credible - believable, credential - belief token (proof), creed - belief statement, discredit - remove belief

dem

Meaning: people

Examples: democracy - rule by people, demographic - people writing (stats), epidemic - upon the people (disease spread), demagogue - people leader (often manipulative), endemic - in the people (local disease), pandemic - all people (worldwide disease)

derm

Meaning: skin

Examples: dermatology - skin study, epidermis - upon skin (outer layer), hypodermic - under skin, dermatitis - skin inflammation, taxidermy - arranging skin (stuffed animals), pachyderm - thick skin (e.g., elephant)

hydr

Meaning: water

Examples: hydrate - add water, dehydrate - remove water, hydroelectric - water electricity, hydrant - water outlet, hydrophobic - water fearing (repelling), hydroponics - water farming

morph

Meaning: form, shape

Examples: morphology - study of form, metamorphosis - change of form, amorphous - without form, anthropomorphic - human-shaped, morpheme - smallest meaning unit (word form), geomorphic - earth-shaped

psych

Meaning: mind, soul

Examples: psychology - study of mind, psychic - of the soul/mind, psychiatry - healing the mind, psychosis - mind condition (break from reality), psychotherapy - mind healing, metempsychosis - soul transfer (reincarnation)

sect

Meaning: to cut

Examples: section - cut part, intersect - cut between, dissect - cut apart, bisect - cut in two, sect - cut off group (religious), vivisection - cutting living things

tri

Meaning: three

Examples: triangle - three angles, tricycle - three wheels, triple - three times, trilogy - three works, tripod - three feet, triumvirate - group of three rulers

verb

Meaning: word

Examples: verbal - relating to words, verbatim - word for word, proverb - words before (wisdom saying), adverb - word added to verb, verbose - full of words, verbiage - excessive wording

viv/vit

Meaning: life

Examples: vivid - full of life (lively), revive - bring back to life, vital - pertaining to life, vitamin - life-giving amine, vivacious - lively, survive - live beyond

anthrop

Meaning: human

Examples: anthropology - study of humans, philanthropy - love of humans, misanthrope - hater of humans, anthropomorphic - human-shaped, anthropoid - human-like, lycanthrope - wolf-human (werewolf)

arch

Meaning: ruler, chief

Examples: monarch - single ruler, hierarchy - sacred ruler system, anarchy - without ruler, archbishop - chief bishop, matriarch - female ruler, architect - chief builder

cide

Meaning: to kill

Examples: homicide - human killing, suicide - self-killing, insecticide - insect killer, genocide - tribe/race killing, pesticide - pest killer, fungicide - fungus killer

cogn

Meaning: to know

Examples: recognize - know again, cognitive - relating to knowing, cognition - act of knowing, incognito - not known (disguised), precognition - knowing beforehand, cognizant - aware (knowing)

corp

Meaning: body

Examples: corporation - body of people (legal entity), corpse - dead body, incorporate - put into a body (unite), corporeal - bodily, corpus - body (collection of texts), corpulent - having a large body

dyna

Meaning: power

Examples: dynamic - full of power, dynamite - power substance, dynasty - power line (ruling family), aerodynamic - air power (efficient movement), dynamo - power generator, hydrodynamic - water power (flow)

gen

Meaning: birth, race

Examples: generate - bring into birth, genetics - study of birth traits, generation - act of producing, genealogy - birth writing (family tree), genesis - beginning (birth), eugenics - good birth (improvement)

hetero

Meaning: different

Examples: heterogeneous - different kinds, heterosexual - different sex attraction, heteronym - same spelling, different meaning/pronunciation, heterodox - different belief, heterozygote - different genes

homo

Meaning: same

Examples: homogeneous - same kind, homosexual - same sex attraction, homonym - same name (spelling/sound), homogenize - make same, homophone - same sound, homologous - same relation

macro

Meaning: large

Examples: macroscopic - visible to naked eye, macroeconomic - large-scale economy, macromolecule - large molecule, macrocosm - large world (universe), macronutrient - large-need nutrient

mega

Meaning: large, great

Examples: megabyte - large byte (10⁶ bytes), megaphone - large sound, megalith - large stone, megalomania - delusion of greatness, megastar - great star, megawatt - large watt

omni

Meaning: all

Examples: omnipotent - all-powerful, omniscient - all-knowing, omnipresent - present everywhere, omnivore - eats all (plants & animals), omnibus - for all (collection), omnidirectional - all directions

photo

Meaning: light

Examples: photograph - light drawing, photosynthesis - light putting together (plants), photocopy - light copy, photon - light particle, photogenic - light-friendly (looks good in photos), photovoltaic - light-electricity

pseudo

Meaning: false

Examples: pseudonym - false name, pseudoscience - false science, pseudopod - false foot (cell extension), pseudo-intellectual - false intellectual, pseudocode - false code (description)

retro

Meaning: backward

Examples: retrospect - look backward, retroactive - acting backward (in time), retrograde - going backward, retrofit - fit backward (upgrade old system), retrospective - looking back, retrovirus - backward virus (RNA → DNA)

soph

Meaning: wisdom

Examples: philosophy - love of wisdom, sophisticated - wise in a complex way, sophomore - wise fool (2nd year, overconfident), sophistry - false wisdom (deceptive argument), sophist - wise teacher (often paid), pansophy - all wisdom

theo

Meaning: god

Examples: theology - study of god, theist - believer in god, atheist - without god belief, polytheism - many gods, pantheon - all gods house, theocracy - god rule

vor

Meaning: to eat

Examples: carnivore - meat eater, herbivore - plant eater, omnivore - all eater, voracious - eager to eat (greedy), devour - eat completely, insectivore - insect eater

About Greek and Latin Roots

A significant portion of English vocabulary originates from Greek and Latin. Learning these roots unlocks the meaning of thousands of words.

Recognizing roots helps in spelling, understanding, and remembering new vocabulary more effectively.

These roots are commonly found in academic, scientific, and technical terminology.