120 Commonly Used Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

The English language is filled with words borrowed from ancient Greek and Latin, which makes supplementing your teaching with discussion parts exercise that much more than disquisitional.  There are countless means to contain word parts into your lesson plans. You may already have a structured plan in place, or you might exist testing the waters. Either way, teach your students to be give-and-take detectives.  A word detective looks at all the clues to determine a word's meaning. When students know how to decode large words past identifying root words and affixes, they volition be sufficiently prepared to tackle higher level texts.

The table below lists 120 commonly used Greek and Latin root words, prefixes, and suffixes.  It also includes the meaning of each discussion part and several instance words. It's a great place to start if you're interested in adding a regularly scheduled word parts do to your daily educational activity agenda.

Word Function Pregnant Example Words
ab away absent, aberrant, absorb
ab away absent-minded, aberrant, absorb
able/ible capable of reversible, breakable, visible
ad to; toward adhere, adjoin, adapt
al having to do with herbal, factual, seasonal
amb/ambi effectually; both ambience, ambiguous, canter
ante before anterior, antebellum, antecedent
anthrop human anthropology, misanthrope, philanthropist
anti against antibiotic, antisocial, antifreeze
aqu water aquarium, aqueduct, aquifer
ast star astronomy, astrology, asteroid
aud hear audio, audience, auditorium
automobile cocky autograph, car, autobiography
ben/bene good benefit, benign, benevolent
bi two bicycle, bilingual, bisect
bio life biology, biography, biopsy
cent hundred century, percent, centipede
chrono fourth dimension chronic, chronological, chronicle
circum around circumvent, delimit, circumference
co/con with; together construct, collaborate, confer
counter opposing weigh, counterfiet, counteract
cred believe incredible, discredit, acceptance
cycl circle recycle, bike, cyclone
dec ten decade, decimal, decibel
dem/demo people democracy, demographics, epidemic
di/du two duet, dissect, dialogue
dia beyond; through dialogue, diameter, diagnosis
dic/dict speak; say dictionary, dictate, contradict
dis not disagree, disinfect, disobey
ence/ance country; status functioning, conference, insurance
equ equal equator, equality, equation
ex erstwhile; past ex-girlfriend, ex-president, ex-mayor
fer comport transfer, conifer, aquifer
frac/frag suspension fraction, fragment, fragile
ful full of thoughtful, painful, helpful
gen born gene, gender, genesis
geo globe geology, geode, geography
grad step graduation, graduate, gradual
graph write paragraph, calligraphy, autograph
hydro/hydra water hydrate, hydrogen, hydroplane
hyper over; beyond hyperactive, hyperlink, hyperventilate
ian related to; like librarian, pedestrian, historian
ic/tic having to do with realistic, organic, metal
ile related to reptile, sterile, juvenile
in not incapable, incomplete, inaudible
inter between cyberspace, interruption, international
intra within intrastate, intramural, intrapersonal
ism condition; conventionalities in racism, tourism, journalism
ist person who does soloist, artist, cyclist
ity state of being creativity, disability, equality
ject throw squirt, reject, interject
junct join juncture, junction, adjunct
less without homeless, useless, wireless
log discussion monologue, prologue, eulogy
ly how; how often quickly, hourly, carefully
magn large; great magnify, magnitude, magnificent
mal bad; evil malady, malaria, malice
man mitt manicure, manage, manual
medi centre mediocre, medium, medieval
mega large megabyte, megaphone, megalith
meter measure bore, perimeter, thermometer
micro minor microscope, microwave, microbe
min modest miniature, minute, minimum
mis wrong misbehave, misspell, miscount
miss/mit send missile, transmit, dismiss
mon/mono one monument, monologue, monorail
mort death immortal, mortify, mortuary
multi many multicolored, multicolored, multigrain
non not nonviolent, nonstop, nonfiction
october/octo eight octopus, octagon, octave
ology study of biology, zoology, psychology
ortho straight orthodontist, orthopedic, orthodox
ous having virtuous, adventurous, hazardous
pan all panorama, pandemic, pantheon
para beside; related parallel, parasite, paramedic
path illness; feeling pathogen, psychopath, sympathy
ped foot pedal, pedestrian, pedometer
phobia fear claustrophobia, hydrophobia, arachnophobia
phon audio telephone, saxophone, microphone
photo light photon, photography, photosynthesis
phys trunk; nature physician, physical, physique
plex parts; units complex, cineplex, duplex
poly many polygon, polytheism, polygraph
port carry drome, transport, import
pos put; place position, etch, deposit
mail after posterior, postscript, postpone
pre earlier pregame, preview, prepay
psych listen psychology, psychic, psychiatrist
quad four quadruple, quadrant, quadratic
re again rebuild, refund, renew
retro back; backwards retrospect, retroactive, retrograde
rupt break disrupt, interrupt, erupt
scope look; see periscope, telescope, microscope
script/scrib write scribble, prescribe, manuscript
sect cut department, dissect, intersect
semi one-half semicircle, semifinal, semicolon
sens/sent to experience sentimental, sensitive, consent
soci people sociology, social, acquaintance
sol solitary solo, solitary, desolate
spec run into inspect, spectacle, spectator
spir breathe conspire, inspire, respiratory
struct build construction, structure, instruct
sub nether subway, submarine, subtitle
super over; greater superior, supervisor, superimpose
syn/sym with; together sympathy, synonym, symptom
tech arts and crafts; skill technique, technology, technician
tele far television, telephone, telescope
terr/terra land; earth terrain, terrace, territory
the/theo god theology, monotheism, polytheism
therm heat thermometer, thermos, hypothermia
tion action; state of being infection, addition, celebration
tract elevate; pull attract, subtract, contraction
trans across; through transform, transaction, translate
tri three tripod, tricycle, triple
united nations not unhappy, unhealthy, unsafe
uni one unicycle, compatible, united
vac empty vacuum, vacant, evacuate
ven come forestall, venue, invent
vert/vers turn chat, introvert, reverse
vid/vis meet visible, video, telly
zoo animal zoology, zookeeper, zoo

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