Greek Alphabet and Roots
Greek Alphabet
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Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Delta
Epsilon
Zeta
Eta
Theta
Iota
Kappa
Lambda
Mu
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Nu
Xi
Omicron
Pi
Rho
Sigma
Tau
Upsilon
Phi
Chi
Psi
Omega
Astron: star
• Astronomer: one who
names the star
• Astronaut: star sailor
Autos: self
• Autograph: writing the
name of oneself
• Automobile: self moving
• Automatic: a machine
that seems to think
for itself
Biblios: of Books
• Bibliography: a list of books
on a particular subject
• Bibliomania: craziness about
books
Bio: Life
• Biology: study of life
• Autobiography: written life
story of one’s self
• Antibiotic: against living forms
which invade the body
Chronos: Time
•Synchronize: do at the same time
•Chronology: relate events in time
sequence
Crypto: Hide
•Cryptogram: a message whose meaning
is hidden
•Cryptograph: a system of secret writing
Demos: People
•Democracy: people power
•Demography: draw charts of
information about people
Geo: Earth
•Geography: draw the earth and write
about it
•Geometry: branch of study on ways to
measure the earth
•Geology: study of the earth and its
formations
Graph: Write
•Telegraph: writing from far away
•Graphite: black carbon used for
drawing or writing
Hydros: Water
•Hydrogen: a gas which, when burned, produces water
•Hydroplane: a boat that glides on the surface of the
water
•Dehydrate: to take water away
Hypnos: Sleep
• Hypnosis: sleep-like state
• Hypnos: god of sleep in Greek
mythology
Lithos: Stone
• Lithograph: picture
drawn on stone
• Monolith: lone stone
Logos: study
• Zoology: study of animals
• Psychology: study of the mind
Mania: madness
• Pyromania: a compulsion to
set things on fire
• Kleptomania: an irresistible
impulse to steal
Megas: large, powerful
• Megalomania: crazy person
with delusions of greatness
• Megaphone: device for
making a sound larger
Metron: Measure
• Optometry: measure eyesight
• Diameter: measuring across
• Meter: unit of measure
Mikros: small
• Microphone: device for
transmitting a small sound over
distance
• Microwave: tiny
electromagnetic wave between
1 and 100 centimeters long
• Microscope: instrument for
looking at tiny things
Mono: one, alone
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Monocle: an eyeglass for one eye
Monochrome: a painting or
drawing in a single color
Monogram: two or more letters
interwoven into one
Pathos: suffering,
disease
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Pathetic: marked by suffering or
sorrow
Apathy: lack of feeling
Sympathy: to feel what another
feels
Phobos: fear, dread
• Phobia: irrational fear
• Claustrophobia: fear of
enclosed or confined places
• Acrophobia: fear of high
places
Tele: far, far off
• Television: seeing distant
things
• Telepathy: knowing how
someone far away is feeling
Thermo: heat
• Thermal: relating to heat
• Thermometer: device for
measuring heat