Greek Roots
English I Pre-AP
Anthrop
Human
Sample Words:
 Anthropology (the study
of humans)
 Misanthrope (one who
hates people (humans)
 Philanthropy (active effort
to promote human
welfare)
Aster, Astro
Star
Sample Words:
 Astronomy (study of
stars)
 Astronomical (relating to
stars)
 Asterisk (a star-shaped
punctuation mark)
Biblio
Book
Sample Words:
 Bibliography (a list of
books and sources
consulted)
 Bibliophile (one who
loves books)
 Biblical (of or relating to
the holy book of the
Judeo-Christian tradition
Bio
Life
Sample Words:
 Biology (the study of life)
 Biochemistry (chemistry
of living things)
 Biodegradable (capable
of being broken down into
harmless products by
living things)
Chrom
Color
Sample Words:
 Chromatic (pertaining to
color or colors)
 Chrome (a colored
pigment or dye that
contains chromium)
Chron
Time
Sample Words:
 Synchronize (to cause to
happen at the same time)
 Chronic (happens time
and time again)
 Chronicle (an account of
events in order in time)
Cosmo
World, Order, Universe
Sample Words:
 Cosmology (study of the
origin and structure of the
universe)
 Cosmonaut (a Russian
astronaut)
 Cosmos (the orderly,
systematic universe)
 Cosmopolitan (having a
worldwide scope/outlook)
Crac, Crat
Rule, Govern
Sample Words:
 Democracy (rule by the
people)
 Aristocracy (rule by a
small, privileged class)
 Aristocrat (a member of
the aristocracy)
Dem
People
Sample Words:
 Democracy (rule by the
people)
 Demagogue (one who
arouses discontent
among people for
personal political gain)
 Epidemic (affecting many
people at one time)
 Pandemic (affecting all
people)
Derm
Skin
Sample Words:
 Dermatitis (inflammation
of the skin)
 Dermatology (branch of
science dealing with the
skin)
 Dermis (the inner layer of
the skin)
Ethno
Nation
Sample Words:
 Ethnic (of or relating to a race
or large group of people)
 Ethnocentrism (exclusionary
favoring of one’s own
nation/ethnic group)
 Ethnology (the study of the
origin, distribution, and
relations of human races)
Eu
Good, Well
Sample Words:
 Euphoria (a strong feeling
of well-being)
 Euphony (a pleasing,
good, sweet sound)
 Euphemism (the
substitution of a “good”
term for an offensive or
unpleasant one)
Geo
Earth
Sample Words:
 Geology (the study of the
Earth, its history, and its
features)
 Geography (study of the
physical and cultural
features of the Earth)
 Geocentric (relating to or
measured from the
Earth’s center
Gno, Kno
To Know
Sample Words:
 Knowledge (that which is
known)
 Agnostic (one who
believes that whether or
not there is a higher
power cannot be known)
Hydro
Water
Sample Words:
 Hydrotherapy (the use of
water in the treatment of
disease)
 Hydroplane (to skim/skid
over water on a surface)
 Hydrogen (one of the
component elements of
water)
Hypno
Sleep
Sample Words:
 Hypnosis (an induced
state which resembles
sleep)
 Hypnotize (to induce
hypnosis)
Lith
Stone
Sample Words:
 Lithosphere (the outer,
“stone” part of the solid
Earth)
 Monolith (a single great
stone)
 Megalith (one of the huge
stones used in various
prehistoric monuments)
Logue, Logo
Idea, Word, Speech, Reason
Sample Words:
 Dialogue (a conversation/
speech between two
people)
 Monologue (a speech by
one individual onstage)
 Logical (can be proved by
reason)
Meter, Metr
Measure
Sample Words:
 Diameter (the length
[measure] of a straight
line through the center of
an object)
 Metric (of or relating to a
process of measurement)
Micro
Small
Sample Words:
 Microscope (an
instrument used to view
very small particles and
organisms)
 Microorganism (an
organism so small as to
necessitate the use of a
microscope)
 Microsecond (one
millionth of a second)
Mim
To Copy, Imitate
Sample Words:
 Mimic (to imitate)
 Mime (one who imitates
life in a ridiculous
manner)
 Mimeograph (an older
version of a copy
machine)
Mono
One
Sample Words:
 Monologue (a speech
delivered by one person)
 Monogamy (remaining
faithful to one person)
 Monolingual (only able to
speak one language)
Morph
Form
Sample Words:
• Anthropomorphic (having
or resembling human
form)
• Metamorphosis (a
change in form)
• Morphology (study of the
form and structure of
animals and plants)
Neur, Nerv
Nerve
Sample Words:
 Neurology (the study of
nervous system)
 Nervous (of or relating to
nerves)
 Neurosis (a nervous
disorder marked by
anxiety and the use of
defense mechanisms)
Path
Feeling
Sample Words:
 Apathy (lack of feeling/
caring)
 Sympathy (inclination to
think or feel alike)
 Empathy (the capacity for
experiencing as one’s
own the feelings of
another)
Philo, Phil
Love
Sample Words:
• Bibliophile (one who
loves books)
• Francophile (one who
loves France and the
French)
• Philharmonic (devoted to
or appreciative of [loving]
music)
Phon
Sound, Voice
Sample Words:
 Telephone (a device for
transmitting sound)
 Phonics (deals with word
and letter sounds)
 Symphony (a harmonious
arrangement of sound)
Poly
Many
Sample Words:
• Polychromatic (composed
of many colors)
• Polyatomic (composed of
many atoms)
• Polyester (a fabric made
of complex [many] ester)
Scope
To See
Sample Words:
 Kaleidoscope (an
instrument allowing one
to see a changing pattern
or scene)
 Telescope (an instrument
for seeing things at a
great distance)
 Microscope (an
instrument for seeing very
small things)
Tom, Tomy
Cutting, Operation of Incision
Sample Words:
•
•
•
Anatomy
Atom (the smallest particle to
which an element can be cut
while still maintaining its
elemental integrity)
Appendectomy (an operation
of incision in which the
appendix is removed)