Affixes
Latin Roots
Greek Combining Forms
Grades 3 – 8
Fall 2007-2008
Reading Strand 1, Concept 4 Vocabulary
Grade 3: Use knowledge of prefixes and suffixes to determine the meaning of words.
Grades 4 and 5: Use knowledge of root words and affixes to determine the meaning of unknown words.
Grade 6: Determine the effect of affixes on root words
Grades 7 and 8: Determine the meaning of vocabulary using linguistic roots and affixes.
4TH
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5TH
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6TH
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Suffixes
-ful
-ly
-er, -or
-ed
-est
-less
-s
-ful
-ing
-tion, -sion
-able,
-y
-dom
cent–, hect(hundred)
milli-, kilo-,
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semi-, hemi-, or
demi– (half)
poly– (many)
uni- (one)
tri- (three)
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Prefixes
un- (not or undo)
re- (again or back)
dis- (opposite, not)
pre- (before)
post- (after)
in- (not, in or on)
im- (not, in or on)
dif- (not)
mid- (middle)
ex- (out)
sub-(under)
pro- (forward)
dec-, deca-, deci–
(ten)
(thousand)
quad-, quar- (four)
pent- (five)
oct- (eight)
non- (not or negative)
I – Introduce
3RD
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6TH
-ment
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-ness
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-ism
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-le
-ible
-ous
-ist
-or
-ile
-ion
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R – Review M – Master
7TH
8TH
3RD
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7TH
8TH
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Page 1 of 10
3RD
Prefixes
il- (not, in or on)
de-(from/down)
super-(more than)
multi- (many)
con-,com-, co-, col-,
cor- (with)
anti– (against)
mono- (one, single)
di-, bi–, duo- (two)
tele- (distant)
mis– (bad)
sex-, hex- (six)
sept-, hept-,(seven)
trans- (across or
beyond)
circum–(around)
inter– (between)
intra– (within)
intro- (inward)
mal- (bad)
ir- (not, in or on)
macro– (large)
micro– (small)
non- (nine)
4TH
5TH
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6TH
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7TH
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mega- (large, million)
contra- (against)
counter- (opposite)
bene-(well or good)
omni– (all)
neo – (new)
tetra- (four)
quint- (five)
giga- (billion)
I – Introduce
R – Review M – Master
8TH
7TH
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8TH
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-arium
-ive,
-al, ial
-ward
-wise
-ure
-ity
-ary
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-ant, -ent
-ance, ence
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Suffixes
-ant, -ent
-ish
-ship
-age
-ic
3RD
4TH
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6TH
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Page 2 of 10
3RD
Prefixes
nano– (billion)
ante– (before)
hypo– (under,
4TH
5TH
below, too little)
ambi– (both)
meta- (beside)
para- (beside)
ob- (down, facing
against, or to)
ad- (to)
hetero-(different)
syn- (together)
sym– (together)
pan- (all)
per– (throughout)
peri– (all around, near)
retro– (back)
ab– (away from)
be– (completely)
en- (within)
dys- (difficult)
proto- (earliest)
I – Introduce
R – Review M – Master
6TH
7TH
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Suffixes
3RD
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Page 3 of 10
8TH
Root
form
port
Meaning
to shape
to carry
rupt
to break or
burst
to draw or
pull
to write
tract
scrib
script
act
numer
speci
spec
spect
stru
struct
dic
dict
flect, flex
mit, miss
sens
deli
offic
class
organ
prob
action, doing
number
particular
type or kind
to see,
watch or
observe
to build
to say or tell
to bend or
curve
to send
feel, sense,
become
aware of
pleasant
duty, work
group, class
tool,
instrument
test, prove
I – Introduce
4TH
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5TH
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6TH
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suspect, spectator, respect, expect
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construct, instructions, superstructure,
instrument
predict, verdict, dedicate, dictionary
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reflex, flexible, reflect
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mission, intermission, emissary, permission,
emit
sense, sensitive, sensation, extrasensory,
sensible
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delight, delicatessen, delicious, delicate
office, officer, official, officiate
classic, classical, classify
organize, organist, organism, organic
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probe, probable, probability
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Examples
formal, formula, inform, perform, uniform
airport, import, export, portal, report,
support
