Greek and Latin Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes

Greek & Latin Root Words, Prefixes, & Suffixes

A

• ab-: away

  • Examples: absent, abduct, abnormal, abort

• acer (acid)-: bitter, sour

  • Examples: acerb, acerbate, acidity

• acro-: top, height

  • Examples: acrobat, acronym, acrophobia

• acu-: sharp

  • Examples: acute, acupressure, acupuncture, acuity

• aer-: air, atmosphere

  • Examples: aerosol, aeroplane

• agri-: farming

  • Examples: agriculture, agrarian

• alb-: white

  • Examples: albino, albumen, albacore

• amb-: around, both

  • Examples: ambient, ambiguous, amble

• ambul-: walk, move

  • Examples: amble, ambulance, ambulant

• amic-: friendly

  • Examples: amicable, amicably

• anim-: life, living

  • Examples: animal, animate, equanimity

• ann (enn)-: year

  • Examples: anniversary, annual, millennium

• ante-: before

  • Examples: antemortem, antebellum

• anthro-: human

  • Examples: anthropology, philanthropist

• anti (ant)-: against, opposite

  • Examples: antagonist, antidote, antibiotics

• aqu-: water

  • Examples: aquarium, aquifer

• arbor-: tree

  • Examples: arborist, harbored, arborize

• arche (archi)-: primitive, origin

  • Examples: archaic, archaeology, archive

• arthr-: joint

  • Examples: arthroscope, arthritis, arthropod

• astro-: star

  • Examples: astronaut, astronomy, astrogate

• audi-: hearing, sound

  • Examples: auditory, auditorium, audience

• auto-: self

  • Examples: autopilot, autonomous, automatic

• avi-: bird

  • Examples: aviator, aviary, aviatrix

B

• bel-: war, fight

  • Example: rebel, antebellum

• bene-: good

  • Examples: benefit, benign, benevolent, benefactor

• bi-: two

  • Examples: bicycle, biceps, biscotti, biweekly

• biblio-: book

  • Examples: bibliography, bibliophile

• bio-: life

  • Examples: biology, biological, biography

• blast-: cell, primitive

  • Examples: blastula, fibroblast, blastoderm

• bon-: good

  • Examples: bonus, bonanza

C

• cap-: head

  • Examples: capital, decapitate, captain

• capt (cept)-: take hold of

  • Examples: captivate, intercept, capture

• cardi-: heart

  • Examples: cardiac, cardiologist, cardiovascular

• cata-: intensive, according to

  • Examples: cataclysm, catastrophic, catalog

• caust (caut)-: to burn

  • Examples: cauterize, holocaust

• cede (cess, ced)-: go, withdraw

  • Examples: recede, exceed, recession

• ceive-: take

  • Examples: receive, perceive, reconceive

• cent-: hundred

  • Examples: centennial, century, percent

• cerebr-: brain

  • Examples: cerebral, cerebrate

• cert-: sure

  • Examples: certain, ascertain, certify

• chron-: time

  • Examples: chronicle, chronology

• cide-: kill

  • Examples: genocide, pesticide

• circum-: around

  • Examples: circumference, circumstance

• clam (claim)-: shout, speak

  • Examples: exclaim, clamor, proclaim

• clar-: clear

  • Examples: clarify, clarification, declare

• clud (clus)-: close

  • Examples: conclusion, seclude, conclude

• clin (cline)-: lean

  • Examples: inclination, incline, recline

• co-: with, together, joint

  • Examples: coauthor, cosign, collaborate, cooperate

• cog-: know

  • Examples: cognitive, incognito, cognition

• con-: together, common

  • Examples: connect, convention, concur

• contra-: against

  • Examples: contraband, contrary

• corp-: body

  • Examples: corporation, corpse, corporal

• cosm-: world

  • Examples: cosmic, microcosm

• counter-: opposing, contrary

  • Examples: counteract, counterintuitive, counteroffer

• cracy (crat)-: government, authority

  • Examples: democracy, democrat, theocracy, bureaucracy

• cred-: believe

  • Examples: incredible, credit, credulous, credence

• crypt-: hidden, secret

  • Examples: cryptic, encrypt

• culp-: blame, fault

  • Examples: culpable, exculpate, culprit

• cumul-: mass, heap

