List of Greek and Latin Roots in English

A set of 500 English vocabulary flashcards covering major Greek and Latin roots, each card giving the root and its basic meaning with one or more example English words.

ab-, a-, abs-

Latin root meaning “away from.” Examples: abnormal, absent, abstract.

ac-

Latin root meaning “sharp or pointed.” Example: acupuncture.

acerb-

Latin root meaning “sharp, bitter, sour.” Example: acerbic.

acid-

Latin root meaning “sour, acid.” Example: acidity.

acr- (height)

Greek root meaning “height, summit, tip.” Examples: acrobatics, acrophobia.

acr- (bitter)

Latin root meaning “bitter, pungent, sharp.” Examples: acrid, acrimony.

acu-

Latin root meaning “sharp.” Examples: acute, acupuncture.

ad-, a-, ac-, af-, ag-, al-, ap-, ar-, as-, at-

Latin root for movement “to or toward; addition to.” Examples: adapt, ascend.

adip-

Latin root meaning “fat.” Example: adipose.

aer-

Greek root meaning “air.” Examples: aerosol, aeronautics.

aesthet-

Greek root meaning “feeling, sensation.” Examples: aesthetic, anaesthetic.

agr-

Greek root meaning “field.” Example: agronomy.

agri-, -egri-

Latin root meaning “field, country.” Example: agriculture.

alb-

Latin root meaning “dull white.” Example: albino.

am-, amat-, amor-

Latin root meaning “love.” Examples: amateur, amorous.

ambi-

Latin root meaning “both, on both sides.” Example: ambidextrous.

amic-, -imic-

Latin root meaning “friend.” Example: amicable.

amph-, amphi-

Greek root meaning “around, both kinds.” Example: amphibian.

ampl-

Latin root meaning “ample, abundant.” Example: amplify.

an-, a-

Greek prefix meaning “not, without.” Example: anhydrous.

ana-, an-

Greek root meaning “again, up, back.” Examples: anode, analysis.

andr-

Greek root meaning “male, masculine.” Examples: androgen, android.

anem-

Greek root meaning “wind.” Example: anemometer.

anim-

Latin root meaning “breath, spirit.” Examples: animal, animation.

ann-, -enn-

Latin root meaning “year.” Examples: annual, millennium.

ant-, anti-

Greek prefix meaning “against, opposed to.” Examples: antibiotic, antagonist.

ante-

Latin prefix meaning “before, in front of.” Examples: antecedent, antedate.

anth-

Greek root meaning “flower.” Example: anthology.

anthrop-

Greek root meaning “human.” Examples: anthropology, anthropoid.

ap-, apo-

Greek root meaning “away from, separate.” Examples: apostasy, apogee.

aqu-

Latin root meaning “water.” Examples: aquarium, aqueduct.

ar- (plow)

Latin root meaning “plow, till.” Example: arable.

ar- (dry)

Latin root meaning “be dry.” Example: arid.

arche-, archi-

Greek root meaning “ruler, chief.” Example: archangel.

archae-, arche-

Greek root meaning “ancient.” Example: archaeology.

arct-

Greek root meaning “north, bear.” Example: Arctic.

argent-

Latin root meaning “silver.” Example: Argentine.

arist-

Greek root meaning “excellence.” Example: aristocracy.

arthr-

Greek root meaning “joint.” Example: arthritis.

astr-

Greek root meaning “star.” Examples: astronomy, asterisk.

athl-

Greek root meaning “prize.” Example: athlete.

audi-

Latin root meaning “hear.” Examples: audible, auditorium.

aug-, auct-

Latin root meaning “grow, increase.” Example: augment.

aur-

Latin root meaning “gold.” Examples: aureate, aureole.

auri-

Latin root meaning “ear.” Example: auricle.

aut-, auto-

Greek root meaning “self.” Examples: automobile, autonomy.

avi-

Latin root meaning “bird.” Examples: aviary, aviation.

