ELA basic vocab

root word

The main part of a word that gives its meaning.

base word

A word that can stand alone before adding prefixes or suffixes.

prefix

Letters added to the beginning of a word (un-, re-, pre-).

suffix

Letters added to the end of a word (-ed, -ing, -ful).

affix

A prefix or suffix.

morpheme

The smallest part of a word with meaning.

free morpheme

Can stand alone as a word (play).

bound morpheme

Cannot stand alone (-ed, un-).

compound word

Two words joined together (snowman).

inflectional ending

Changes tense or number (-s, -ed, -ing).

derivational affix

Changes a word's meaning or part of speech (happy → happiness).

phoneme

Smallest sound in speech.

grapheme

Letter(s) representing a sound.

phonics

Matching letters to sounds.

decode

Sound out a word.

encode

Spell a word.

blend

Put sounds together (/c/ /a/ /t/ → cat).

segment

Break a word into sounds.

digraph

Two letters making one sound (sh, ch).

blend (consonant blend)

Two consonants heard separately (bl, st).

diphthong

Two vowel sounds together (oi, oy).

r-controlled vowel

A vowel changed by r (car, bird).

phonological awareness

Hearing and playing with sounds.

phonemic awareness

Hearing individual sounds only (no print).

rhyming

Words with the same ending sound.

alliteration

Same beginning sound.

syllable

A beat in a word.

onset

Beginning sound(s).

rime

The vowel and ending sounds.

cognate

Similar word in another language (animal/animal).

multiple-meaning word

Word with more than one meaning.

figurative language

Words that aren't meant literally.

idiom

Saying whose meaning isn't literal ("piece of cake").

simile

Comparison using like or as.

metaphor

Direct comparison.

personification

Gives human traits to things.

root

Main meaning of a word.

pronunciation

How a word is said (does not tell meaning).

etymology

History/origin of a word.

morphology

Study of word parts.

semantic

Related to meaning.

syntax

Sentence structure.

orthography

Correct spelling and writing system.

fluency

Reading smoothly, accurately, and with expression.

prosody

Reading with natural expression and rhythm.

Closed

Ends in consonant

Open

Ends in vowel

VCe

Silent e

Vowel Team

Two vowels together

R-Controlled

Has an r after the vowel

Consonant-le

Ends in consonant + le

What are the 6 syllable types?

Closed = short vowel Open = long vowel VCe = silent e Vowel Team = two vowels, one sound R-Controlled = vowel + r Consonant-le = ends in consonant + le

Morphology / Structural analysis

Prefix, suffix, root

Morphology

Break apart the word

Structural clues

Word parts help determine meaning

Context clues

Use surrounding sentences Context

Phonemic awareness

Hear sounds

Phonics

Match letters to sounds