Common Latin and Greek Roots
Root
aud
Origin
Latin
Meaning
hear
astro
Greek
star
bio
cept
dict
Greek
Latin
Latin
life
take
speak or tell
duct
geo
Latin
Greek
lead
earth
graph
Ject
meter
Greek
Latin
Greek
write
throw
Measure
min
mit or mis
Latin
Latin
little or small
send
ped
phon
Latin
Greek
foot
sound
port
Latin
carry
rupt
Latin
break
scrib or script
Latin
write
spect
Latin
see
struct
Latin
build or form
tele
tract
Greek
Latin
from afar
pull
vers
Latin
turn
Examples
auditorium, audition, audience,
audible, audiovisual
astronaut, astronomy, asterisk,
asteroid, astrology
biology, biography, biochemistry
intercept, accept, reception
dictation, dictate, predict,
contradict, dictator
conduct, induct
geology, geography, geometry,
geophysics
autograph, biography, photograph
eject, reject, projectile, inject
Thermometer, barometer,
centimeter, diameter
miniature, minimum, minimal
mission, transmit, missile, dismiss,
submit
pedal, pedestal, pedestrian
telephone, symphony,
microphone, phonics, phoneme,
phonograph
transport, portable, import,
export, porter
disrupt, rupture, erupt, interrupt,
bankrupt
scribble, scribe, inscribe, describe,
prescibe
inspect, respect, spectacle,
spectator
construct, destruct, instruct,
structure
telephone, telegraph, teleport
traction, tractor, attract, subtract,
extract
Reverse, inverse
Diamond, L. & Gutlohn, L (2006). Vocabulary handbook.
Common Prefixes
Prefix
unreim-, in-, il-, ir
% of all Prefixed
Words
26
14
11
disen-, emnonin-, imover
missubpreinterfore
detranssupersemiantimidunderall others
7
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
3
Meaning
Examples
not; opposite of
again
not
unaware, unbelievable, unsure
Redo, replay
impossible, incapable, illogical,
irregular
dishonest, disgraceful, discover
enable, emblaze, empower
nonstick, nonfiction, nonexistent
Inject, impress
overwork, overtime
misunderstand, misuse
submarine, subway
preschool, prepay
International, interact
forethought
decaffeinated, dehydradate
transatlantic
superhero, supervisor
Semiannual, semicolon
antiwar, antisocial
midyear, midnight
Underweight, underpaid
not, opposite of
cause to
not
In, into
too much
wrongly
under
before
between
before
opposite of
across
above
half
against
middle
too little
Diamond, L. & Gutlohn, L (2006). Vocabulary handbook.
Common Suffixes
Suffix
-s, -es
-ed
-ing
% of all suffixed words
31
20
14
-ly
7
-er, or (agent; one who)
-ion, -tion, -ation, -ition
4
4
-able, -ible
-al, -ial
-y
-ness
-ity, -ty
-ment
-ic
-ous, -eous, -ious
-en
--er (comparative)
-ive, -ative, -tive
-ful
-less
-est
All others
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
7
Part of Speech
plural of noun
past tense of verb
progressive tense of
verb
usually an adverb;
sometimes an adjective
noun (agent; one who)
noun
Diamond, L. & Gutlohn, L (2006). Vocabulary handbook.
adjective
adjective
adjective
abstract noun
noun
noun
adjective
adjective
Verb
adjective
adjective
adjective
adjective
adjective
Examples
cats, boxes
sailed
jumping, racing
slowly, lovely
runner, professor
action, transition,
vacation
lovable, incredible
global, logical, partial
funny
happiness
activity
merriment
historic
hideous, spacious
quicken, thicken
bigger
alternative, pensive
wonderful
effortless
strongest