axi-

Latin root meaning “axis.” Example: axially.

basi-

Greek root meaning “base, bottom.” Example: basis.

bac-

Latin root meaning “rod-shaped.” Example: bacillus.

bar-

Greek root meaning “weight, pressure.” Examples: barometer, barograph.

bathy-, batho-

Greek root meaning “deep.” Examples: bathysphere, batholith.

be-, beat-

Latin root meaning “bless.” Example: beatify.

bell-

Latin root meaning “war.” Examples: bellicose, belligerent.

ben-

Latin root meaning “good, well.” Example: benefit.

bi-

Latin prefix meaning “two.” Examples: bicycle, binary.

bib-

Latin root meaning “drink.” Example: imbibe.

bibl-

Greek root meaning “book.” Examples: Bible, bibliography.

bio-

Greek root meaning “life.” Examples: biology, biography.

blenn-

Greek root meaning “slime.” Example: blennophobia.

blast-

Greek root meaning “germ, bud, cell.” Examples: blastula, osteoblast.

bon-

Latin root meaning “good.” Example: bonafide.

botan-

Greek root meaning “plant.” Example: botany.

bov-

Latin root meaning “cow, ox.” Example: bovine.

brachi-

Greek root meaning “arm.” Examples: brachial, brachiosaurus.

brachy-

Greek root meaning “short.” Example: brachydactyly.

brady-

Greek root meaning “slow.” Example: bradycardia.

branchi-

Greek root meaning “gill.” Example: branchiopod.

brev(i)-

Latin root meaning “short.” Example: brevity.

brom-

Greek root meaning “stench.” Example: bromide.

bronch-

Greek root meaning “windpipe.” Examples: bronchus, bronchitis.

bront-

Greek root meaning “thunder.” Example: brontosaurus.

bucc-

Latin root meaning “cheek, mouth cavity.” Example: buccal.

bulb-

Latin root meaning “bulbous swelling.” Example: bulbous.

bull-

Latin root meaning “bubble, flask.” Example: ebullient.

burs-

Latin root meaning “pouch, purse.” Examples: bursar, disburse.

cac-

Greek root meaning “bad.” Example: cacophony.

cad-, -cid-, cas-

Latin root meaning “fall.” Examples: accident, cadence.

caed-, -cid-, caes-, -cis-

Latin root meaning “cut.” Examples: incision, caesura.

calc-

Latin/Greek root meaning “stone, lime.” Examples: calcium, calculus.

call-, calli-

Greek root meaning “beautiful.” Example: calligraphy.

calor-

Latin root meaning “heat.” Example: calorie.

calyp-

Greek root meaning “cover.” Example: apocalypse.

camer-

Latin root meaning “vault, chamber.” Example: camera.

camp-

Latin root meaning “field.” Example: campaign.

can- (dog)

Latin root meaning “dog.” Example: canine.

cant-, can-, -cin-

Latin root meaning “sing.” Examples: cantor, incantation.

cand-

Latin root meaning “glowing, white.” Examples: candle, candid.

cap-, -cip-, capt-, -cept-

Latin root meaning “take, hold.” Examples: capture, recipient.

capit-, -cipit-

Latin root meaning “head.” Examples: decapitate, capital.

capr-

Latin root meaning “goat.” Example: Capricorn.

caps-

Latin root meaning “box, case.” Example: capsule.

carb-

Latin root meaning “coal, carbon.” Examples: carbon, carbohydrate.

carcer-

Latin root meaning “jail.” Example: incarceration.

carcin-

Greek/Latin root meaning “cancer.” Example: carcinogenic.

cardi-

Greek root meaning “heart.” Examples: cardiac, cardiology.

cardin-

Latin root meaning “hinge.” Example: cardinal.

carn-

Latin root meaning “flesh.” Example: carnivore.

carp- (fruit)

Greek root meaning “fruit.” Example: pericarp.

carp- (wrist)

Greek root meaning “wrist.” Example: carpal.