  • Examples: accumulate, cumulative

• cycle-: circle

  • Examples: bicycle, cyclone, cyclist

D

• dec (deka)-: ten

  • Examples: decade, decimal, decathlon

• dem-: people

  • Examples: democracy, demographics

• dent-: tooth

  • Examples: dentist, dentistry, dentifrice

• derma-: skin

  • Examples: dermatologist, hypodermic, dermatitis, pachyderm

• di-: twice, two

  • Examples: dilemma, diverse, dioxide

• dia-: across, through

  • Examples: dialogue, diameter, diagnosis

• dic (dict)-: speak

  • Examples: dictate, dictator, contradict

• domin-: master

  • Examples: dominate, predominate, domineering

• don-: give

  • Examples: donate, pardon, donor

• dorm-: sleep

  • Examples: dormitory, dormant, dormer

• dur-: harden, long lasting

  • Examples: durable, duration, endure

• dyn-: power, energy

  • Examples: dynamite, dynamic

E

• ego-: self

  • Examples: egotistical, egomania

• ence (ance)-: state, condition

  • Examples: performance, conference, insurance

• endo-: within, inside

  • Examples: endocrine, endometrial

• esth (aesth)-: beauty, feeling

  • Examples: esthetician, aesthetic, kinesthesia

• ethn-: nation, race

  • Examples: ethnicity, ethnology, ethnocentric

• eu-: good, well

  • Examples: euphemism, euphoria

• ex-: out, former

  • Examples: exit, ex-girlfriend, exterminate, extract

• extra-: beyond

  • Examples: extraordinary, extraterrestrial, extravagance

F

• fac-: make, do

  • Examples: artifact, factory, factor, malefactor

• famil-: a close attendant

  • Examples: family, familiar

• femin-: woman

  • Examples: feminism, feminine

• fend (fens)-: strike

  • Examples: offend, offense, defend, defense

• fer-: carry, bring

  • Examples: transfer, ferry, conifer, confer

• fid-: trust

  • Examples: confidence, fidelity

• flect (flex)-: bend

  • Examples: reflect, flexible, inflect, deflect

• foli-: leaf

  • Examples: foliage, defoliant

• fore-: in front of, previous

  • Examples: before, therefore, forebode, forecast

• fract (frag)-: to break

  • Examples: fracture, fragment, fraction

• fug-: flee, escape

  • Examples: refugee, fugitive, refuge

• fum-: smoke

  • Examples: fumes, fumigation

• fusc-: dark

  • Examples: obfuscation, infuscate, subfuscous, fuscous

G

• gen-: family, born

  • Examples: genetics, generation, gender, gene

• geo-: earth

  • Examples: geography, geology

• ger-: old age

  • Examples: geriatrics, gerontology

• giga-: A billion

  • Examples: gigabyte, gigawatt

• gon-: angle

  • Examples: polygon, decagon, octagon, hexagon

• grad (gress)-: to step, to go

  • Examples: digress, gradual, graduate

• gram-: writing

  • Examples: grammar, grammatically

• graph-: write

  • Examples: paragraph, autograph

• grat-: pleasing

  • Examples: gratification, gratitude, grateful

• grav (griev)-: heavy

  • Examples: gravity, grave, aggravate, grieve

• gymn-: bare

  • Examples: gymnast, gymnastics, gymnosperm

• gyn-: woman

  • Examples: gynecology, androgynous, misogyny

H

• hab (hib)-: have

  • Examples: habit, habitual, prohibition, exhibit

• helio-: sun

  • Examples: heliograph, heliometer, perihelion

• hemo-: blood

  • Examples: hemorrhage, hemoglobin, hemophiliac

• hepa-: liver

  • Examples: hepatitis, hepatoma, hepatotoxic

• herbi-: grass, plant

  • Examples: herbivore, herbicide, herbal

• hex-: six

  • Examples: hexagon, hexapod, hexameter

• hiero-: sacred, holy

  • Examples: hierarchy, hieroglyphics

• histo-: tissue

  • Examples: histology, histogenesis, histochemical

• homo (homeo)-: same, alike

  • Examples: homogeneous, homonym, homeopath

• hosp-: guest

  • Examples: hospital, hospice, hospitable

• host-: enemy, stranger

  • Examples: hostage, hostile

• hydra-: water

  • Examples: hydrate, hydraulic

• hyper-: over, beyond

  • Examples: hyperactive, hyperventilate

• hypno-: sleep

