Root Words, Roots and Affixes
Corwin Press
Introduction
Many English words are formed by taking basic words and adding combinations of prefixes and suffixes to them. A basic word to which affixes (prefixes and suffixes) are added is called a root word because it forms the basis of a new word. The root word is also a word in its own right. For example, the word lovely consists of the word love and the suffix -ly.
In contrast, a root is the basis of a new word, but it does not typically form a stand-alone word on its own. For example, the word reject is made up of the prefix re- and the Latin root ject, which is not a stand-alone word.
Common Latin roots
Download a copy of the Common Latin Roots chart below.
| Latin Root | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| ambi | both | ambiguous, ambidextrous |
| aqua | water | aquarium, aquamarine |
| aud | to hear | audience, audition |
| bene | good | benefactor, benevolent |
| cent | one hundred | century, percent |
| circum | around | circumference, circumstance |
| contra / counter | against | contradict, encounter |
| dict | to say | dictation, dictator |
| duc / duct | to lead | conduct, induce |
| fac | to do; to make | factory, manufacture |
| form | shape | conform, reform |
| fort | strength | fortitude, fortress |
| fract | break | fracture, fraction |
| ject | throw | projection, rejection |
| jud | judge | judicial, prejudice |
| mal | bad | malevolent, malefactor |
| mater | mother | material, maternity |
| mit | to send | transmit, admit |
| mort | death | mortal, mortician |
| multi | many | multimedia, multiple |
| pater | father | paternal, paternity |
| port | to carry | portable, transportation |
| rupt | to break | bankrupt, disruption |
| scrib / scribe | to write | inscription, prescribe |
| sect / sec | to cut | bisect, section |
| sent | to feel; to send | consent, resent |
| spect | to look | inspection, spectator |
| struct | to build | destruction, restructure |
| vid / vis | to see | video, televise |
| voc | voice; to call | vocalize, advocate |
Common Greek roots
Download a copy of the Common Greek Roots chart below.
| Greek Root | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| anthropo | man; human; humanity | anthropologist, philanthropy |
| auto | self | autobiography, automobile |
| bio | life | biology, biography |
| chron | time | chronological, chronic |
| dyna | power | dynamic, dynamite |
| dys | bad; hard; unlucky | dysfunctional, dyslexic |
| gram | the thing that is written | epigram, telegram |
| graph | writing | graphic, phonograph |
| hetero | different | heteronym, heterogeneous |
| homo | same | homonym, homogenous |
| hydr | water | hydration, dehydrate |
| hypo | below; beneath | hypothermia, hypothetical |
| ology | study of | biology, psychology |
| meter / metr | measure | thermometer, perimeter |
| micro | small | microbe, microscope |
| mis / miso | hate | misanthrope, misogyny |
| mono | one | monologue, monotonous |
| morph | form; shape | morphology, morphing |
| nym | name | antonym, synonym |
| phil | love | philanthropist, philosophy |
| phobia | fear | claustrophobia, phobic |
| phon | sound | phone, symphony |
| photo / phos | light | photograph, phosphorous |
| pseudo | false | pseudonym, pseudoscience |
| psycho | soul, spirit | psychology, psychic |
| scope | see | microscope, telescope |
| techno | art; science; skill | technique, technological |
| tele | far off | television, telephone |
| therm | heat | thermal, thermometer |
Affixes: Prefixes and Suffixes
One method of understanding the meanings of new words is to analyze the different parts of the word and the meanings of those parts. Many new words are formed by adding an affix to the beginning or end of a Latin or Greek root or root word.
When affixes are added to the beginning of roots or root words, they are called prefixes. For example, the most common prefix is un-, which meant not or opposite of. If you add un- to the word happy, the new word becomes unhappy, which means not happy.
When affixes are added to the end of roots or root words, they are called suffixes. The most common suffixes are -s and -es, which mean more than one (or the plural) of the word. Adding -es to wish, changes the meaning o the word to more than one wish.
Common Prefixes
Download a copy of the Common Prefixes chart below.
| Prefix | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| anti- | against | anticlimax |
| de- | opposite | devalue |
| dis- | not; opposite of | discover |
| en-, em- | cause to | enact, empower |
| fore- | before; front of | foreshadow, forearm |
| in-, im- | in | income, impulse |
| in-, im-, il-, ir- | not | indirect, immoral, illiterate, irreverent |
| inter- | between; among | interrupt |
| mid- | middle | midfield |
| mis- | wrongly | misspell |
| non- | not | nonviolent |
| over- | over; too much | overeat |
| pre- | before | preview |
| re- | again | rewrite |
| semi- | half; partly; not fully | semifinal |
| sub- | under | subway |
| super- | above; beyond | superhuman |
| trans- | across | transmit |
| un- | not; opposite of | unusual |
| under- | under; too little | underestimate |
Common Suffixes
Download a copy of the Common Suffixes chart below.
| Suffix | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -able, -ible | is; can be | affordable, sensible |
| -al, -ial-ed | having characteristics of | universal, facial |
| -ed | past tense verbs; adjectives | the dog walked, the walked dog |
| -en | made of | golden |
| -er, -or | one who; person connected with |
teacher, professor |
| -er | more | taller |
| -est | the most | tallest |
| -ful | full of | helpful |
| -ic | having characteristics of | poetic |
| -ing | verb forms; present participles |
sleeping |
| -ion, -tion, -ation, -tion |
act; process | submission, motion, relation, edition |
| -ity, -ty | state of | activity, society |
| -ive, -ative, -itive |
adjective form of noun | active, comparative, sensitive |
| -less | without | hopeless |
| -ly | how something is | lovely |
| -ment | state of being; act of | contentment |
| -ness | state of; condition of | openness |
| -ous, -eous, -ious | having qualities of | riotous, courageous, gracious |
| -s, -es | more than one | trains, trenches |
| -y | characterized by | gloomy |
Publication Date:
McEwan, E.K. (2008). The reading puzzle: Word analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Source
The Reading Puzzle: Word Analysis