Building
Vocabulary
from Word
Roots
Unit 1: Lesson 4
Greek Prefixes: eu-, ev-, dys-
eu-, evThe Greek prefix eu- or evmeans “good,well.”
dysThe Greek prefix dys- means
“bad, improper.”
Like other Greek prefixes (a-,
an-), eu-, ev-, and dysusually attach to Greek
bases and generate
vocabulary that is scientific,
technical, or medical in
nature.
Eu• This prefix consistently appears as eu- when it
attaches to a base beginning with a consonant.
eu + log (word) = eulogy
(a “good word” said about someone at a funeral)
eu + pheme (word) = euphemism
(“good” way to say something that is negative in
nature)
Interesting Eu- Words
• Eu + calypt (cover) = eucalyptus
(this plant is so named because its buds are “well” “covered”
by cones; it is the only food source for koala bears)
• Eu + gen (birth, produce) = Eugene
(a man’s name that literally means “well” “born” or noble)
• Eu + nike (victory) = Eunice
(a woman’s name that literally means “good” “victory”; one
famous woman with this name was Eunice Kennedy Shriver,
President John F. Kennedy’s sister)
Ev• If the base of the word begins with a vowel or the
letter h, we use ev- to make the word easier to
pronounce.
• There is only one word family in the English language
that uses the ev- prefix: “angel”
ev + angel (messenger) = evangelism
(bringing “good” news to others)
Dys• The dys- prefix is often found in words that describe
“improper” functioning of the body
dys + topos(place) = dystopia
(“bad” community where people often life
fearful lives)
dys + troph (growth) = dystrophy
(“improper” growth)
Do Now!
Prefixes eu-, evThe touching eulogy and euphonious music
made them feel euphoric despite their sadness.
1. What kind of event does this sentence describe?
2. What is a eulogy? Use the words “good” or “well” in
your definition.
3. How would euphonious music sound?
4. How is a person feeling if he or she is euphoric?
Do Now!
Prefix dysThey had dysphonia from too much shouting and
dysentery from too much eating, so they felt
dysphoric even though their team won the game.
1. What kind of event does this sentence describe?
2. What does dysphonia probably mean? Use the words “bad”
or “improper” in your definition.
3. What do you think dysentery is, if “enteron” means intestine
in Greek? Use the words “bad” or “improper” in your
definition.
4. How is a person feeling if he or she is dysphoric?
Do Now!
Prefixes eu-, ev-, dysUse the context clues to determine what each of these eu-, ev-,
and dys- words has to do with “good, well” or “bad, improper”.
1. The evangelist preached to many people, but the
televangelist was able to reach millions.
2. “Second-hand” is often a euphemism for “used.”
3. Since he suffered from dyspepsia, he could not eat certain
foods.
4. Some people with dysfunctional kidneys need a kidney
transplant.
5. Eugenics and euthanasia are controversial life-and-death
issues.
Greek Bases
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log- word
thanas- death
pheme- speech
phor(pherein)- to bear; being
gen- birth, produce
phon- voice, sound
ent(eron)- intestine
pepsis- digestion
pne- breathe
(o)nym- name, word
angel- messenger