Name___________________________________________________________ Date____________________ Period____________
It’s All Greek to Me! ( A Greek & Latin Word Root Activity)
As in many languages, English words are invented as they are needed. In Biology many words are
built from Greek and Latin terms which serve as WORD ROOTS. Every year, as new discoveries are
made, new words need to be created from these roots. Words roots can be added to other word
roots, prefixes can be added at the beginning, and suffixes are added at the end.
The root cyto is a good example. It comes from the Greek word meaning “hollow vessel.” In Biology
cyto always means cell, as in the basic unit of all living things.
Part A: Use Roots to find word meanings
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Ex:
Word
Anatomy
1
Photosynthesis
2
Aerobic
3
Arthropod
4
Tachycardia
5
Chloroplast
6
Carnivore
7
Heterotrophic
8
Gymnosperm
9
Ecology
10
Phagocytosis
11
Ectothermic
12
Prokaryotic
13
Lysosome
14
Phenotype
15
Sporophyte
Root Definitions
ana = up tomy = cut
Meaing
To cut up
Part B: Match the make-believe term on the left with their English meaning on the right
1.
Dicephalosis is superior to monocephalosis
a. after his own heart
2.
Gymnopodisis
b. barefoot
3.
Chiophthalmia
c. big bad wolf
4.
Cervicalgia
d. hot dog
5.
Erythrocephalis
e. cross-eyed
6.
Evolvoneophyll
f. runny nose
7.
Canitherm
g. two heads are better than one
8.
Postautocardosis
h. turn over a new leaf
9.
Rhinorrhea
i. redhead
10.
Macromallupus
j. pain in the neck
Part C: Create your own make-believe words and place their English meaning on the right
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