bankrupt, corrupt, disrupt, erupt, interrupt,
rupture, abrupt
attract, contract, tractor, extract,
subtraction, protractor, traction
scribble, scripture, describe, prescription
action, activity, actor, actually, enact
numeral, numerator, numerous, enumerate
special, specific, specify, species, specimen
R – Review M – Master
3RD
7TH
Page 4 of 10
8TH
Root
loc
equ
metr
frac, frag
cred
duc,
duce,
duct
pel, puls
vers,
vert
serv
vari
fin
famil
pend,
pens
circ
jac, jec,
ject
aqua
terr
tend,
tens,
tent
ques
Meaning
Examples
place
local, location, locomotion
same, even
equal, equator, equivalent
measurement meter, metric, diameter, metronome,
perimeter, symmetrical
to crack, break fracture, fraction, fragile, fragment
to believe
credential, credit, incredible
to lead
conductor, education, produce, viaduct
3RD
4TH
5TH
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6TH
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7TH
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8TH
to drive or
push
to turn
compulsive, repulsion, repel, pulse, expel
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conversation, convertible, universal
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to help, serve
different,
changing
end
household,
closely
known
to hang or
weigh
around
to throw or
lie
water
land
service, servant, undeserved
variable, variety, various, invariably
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finish, finale, finite, finalist, confine
family, familiar
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suspend, expense, dispenser, dependable,
suspenders, suspense, pendulum
circle, circus, circuit, circulate
ejection, reject, adjective, adjacent
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aquarium, Aquarius, aqueduct, aquatic
terrace, territory, Mediterranean, terrain,
extraterrestrial
extension, tendon, intense, attention
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question, quest, inquest, questionnaire
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to stretch or
strain
to ask,
search
I – Introduce
R – Review M – Master
Page 5 of 10
Root
part
3RD
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vid, vis
aud
vit, vita,
viv, vivi
leg
to see
hear, listen
to live
Examples
partial, partner, particle, department,
participate
current, currency, occurrence, curriculum
student, studiousness, studio, understudy
pedestrian, millipede, expedition, pedicure
podiatrist, podium, tripod, orthopedics
visionary, television, improvise, supervision
audible, audition, auditorium, audit
Vitamin, revive, survival, vivacious
law
legal, privilege, legitimate, legislature
greg
group,
crowd, flock
or herd; to
assemble
head or chief
segregate, aggregate, congregation,
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captain, capital, decapitate, per capita
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to breathe
to take,
catch, seize,
hold, or
receive
step, degree,
to walk
perspiration, spirit, uninspiring, respirator
interception, deceive, emancipation,
capacity, participation, accept, capture,
captivate, captivity
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grade, graduate, regression, centigrade,
digress, gradual
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to bear or
yield
to call
different, referee, transfer, fertilize
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vocabulary, provoke, vocalist, advocacy
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to choose,
pick, read, or
speak
lectern, selection, lecturer, legend, elect
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cur, curs
studi
ped, pod
capit,
capt
spir, spire
cap, ceit,
ceive,
cep,
cept, cip
grad,
gred,
gress
fer
voc, vok,
voke
lect, leg,
lig
Meaning
separate
piece
to run or go
learn, study
foot
I – Introduce
R – Review M – Master
Page 6 of 10
Root
lit, liter,
litera
grat
cede,
ceed,
cess
bas
ten, tain,
tent
civi
feder,
fid, fide,
feal
sist, sta,
stat, stit
7TH
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8TH
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grateful, gratitude, gratuity, ungrateful
inaccessible, process, necessary, concede,
concession
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bass, basement, basis, basic
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entertainer, tenacity, sustain, detention
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civics, civilian, uncivilized, civilization
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affidavit, confidence, fidelity, federal
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Meaning
letters
Examples
literature, illiterate, alliteration, obliterate
thankful
to go, yield,
or surrender
foundation,
low part
to hold or to
have
citizen,
member of a
city
trust or faith
to stand,
standing
position,
state or
condition
cad, cas, to fall or
cid
befall
pon,
to put, place,
pos,pose, or set
pound
cern
to separate
cert
to decide
