Use Greek and Latin Roots
- 1Print it first. Read it once together and talk it through.
- 2Exercises on paper, then correct together with the answer key.
- 3Next day: a 10-minute review here on screen saves progress.
What you will learn
- 1Identify common Greek and Latin roots in unfamiliar words
- 2Use root meanings to work out the meaning of new vocabulary
- 3Build words by combining roots with prefixes and suffixes
Mini Lesson
Many English words have a Greek or Latin word origin: they come from Greek and Latin roots. A root is the core part of a word that carries its basic meaning. When you know a root, you can often work out the meaning of many new words.
Common Greek Roots
- graph (write) — biography, photograph, autograph
- phon (sound) — telephone, microphone, symphony
- bio (life) — biology, biography, antibiotic
- geo (earth) — geography, geology, geometry
- tele (far) — television, telescope, telephone
Common Latin Roots
- port (carry) — transport, import, export, portable
- dict (say/tell) — dictionary, predict, verdict
- rupt (break) — interrupt, erupt, disrupt
- scrib/script (write) — describe, manuscript, inscription
- aud (hear) — audience, auditorium, audible
Words to know
root
The base part of a word that carries its main meaning.
e.g. The root "port" means carry, as in transport.
prefix
A word part added to the beginning of a root that changes its meaning.
e.g. The prefix "un-" in "unhappy" means not.
suffix
A word part added to the end of a root that changes its meaning or part of speech.
e.g. Adding "-ful" to "care" makes "careful".
Greek root
A word part borrowed from ancient Greek.
e.g. "Bio" is a Greek root meaning life, as in biology.
Latin root
A word part borrowed from Latin.
e.g. "Aqua" is a Latin root meaning water, as in aquarium.
word origin
The language a word came from.
e.g. "Telephone" comes from Greek roots tele and phone.
When you spot a root you know, cover the prefix and suffix. The root in the middle often gives you the key meaning.
Guided Practice
Read the story. Notice the words with Greek and Latin roots — how does knowing the root help you understand each word?
The Word Detective
Tap Open to start →
Cover
Exercises
Read each clue. Tap the word-part tiles in order to build the word.
A person who writes your life story writes a ____ + graphy. (root means "life")
Tile bank
A device that carries sound to your ear. (root: tele = far, phon = sound)
Tile bank
Something easy to carry. (root: port = carry; suffix: -able)
Tile bank
A book that tells you what words mean. (root: dict = say/tell; suffix: -ionary)
Tile bank
Writing about and mapping the earth. (root: geo = earth; suffix: -graphy)
Tile bank
The science of living things. (root: bio = life; suffix: -logy)
Tile bank
Match each Greek or Latin root to its meaning.
Pick the best answer.
1. What is a root in a word?
2. The root "phon" appears in all of the following EXCEPT:
3. What does the Latin root "port" mean?
4. Using the root "aud" (hear), what does "audible" mean?
5. Which word contains the Greek root "geo" (earth)?
6. What does the root "rupt" mean in the word "interrupt"?
7. Which word is built from the root "dict" (say/tell)?
8. How does knowing a root help you as a reader?
Parent Checklist
For the parent: after correcting together, check off what your child has really understood