Determine the meanings of words with Greek and Latin roots

Key Notes :

Understanding Greek and Latin Roots

  1. What Are Roots?
    • Roots are the base part of a word that carry the primary meaning.
    • Greek and Latin roots are common in English and help in understanding complex words.
  2. Why Learn Greek and Latin Roots?
    • Helps in decoding unfamiliar words.
    • Enhances vocabulary and reading comprehension.
    • Provides insight into the word’s origin and meaning.

Common Greek Roots

  1. Graph (Greek)
    • Meaning: Write or draw
    • Examples: Autograph (self-signature), Graphic (visual art), Biography (written life story)
  2. Tele (Greek)
    • Meaning: Far
    • Examples: Telephone (sound from afar), Television (seeing from afar)
  3. Bio (Greek)
    • Meaning: Life
    • Examples: Biology (study of life), Biome (a life zone), Biotic (related to living organisms)
  4. Phon (Greek)
    • Meaning: Sound
    • Examples: Symphony (a harmony of sounds), Microphone (device to amplify sound)

Common Latin Roots

  1. Vid/Vis (Latin)
    • Meaning: See
    • Examples: Video (visual media), Vision (sight), Revise (to look at again)
  2. Port (Latin)
    • Meaning: Carry
    • Examples: Transport (carry across), Portable (easy to carry), Export (carry out of a country)
  3. Dict (Latin)
    • Meaning: Speak
    • Examples: Dictate (to speak or read aloud), Dictionary (book of words), Predict (to say what will happen)
  4. Struct (Latin)
    • Meaning: Build
    • Examples: Construct (to build), Structure (something built), Instruct (to build knowledge)

How to Use Roots to Determine Word Meanings

  1. Break Down the Word
    • Divide the word into its root and any prefixes or suffixes.
    • Example: “Unhappiness” can be broken down into the prefix “un-“, root “happy”, and suffix “-ness”.
  2. Understand the Root
    • Determine the meaning of the root word.
    • Example: For “transport”, the root “port” means “carry”.
  3. Combine Meanings
    • Combine the root’s meaning with any affixes to determine the overall word meaning.
    • Example: “Telegraph” combines “tele” (far) and “graph” (write) to mean a system for sending written messages over long distances.
  4. Practice with Examples
    • Regular practice with different words helps in reinforcing understanding of roots.
    • Use word lists and practice exercises to apply knowledge.
List of Determine the meanings of words with Greek and Latin roots

Let’s practice!

Pages: 1 2