mob,
to move, to
mot,
do
gen,
race, kind, or
genus
species; birth
cise
to cut
I – Introduce
3RD
4TH
5TH
6TH
state, stationary, statement, status, statue,
stance, distance, substantial, obstacle,
persist, consistent, assist, stamina, standard
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accident, coincide, cadence, incidental
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opposition, propose, purpose, compound,
component, compose, opponent, deposit,
pose, posture, exposure, position
concern, discern
certify, certification, certainly, ascertain
mobility, promotion, emotional, automobile,
motel, motion, motivate, motor
genocide, regenerate, gender, indigenous,
generation
incisor, precision, scissors, decision
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R – Review M – Master
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Page 7 of 10
Root
plic, ply
Meaning
to fold
Greek
Meaning
Combining
Form
tele
distant, far
away
phon
sound
phono
photo
light
gram,
written or
graph
drawn
auto
self
meter
measure
therm
heat or hot
thermo
geo
earth
saur
lizard
eco
house,
home
sphere
circle
scope
bio
watch, see
life
logy, ology
science or
study of
star
astro, astr
cycl
nym
wheel, circle
name or
I – Introduce
5TH
6TH
7TH
8TH
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5TH
6TH
7TH
8TH
telephone, telescope, telemarket, television
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phonics, phonograph, telephone, xylophone,
symphony, microphone
photographer, telephoto, photocopy
autograph, biography, telegram, paragraph,
tangram
autograph, automobile, automatic
meter, geometry, perimeter speedometer
thermometer, Thermos, thermostat, thermal
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geography, geology, geometry,
dinosaur, stegosaurus, tyrannosaurus
ecology, economics, ecosystem,
ecoterrorism
hemisphere, atmosphere, spherical
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Examples
comply, complicate, imply, implicit,
replicate, apply
Examples
telescope, microscope, microscopic
biology, biosphere, biography, antibiotics,
biohazard
biology, mythology, zoology, astrology,
ecology, phonology
astrology, asterisk, disaster, Astros,
astronaut, astronomy, asteroid
bicycle, Cyclops, cyclical, cyclone
acronym, synonym, anonymous, pseudonym
R – Review M – Master
3RD
3RD
4TH
Page 8 of 10
M
word
Meaning
Greek
Combining
Form
dyn
power,
strength
ortho
straight
dem, demo people
cracy, crat
rule
pol, polis,
city;
polit
method of
government
arch
chief, ruler
derm
skin
chron
techn
time
skill, craft
biblio
log, logo
book
speech or
word
nature
animal
lungs, air
man
phys
zo, zoo
pneumo
anthro,
andr
phil
phobia
chrome
hydr,
hydra,
hydro
love or
affinity
irrational
fear
color
water
I – Introduce
6TH
7TH
8TH
dinosaur, dynamic, dynamite, dynamo
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orthodontist, orthopedics, orthodox,
democrat, demographics, pandemic
aristocrat, democracy, bureaucrat
police, policy, political, Minneapolis,
Acropolis
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matriarch, monarchy, architecture, anarchy
dermatologist, epidermis, hypodermic,
taxidermy, pachyderm
chronology, chronic, synchronize
technology, technique, technician,
Technicolor, technical
bibliography, biblical
logic, catalogue, eulogy, dialogue,
travelogue
physical, physician, physique, physicist
zoology, Zodiac, Mesozoic, protozoan
pneumonia, pneumatology, pneumatic
anthropology, android, philander
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Examples
3RD
4TH
5TH
philosophy, philander, Philadelphia,
bibliophile, philharmonic,
claustrophobia, arachnophobia, hydrophobia
I
chromosome, chrome, monochrome
hydrogen, dehydration, hydraulic, hydrant
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R – Review M – Master
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Page 9 of 10
Greek
Meaning
Combining
Form
the, theo
god
hypo
under
mono
one
I – Introduce
Examples
3RD
4TH
5TH
6TH
7TH
theology, atheist, theocracy, theologian
hypodermic, hypothesis, hypocrite, hyphen
monarchy, monastery
R – Review M – Master
8TH
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Page 10 of 10
Reading Strand 1, Concept 4 Vocabulary
Grade 3: Use knowledge of prefixes and suffixes to determine the meaning of words.
Grades 4 and 5: Use knowledge of root words and affixes to determine the meaning of unknown words.
Grade 6: Determine the effect of affixes on root words
Grades 7 and 8: Determine the meaning of vocabulary using linguistic roots and affixes.
Sample Latin Root Word Lesson:
Opening – Remind students that the root is the main part of the word, the part to which prefixes and
suffixes are added. The root usually receives the accent or stress in a Latin-based word. Thousands of
words – more than half of the words in the dictionary – come from Latin roots. Each root has a specific
meaning; the meaning is changed by adding prefixes and suffixes.
