Seventh Grade Vocab Word List Week 11: The Suffixes –phile and -phobia
The two suffixes –phile and –phobia are very nearly opposite in meaning. The suffix –phile is from the Greek
word philia, meaning “friendship.” A word ending in –phile indicates someone having great fondness or preference for
something. For example, a hippophile (from the Greek hippos, meaning “horse,” and –phile) is someone who is
interested in or fond of horses.
In contrast to –phile, -phobia indicates a strong, unreasonable, or abnormal fear or dislike of something.
Hippophobia is an intense fear of horses. Phobia is also a word in itself, meaning “any strong or irrational fear.” In the
following lesson, you will learn words ending in –phile and –phobia.
Word
Part of Speech
Definition
acrophobia
noun
intense fear of high places
 Related word(s): acrophobic (adjective)
 Memory cue: Acrobats would not have acrophobia
agoraphobia
noun
strong fear of open places
 Related word(s): agoraphobic (adjective)
 Memory cue: Agoraphobia and claustrophobia are opposites
ailurophobia
noun
a great fear or hatred of cats
 Related word(s): ailurophobic (adjective)
Anglophile
noun
one who has strong admiration/affection for England, the English, English goods
(must be capitalized)
 Related word(s): Anglophilia (noun)
audiophile
noun
one keenly interested in recorded sound
bibliophile
noun
one devoted to the collection and preservation of books, particularly old and
rare books
claustrophobia noun
strong fear of small or enclosed places
 Related word(s): claustrophobic (adjective)
 Memory cue: Claustrophobia and agoraphobia are opposites
hydrophobia
noun
an intense fear of water
 Related word(s): hydrophobic (adjective)
xenophobia
noun
intense fear or hated of strangers or foreigners
 Related word(s): xenophobe (noun); xenophobic (adjective)
zoophobia
noun
a strong fear of animals
 Related word(s): zoophobic (adjective)
 Memory cue: Someone with zoophobia would surely suffer from ailurophobia
Seventh Grade Vocab Assignment Week 11
Meet Bob. He’s one of the most frightened people in the world. He suffers from several of the fears in this week’s
lesson. Write a story about how he got these fears and how they affect his life. (NOTE: You can change his name!) In
your story, use 5 of this week’s words. Write at least 5 unique, complete sentences – one sentence per vocab word you
choose – using the word correctly (part of speech and definition). Always use the words from the far left column –
NEVER THE “RELATED” WORDS. Sentences should be more than just the word and the definition. Sentences should be
unique (different from every other sentence on the page, written by you and you alone). Sentences should be written
neatly. The paper should have a heading and should be neat (no folds, tears, etc.). Underline the vocab words (or
circle, highlight, etc. – just call my attention to the word). Skip a line after every line you’ve written (think of it as
double-spacing the whole page). This is in paragraph form.
FLASHCARDS DUE: Monday, Nov. 16
SENTENCES DUE: Tuesday, Nov. 17
Seventh Grade Vocab Word List Week 11: The Suffixes –phile and -phobia
The two suffixes –phile and –phobia are very nearly opposite in meaning. The suffix –phile is from the Greek
word philia, meaning “friendship.” A word ending in –phile indicates someone having great fondness or preference for
something. For example, a hippophile (from the Greek hippos, meaning “horse,” and –phile) is someone who is
interested in or fond of horses.
In contrast to –phile, -phobia indicates a strong, unreasonable, or abnormal fear or dislike of something.
Hippophobia is an intense fear of horses. Phobia is also a word in itself, meaning “any strong or irrational fear.” In the
following lesson, you will learn words ending in –phile and –phobia.
Word
Part of Speech
Definition
1
noun
intense fear of high places
 Related word(s): acrophobic (adjective)
 Memory cue: Acrobats would not have acrophobia
2
noun
strong fear of open places
 Related word(s): agoraphobic (adjective)
 Memory cue: Agoraphobia and claustrophobia are opposites
3
noun
a great fear or hatred of cats
 Related word(s): ailurophobic (adjective)
4
noun
one who has strong admiration/affection for England, the English,
English goods (must be capitalized)
 Related word(s): Anglophilia (noun)
5
noun
one keenly interested in recorded sound
6
noun
one devoted to the collection and preservation of books, particularly old
And rare books
7
noun
strong fear of small or enclosed places
 Related word(s): claustrophobic (adjective)
 Memory cue: Claustrophobia and agoraphobia are opposites
8
noun
an intense fear of water
 Related word(s): hydrophobic (adjective)
9
noun
intense fear or hated of strangers or foreigners
 Related word(s): xenophobe (noun); xenophobic (adjective)
10
noun
a strong fear of animals
 Related word(s): zoophobic (adjective)
 Memory cue: Someone with zoophobia would surely suffer from ailurophobia
Seventh Grade Vocab Assignment Week 11
Meet Bob. He’s one of the most frightened people in the world. He suffers from several of the fears in this week’s
lesson. Write a story about how he got these fears and how they affect his life. (NOTE: You can change his name!) In
your story, use 5 of this week’s words. Write at least 5 unique, complete sentences – one sentence per vocab word you
choose – using the word correctly (part of speech and definition). Always use the words from the far left column –
NEVER THE “RELATED” WORDS. Sentences should be more than just the word and the definition. Sentences should be
unique (different from every other sentence on the page, written by you and you alone). Sentences should be written
neatly. The paper should have a heading and should be neat (no folds, tears, etc.). Underline the vocab words (or
circle, highlight, etc. – just call my attention to the word). Skip a line after every line you’ve written (think of it as
double-spacing the whole page). This is in paragraph form.
FLASHCARDS DUE: Monday, Nov. 16
SENTENCES DUE: Tuesday, Nov. 17