Greek Root Words
GREEK WORD STEMS
Greek and Latin Root Words *
Root |
Meaning |
English Words |
| arch | ancient | archetype |
| aster/astra | star | astronomy |
| audi | hear | audible |
| bene | good/well | benefit |
| bio | life | biology |
| brev | short | abbreviation |
| chloro | green | chlorophyll |
| chrono | time | chronology |
| derm | skin | dermatologist |
| dic/dict | speak | dictionary |
| fer | carry | transfer |
| fix | fasten | affix |
| gen | birth | generate |
| geo | earth | geography |
| graph | write | graphic |
| hemo | blood | hemoglobin |
| herb | plants | herbaceous |
| hydro | water | hydrate |
| jur/just | law | jury |
| log/logue | word/thought | dialogue |
| luc | light | lucid |
| manu | hand | manual |
| meter/metr | measure | thermometer |
| neg | no | negate |
| ocu | eye | ocular |
| olig | few | oligarchy |
| op/oper | work | operation |
| osteo | bone | osteoporosis |
| path | feeling | sympathy |
| ped | child | pediatrics |
| phil | love | philosophy |
| phys | body/nature | physical |
| pod | foot | podiatrist |
| proto | first | prototype |
| pseudo | f alse | pseudonym |
| scrib/script | w rite | scribble |
| sect | cut | dissect |
| sol | alone | solitary |
| struct | build | construct |
| tact | touch | contact |
| tele | far off | telephone |
| ter/terr | earth | territory |
| vac | empty | vacant |
| ver | truth | verify |
| verb | word | verbal |
| vid/vis | see | video |
Greek and Latin Prefixes-/-Suffixes *
Prefix/Suffix |
Meaning |
English Words |
| ad- | to | addict |
| -al | relating to | maternal |
| ambi- | both | ambidextrous |
| ante- | before | antecedent |
| anti- | against | a ntifreeze |
| -arium | place of | aquarium |
| auto- | self | autobiography |
| centi- | hundred | centimeter |
| circum- | around | circumvent |
| con- | with | concert |
| de- | from/down | depart |
| deci- | ten | decimeter |
| di- | two | diameter |
| dis- | opposite | disable |
| -dom | quality/state | freedom |
| ex- | out | exit |
| hetero- | different | heterogeneous |
| hypo- | too little | hypoactive |
| -ic | relating to | poetic |
| -ile | quality/state | juvenile |
| in- | not | invalid |
| inter- | between | interstate |
| intra- | within | intramurals |
| -ism | quality/state | catholicism |
| -ist | one who practices | biologist |
| macro- | large | macrobiologist |
| micro- | small | microbiologist |
| milli- | thousand | millipede |
| mis- | bad | miscarriage |
| mono- | single | monotheism |
| nano- | billion | nanosecond |
| neo- | new | neonatology |
| -ology | study of | biology |
| omni- | all | omniscient |
| -ous | quality/state | nebulous |
| pan- | all | pantheon |
| per- | throughout | pervade |
| peri- | all around | periscope |
| poly- | many | polygon |
| post- | after | postpone |
| pre- | before | precede |
| pro- | forward | progress |
| re- | again | reappear |
| retro- | back | retrogress |
| sub- | under | submarine |
| super- | more than | supermarket |
| sym- | together | symbol |
| -tion | quality/state | preservation |
| -ular | relating to | cellular |
| un- | not | unwilling |
Prefix |
Meaning |
Example |
a, an |
without, not |
amoral, anarchy, anhydrous, Anabaptist, anachronism |
ab, abs, a |
apart, away from |
abnormal, abduct, abductor (muscle), abscission .See ad in Prefixes , |
ad |
toward |
adhere, adductor (muscle) . See ab in P refixes section), adumbrate |
agere |
act |
agent, agency, agenda |
amphi, ambi |
round, both sides |
amphitheater, amphibian, ambidextrous, ambivalent |
ante |
before |
antedate, anteroom, antecedent, anterior |
anthro |
man |
anthropology, anthropomorphic |
anti |
against |
antipathy, antitank, anticlimax |
aqua |
water |
aquarium, aqueous |
archaios |
ancient |
archeology, archetype, archaic, archeozoic |
archos |
leader, first, chief |
monarchy, oligarchy, anarchy, archetype, architect |
audio |
hear |
audiophile, audiometer, auditory |
auto |
self |
automatic, automaton, auto-immune |
bi |
two |
bi-partisan, bisexual, biennial, binary, bicuspid, bivalve |
bene |
well, favorable |
benefit, benevolent, benefactor, beneficent |
bible |
book |
bibliography, Bible, bibliophile |
bio |
life |
biology, biography, bio-active |
caco |
Bad |
cacophony |
cide |
kill |
homicide, parricide, germicidal, ecocide |
circum |
around |
circumference, circumlocution, circumnavigate |
constitutus |
stand |
constitution, statute |
corpus |
body |
corpse, corporeal punishment, corpus callosum |
cracy |
rule |