  • Examples: hypnotic, hypnosis

• hypo-: under

  • Examples: hypothermic, hypothesis, hypoglycemia

I

• ian-: related to

  • Examples: librarian, historian, pedestrian

• iatr-: medical care

  • Examples: geriatrics, pediatrics, podiatrist

• icon-: image

  • Examples: iconic, iconology

• ideo-: idea

  • Examples: ideology, ideologue, ideologic

• idio-: peculiar, distinct

  • Examples: idiotic, idiomatic

• in (il)-: not

  • Examples: incapable, incomplete, informal, illegal, illogical

• infra-: beneath

  • Examples: infrastructure, infrared

• init-: to begin or enter

  • Examples: initiate, initiation, initiative, initial

• inter-: between

  • Examples: interview, international, interstate

• ir-: not

  • Examples: irrational, irredeemable, irrelevant, irregular,irresponsible

• iso-: equal

  • Examples: isobar, isometric

J

• ject-: throw, push

  • Examples: eject, reject, interject

• jud-: law

  • Examples: judicial, judge, judgement

• junct-: join

  • Examples: conjunction, junction, disjunction

• juven-: young

  • Examples: juvenile, rejuvenate

K

• kilo-: thousand

  • Examples: kilobyte, kilometer, kilogram

• kine-: movement

  • Examples: telekinesis, kinetic, kinesthetic

L

• lab-: work

  • Examples: elaborate, laboratory, laborious, labor, collaborate

• lat-: broad, wide

  • Examples: dilate, latitude

• later-: side

  • Examples: bilateral, unilateral

• laud-: praise

  • Examples: laudably, applause, applaud

• lax-: not tense

  • Examples: relax, relaxation, laxness, laxative

• less-: without

  • Examples: homeless, useless, wireless, restless

• lev-: lift

  • Examples: elevator, levitate, level

• lex-: word, law

  • Examples: lexicology, dyslexic, alexia

• liber-: free

  • Examples: liberty, liberate, libertine

• lingu-: language

  • Examples: bilingual, linguistics, linguist

• lipo-: fat

  • Examples: liposuction, lipase

• lith (lite, ite)-: mineral, rock, fossil

  • Examples: appatite, granite, monolith

• liter-: letter

  • Examples: alliteration, literate, literal, literacy

• loc-: place

  • Examples: location, discolate, relocate

• locu (loqu)-: speak

  • Examples: loquacious, eloquent

• log (logy)-: study, speech

  • Examples: logic, dialogue, monologue

• longus-: long

  • Examples: longevity, longitude

• luc-: light

  • Examples: elucidate, lucid, translucent

• lud (lus)-: to play, display

  • Examples: prelude, illusion, delude, allude

• lumin-: light

  • Examples: illumination, illuminate, luminol, lumen

M

• macro-: large, great

  • Examples: macroeconomics, macronutrients, macroevolution

• maj-: greater

  • Examples: majority, majesty, major

• mal-: bad, evil

  • Examples: malice, maltreat, malfeasance

• man-: hand

  • Examples: manicure, manual, manager, maneuver

• mand-: to order

  • Examples: mandate, mandatory, command, demand

• mania-: madness, excessiveness

  • Examples: egomania, maniac, hypermania

• mar-: sea

  • Examples: marine, marina, maritime, aquamarine

• mater (matr)-: mother

  • Examples: maternity, maternal, matriarch, matrimony

• max-: greatest

  • Examples: maximum, maximize

• medi-: middle

  • Examples: mediocre, medium, medieval

• mega-: large

  • Examples: megaphone, megastructure, megadose

• melan-: black, dark

  • Examples: melancholy, melanoma, melodrama

• memor-: remember

  • Examples: commemorate, memory, memorial

• merge-: dip, dive

  • Examples: immerge, submerge

• meso-: middle

  • Examples: Mesoamerica, meson

• meta-: change, beyond, after

  • Examples: metaphysics, metamorphosis, metastasis

• meter-: measure

  • Examples: diameter, thermometer

• micro-: small

  • Examples: microscope, micronutrient

• mid-: middle

  • Examples: midway, midterm, midpoint, midweek

• migr-: move

  • Examples: immigrant, emigrate, migrant, migration

• milli-: one thousandth

