Word Roots
Many of the words we use are made up of parts. These parts are called roots.
The roots themselves have meaning, and when you put them in larger words, they can
help to define the word. Vocabulary and spelling become easier and more meaningful
by studying word roots.
Homework
Your assignment is to prepare a flashcard for each root assigned. You must use
card stock – no paper flashcards. On one side of the card, write the root. On the other
side of the card, write the definition, two words that relate back to the root’s meaning,
and definitions for those words. For example:
Side 1
Side 2
-- both ways
1. amphitheater – theater
in which you can see
both sides of the stage
amphi
1-1
2. amphibious – able to live
both on land and water
Tests
You will be tested on each group of word roots. The tests will ask you to write in
missing information. Typically, you will be given the root and be asked to supply the
definition and one related word. Each time, you will be tested on the current list plus
additional roots taken from previous groups. At the end of the year, you will be
expected to know all eighty roots.
Greek Roots
Group #1
Root
1. amphi
2. anthro
3. ast
4. auto
5. bio
6. chrono
7. geo
8. graph, gram
9. kine, cine
10. log
11. mega
12. meter
13. tele
Meaning
both ways
man
star
self
life
time
earth
write
move
word
great
measure
far
Group #2
Root
14. micro
15. mono
16. neo
17. ortho
18. para
19. pod
20. peri
21. phob
22. phon
23. photo
24. phys
25. poly
Meaning
small
alone; one
new; recent
straight
beside; equal
foot
around
fear
sound
light
nature
many
Latin Roots
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
Group #3
Root
amo, ami
aud, audit
bene
cap
cede, ceed
cent
cide, cise
clam, claim
clud, clos, clus
cogn
Meaning
love
hear
good
head
go
hundred
cut; kill
shout
shut
know
Group #4
Root
36. cred
37. dict
38. fer
39. fict
40. fract, frag
41. ject
42. lib
43. manu
44. med, mid
45. miss, mit
Meaning
believe
speak
carry
pretend
break
throw
book; free
hand
middle
send
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
Group #5
Root
mort
multi
ped
pell, puls
pend, pens
plic, plex
port
post
rect
rupt
Meaning
death
many
foot
push
hanging
interweave; fold
carry
after
straight
break
Group #6
Root
56. scribe, script
57. sect
58. solv, solu
59. spec, spic
60. tact, tang
61. term
62. tract
63. vers, vert
64. viv, vit
65. voc
Meaning
write
cut
loosen
see
touch
end
pull; drag
turn
live
voice
Latin and Greek Prefixes (expressing time and place)
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
Group #7
Root
intraendo
ad-, ac-, ag-, atinterepicom-, con-, corsyn-, sympost-
Group #8
Meaning
inside; within
inside; within
to; toward
between; among
upon
at the same time
with; at the same time
after
Root
74. pre75. ante76. de77. sub78. super79. re80. dis-, di-
Meaning
before
before
down
under; beneath
above; over
back; backward
off; away
Guidelines for Successful Root Cards
1. The definition must show a relationship to the root’s meaning.
2. Show how the words YOU choose, relate to the root definition.
3. For the word examples, you must use different words (No same word, different ending!)
4. Do NOT choose bizarre, obscure words for the examples. Choose words that have a
chance to be part of your everyday vocabulary.
5. The root can be anywhere in the word. It doesn’t have to be at the beginning of the
word.
6. Spelling counts! If you misspell the words you choose (or the root), it will be marked
wrong.
Grading Guidelines for Root Cards
5 points per card

1 point
-
Root on front, meaning on back

2 points
-
1 point for each word spelled correctly

2 points
-
1 point for each definition that demonstrates the
relationship of the word to the root’s meaning