democracy, theocrat, technocracy |
credo |
belief |
credit, (see also roots section) |
demos |
people |
democracy, demographic |
di |
two, double |
dimorphism, dicotyledon, diatomic |
dia |
across, through |
diagonal, dialectic, dialogue, diagnosis |
dis |
not, apart |
disperse, disinherit, disenfranchise, distend |
dominus |
lord |
dominant, dominion |
dynasthai |
be able |
dynamic, dynamo, dynasty, dynamite |
ego |
I, self |
ego, egomaniac, egocentric, |
epi |
upon, over |
epidermis, epidemic, epigram, epitaph, epithet, epiphyte, epistasis, epinephrine, epiphysis |
ex |
out |
exotic, exterior, extraneous, extemporaneous, exophalmic, exogenous, exothermic, exoskeleton |
federis (see also Roots section) |
league, pact |
federation, confederate |
frater |
brother |
fraternize, fraternity, fraternal, fratricide |
geo |
earth |
geology, geography, geocentric, geomancy |
graph (see also Roots section) |
write, record |
graphic, graphite, graphology, |
hetero |
mixed, unlike |
heterogeneous, heterosexual, heterodox, heterodont, hetero atom, heterocyclic, heterozygous, |
idem |
the same |
identity, idiopathic, I, individual |
ideo |
idea |
ideology, ideation, ideal |
idios |
one's own |
idiom, idiosyncrasy, idiopathic |
in |
in |
incarcerate, incorporate, inculcate, induction, inductance, indigenous, indicator, inspiration |
in, im |
not |
incredible, ignoble, inglorious, inhospitable, infinite, infinitesimal, immoral |
inter |
between |
interact, interstellar, interpret, interstitial |
legis (lex) |
law |
legal, legislature |
lexis |
word |
lexicon, lexicography |
liber |
free, book |
liberty, library, liberal |
locus |
place |
locality, local, circumlocution |
macro |
large |
macroeconomics, macroscopic, macrophage |
mania (see Roots section also) |
obsession |
maniac, Beatlemania |
meter (see Roots section also) |
measure |
metronome, speedometer, odometer |
micro |
small |
microscope, micron, micrometer, microorganism |
mittere, mitto (see Roots section also) |
send |
mission, transmit, remit |
mono |
one, single |
monocle, monopoly, monogamy, monovalent, monomania, monarchy |
mortis |
death |
mortician, mortuary, moribund, morbid |
nomen |
name |
noble, ignominy, nomenclature, nominal |
olig |
few |
oligarchy, oligopoly |
pater |
father |
paternal, paternity, patricide |
ped (see Roots section also) |
foot |
pedestrian, pedal, pedicure, podiatrist |
peri |
around |
peripatetic, periscope, perineum, peritoneum |
phage (see Roots section also) |
eat |
phagocyte, phagocytosis |
philo |
love |
philosophy, philanthropy |
phobos (see Roots section) |
||
phon (see Roots section) |
||
polein |
sell |
monopoly |
polis (see Roots section also) |
city |
political, metropolitan |
poly (see Roots section also) |
many |
polygamy, polyphonic, hoi polloi |
porto |
carry |
porter, export |
post |
after |
post script (p.s.), ex post facto, post hoc , post-mortem |
pre |
before |
premier, preview, premium, prescient |
pro |
before, in favor of |
project, projectile, |
psyche |
mind, soul |
psychology |
publicus |
people |
public, republic, pub, publican |
riparia |
river |
riparian |
scope |
examine |
microscope, oscilloscope |
scribo (see Roots section also) |
write |
transcribe, scribe, script |
solus |
alone |
solo, solitary |
subter |
under, secret |
subterfuge, subtle, subaltern, subterranean |
sin (sys before b, p, or m) |
together, with |
synchronize, symphony , sympathy, syncretic, syncope |
tele |
distance |
telegraph, telephone, teleology |
trans |
across |
transport, transcend, transmogrify |
utilis |
useful |
utility, utilitarian |
| vide, visibil, vis | see | video, vision, visible |
1. ANTI (O) – against, opposite
2. ASTRO – star
3. AUTO – self
4. BI – two
5. BIO – life, living things
6. CHROM – color
7. GAMY – marriage, relationships
8. GENUS – race, family, group
9. GEO – earth, land
10. GRAM – written down, drawn, recorded
11. GRAPH – writes, written down
12. GYMNOS – exercise
13. GYRO – circle, sphere
14. HEMI – half
15. HETERO – different
16. HOMO – same, human
17. HYDRO – water
18. MACRO – large
19. METER/METRY – measure
20. MICRO – small
21. MONO – single, one
22. NYM – name
23. OLOGY/LOGY – study of, science of
24. PATH/PATHY – feelings
25. PHONE/PHONO – sound, voice
26. PHOTO – light
27. POLY – many, much
28. PSYCH – mind
29. SCOPE – instrument for seeing, observing
30. SPHERE – ball, globe
31. SYM/SYN – same, similar
32. TELE – far away, distant
33. THERM/O, AL – heat
34. TRI – three
35. ZOO - animal