Middle - The Latin Root Word ‘struct’ means to build. With a partner, build as many words as you can
using the Latin Root Word ‘struct’. Provide a chart similar to the one below and allow pairs of students
to build words, recording the words in a list. As the students work, move between groups reminding
them to stress or accent the root word. Ask what they might predict a word might mean. Challenge
students to use words from their lists in sentences.
re
de
s
ed
ing
con
de
in
ob
sub
super
infra
ive
or
struct
ion
ure
ly
s
s
ism
ist
s
ed
ing
al ly
Closing – Share examples of words that pairs built. Share examples of student generated
meaning predictions and sentences that the teacher collected as the students were working.
Follow-up – Point out examples of words based on the root ‘struct’ as they are encountered in
print.
Sample Latin Root Word Lesson:
Opening – Remind students that the root is the main part of the word, the part to which prefixes
and suffixes are added. The root usually receives the accent or stress in a Latin-based word.
Thousands of words – more than half of the words in the dictionary – come from Latin roots.
Each root has a specific meaning; the meaning is changed by adding prefixes and suffixes.
Middle - Post the following list of words:
rupture
abruptly
interrupting
interruption
erupt
disruptive
eruption
corrupt
abrupt
bankrupt
Ask students to determine the root word (rupt). Lead students to understand that the meaning of
‘rupt’ is to break or to burst.
Closing – Ask students to construct 3 sentences using words with the root word ‘rupt’ in
sentences that contain context clues as to the meaning of the word. (e.g., The teacher was
interrupted when a student broke into her conversation with the principal.)
Follow-up – Point out examples of words based on the root ‘rupt’ as they are encountered in
print.
Sample Greek Combining Form Lesson:
Opening – Remind students that words of Greek origin are often used in science classes and
textbooks. Sometimes these Greek word parts are called roots. However, because some of
these Greek word parts may also be compounded with another word part, they are also referred
to as Greek combining forms (e.g., auto and graph are both Greek word parts that can be
combined to form the word autograph. Both might be considered roots, or auto could be a prefix
to graph, or graph could be a suffix to auto. )
Middle – Write 4 – 7 appropriate common Greek word parts on the board or an overhead. For
example:
auto (meaning self)
phono (meaning sound)
photo (meaning light)
biblio (meaning book)
tele (meaning distant)
graph (meaning written)
gram (meaning written)
meter (meaning measure)
ology (meaning study of)
sphere (meaning circle)
geo (meaning earth)
saur (meaning lizard)
Explain that words containing ph (as in physician), ch (as in chemistry), y as a medial vowel (as
in hydrogen and synonym), silent p (as in pneumonia, pterodactyl, psychology), rh (such as
rhombus), x pronounced as /z/ (such as xylophone), mn (such as mnemonics) are of Greek
origin.
Ask students to use their own knowledge, their science textbook, classroom library resources,
and the dictionary to locate words with the posted word parts or containing spellings such as
those identified above. Record the words on a list and predict their meanings based on their
understanding of the meaning of the Greek word part.
Ask students to build real and imaginary words using Greek word parts. (i.e., bibliosaur – a book
loving dinosaur)
Closing – Using examples from the lists of actual words found in texts and examples from the
student-created imaginary words, play a game of stump the students. Is this a real word or a
made-up word?
Follow-up – Point out examples of words based on Greek combining forms or spellings as they
are encountered in print.
General strategies for supporting instruction of affixes, root words and combining forms:
Word walls
Vocabulary notebooks
Breaking words into morphemes: reconstructionist re con struc tion ist
Use words in context
Make word webs with a Latin root word (or Greek combining form, prefix, suffix) at the hub.
Adapt word games such as Concentration, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Charades
Write root words (or Greek combining form, prefix, suffix) on index cards. Add additional words
containing the root as they are encountered in conversation or text.
Relate unfamiliar words to familiar words to determine meaning. (i.e., The king was a tyrant.
What’s a tyrant? Well, we know that a tyrannosaurus means terrible lizard. Do you think
that a king who is a tyrant would be a nice guy or a mean guy? A tyrannosaurus is a scary
dinosaur so a tyrant must be someone mean.)
http://www.etymonline.com
http://www.espindle.org/roots.html
http://www.quia.com/jg/65969.html
http://edhelper.com/Word_Roots.htm
http://www.readskill.com/Resources/TipsForTeachers/TipsVocabulary.htm