Do you remember your Greek mythology? What about Latin words? If so, you are in luck, because many -- if not most -- of the words in the English language have Greek and/or Latin origins, and so knowledge about these ancient languages will be of great help. If you don't know anything about Greek or Latin, then don't worry, as here we provide you with several words or Greek and Latin word fragments which appear time and time again in English words.
More formally, the study and knowledge of root words enables you to decipher the meaning of a word. Used in conjunction with prefixes and suffixes, it's often easy to arrive at the meaning of a seemingly strange word.
For example, the root word audit means to hear, and used in conjunction with the prefix in, which means without, or used with the suffix able, which means capable, it is very easy to decipher the meaning of inaudible, which means not able to be heard, or audible which means able to be heard. Yes, it is that simple!
| Root |
Origin |
Example |
| am, ami |
Latin, meaning to love |
amorous, which means loving |
| annu |
Latin, meaning yearly or periodic |
annual, which means every year |
| bio, bi |
Greek, for life |
biology, which means the study of life |
| cede, ceed |
Latin, to go |
exceed, which means to go or to do beyond the limit |
| chron |
Greek, related to time |
asynchronous, which means not timed and not coordinated |
| dic, dict, dit |
Latin, to say |
indicate, which means to show |
| fig |
Latin, shape or form |
figurative, which means indirect and/or implied or to take the shape of something else |
| graph, graf |
Greek, to write or scratch |
graffiti, which is a form of expressive writing and/or artwork |
| junct, just |
Latin, to join |
conjunction, which means the merging of two parts |
| lect, leg, lig |
Latin, to choose or select |
elect, which means to select for a particular position |
| mob, mov, mot |
Latin, to move |
motive, which is the reason for moving or doing something |
| nat, gnant, nai |
Latin, to be born |
neonatal, which means newborn |
| oper |
Latin, work |
operator, which means somebody who perform a job or function |
| pod |
Greek, foot |
podium, which is a platform or area that is placed at ones feet |
| phil |
Greek, love |
philosopher, which means somebody who loves or studies knowledge |
| quis, quest, quer |
Latin, to seek or to ask |
request, which means to ask for |
| scrib, scrip |
Latin, to write |
scripture, which means a piece of writing, most often of high importance or notoriety |
| sol |
Latin, alone |
solitude, which means that state of being alone |
| struct, stroy |
Latin, to build |
destroy, which means to break, or the opposite of to build |
| terr |
Latin, earth | terrain, which means the particular landforms of a region
| vid, vie, vis |
Latin, to see |
invisible, which means not able to be seen; hidden |