Name:______________________________
Mastering terminology – Vocabulary Building
Objective: By participating in this learning activity, you will learn to analyze words
structurally. You will learn the tools of word analysis. This will aid in understanding
terminology in Zoology as well as other classes (now and in the future).
Word analysis involves knowing prefixes, suffixes, roots, combining vowels, and
combining forms. If you use tools, even long and complicated terms can be understood.
For example:
Electr
electrocardiogram
/
↓
o
/
↘
Root
combining vowel
cardio /
o
↓
↙
root
/
combining vowel
Electr- = electricity
Cardi- = heart
-gram= record
Electrocardiogram= record of the electricity of the heart
Another example:
Onc
↓
/
oncogenic
o
/
↓
Root combining vowel
gen
/
ic
↓
↓
root
suffix
Onc- = tumor
Gen- = producing, giving rise to
-ic= pertaining to
Oncogenic- pertaining to tumor producing
gram
↓
suffix
If you look at the two examples, you will note that combining vowel (usually o or a) is
placed between the root and the suffix, and the between two roots. If you follow the
rules below you will discover your vocabulary will increase rapidly.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Read the meaning of the term from the suffix back to the first part of the word
Drop the combining vowel before a suffix beginning with a vowel
Retain the combining vowel between two roots in a word
The combining vowel is not used between a prefix and a root.
There is no overall rule as to which root goes first in a word with two roots.
Sometimes (as in digestive system) roots are placed according to anatomical
position (gastroenterology not entergastrology).
Components of word structure:
Word roots= the foundation of the word
gastr /
ic
↓
Root (stomach)
Suffix = the word ending
gast
/
itis
gastr /
↓ (suffix)
↓ (suffix)
(Inflammation of)
Prefix= the word beginning
epi
/
gastr /
ic
(pertaining to)
ic
↓ (prefix)
(upon, above)
Combining vowel= a vowel (usually o) that links the root to another root or suffix
Combining form = a combination of a word root with the combining vowel
Cardio
/
gram
Many of the vocab lists that you will work with this year will have combing forms in the
list.