  • Examples: millimeter, millibar, millileter

• min-: small

  • Examples: minimum, miniature, mini-mart, minute

• mir-: amazement

  • Examples: miraculous, mirage

• mis-: wrong, bad

  • Examples: mistake, misprint, misinterpret, misbehave

• miss (mit)-: send, cast

  • Examples: remit, dismiss, missile, emit

• mob-: move

  • Examples: mobilize, immobilize, mobility

• mon-: warn

  • Examples: summon, admonish, premonition, monitor

• mort-: death

  • Examples: mortuary, immortal, mortify

• mot (mov)-: move

  • Examples: motion, motivate, remove, moveable

• multi-: many

  • Examples: multicultural, multigrain, multimedia, multicolored

• mut-: to change

  • Examples: mutate, mutation

• my-: muscle

  • Examples: myocardium, myosin, myasthenia

N

• narr-: tell

  • Examples: narrator, narration, narrative

• nat-: born

  • Examples: innate, natural, natal

• naut-: ship

  • Examples: nautical, astronaut, argonaut

• neg-: no

  • Examples: negate, negative, renege

• neur-: nerve

  • Examples: neuralgia, neurologist, nerves, neurotic

• neo-: new

  • Examples: neophyte, neonatal, neologistic, neocolonialism

• nomin-: to name

  • Examples: nominate, misnomer, nominal, nomination

• non-: not

  • Examples: nonviolent, nonstop, nonrefundable

• not-: note, paper

  • Examples: notable, noteworthy

• noun-: declare

  • Examples: announce, denounce, announcement

• nov-: new

  • Examples: novice, renovate, novelty

• null-: none

  • Examples: nullify, nullification, nulliparity

• numer-: number

  • Examples: numeral, numerical, enumerate, numerous

O

• ob (op)-: in the way, against

  • Examples: object, objection, opposition, obscure

• oct-: eight

  • Examples: octopus, octagon, octave

• ocu-: eye, sight

  • Examples: oculist, binoculars, monocula

• omni-: all

  • Examples: omnipotent, omniscient, omnivorous

• ono (onym)-: name

  • Examples: onomatopoeia, anonymous, acronym

• opt-: best

  • Examples: optimal, optimum, optimize

• ortho-: straight

  • Examples: orthodontist, orthopedic

• osteo-: bone

  • Examples: osteoporosis, osteoarthritis

• ous-: having

  • Examples: adventurous, hazardous, nauseous, joyous

• out-: beyond, surpass, exceed

  • Examples: outgoing, outdoor, outside, outlive

• over-: excessive

  • Examples: overconfident, overstock, overexcited, overrun

• oxy-: sharp

  • Examples: oxymoron, oxidize

P

• paleo-: ancient

  • Examples: paleontologist, Paleolithic, paleography

• pan-: all

  • Examples: pandemic, panorama, pantheon, panacea

• para-: beside, related

  • Examples: parallel, parasite, paramedic

• path-: feeling, disease

  • Examples: pathogen, sympathetic, psychopath

• pel (puls)-: drive, push

  • Examples: dispel, repulse, compel, compulsion

• ped-: foot, kid

  • Examples: pedestrian, pedometer, pediatrician

• penta-: five

  • Examples: pentagon, pentagram, pentathlon

• per-: through

  • Examples: perception, perceive

• peri-: around

  • Examples: perimeter, peripheral

• phag-: to eat

  • Examples: esophagus, sarcophagi

• phil-: loving

  • Examples: philanthropic, philosophy

• phob-: fear

  • Examples: hydrophobia, phobia, claustrophobic

• phon-: sound

  • Examples: telephone, saxophone, microphone

• photo-: light

  • Examples: photograph, photogenic, photosynthesis

• phyt-: plant, to grow

  • Examples: hydrophyte, neophyte

• pneu-: air, breath

  • Examples: pneumonia, pneumatic

• poli (polis)-: city

  • Examples: metropolis, cosmopolitan

• pop-: people

  • Examples: population, popular

• port-: carry

  • Examples: portable, deport, portal

• pos-: put, place

  • Examples: position, compose, deposit

• post-: after

  • Examples: posterior, postpone, postmortem

• pseudo-: false

  • Examples: pseudonym, pseudoscience

• psyche-: mind, spirit

  • Examples: psychology, psychic

• pugn (pung)-: to fight

  • Examples: pugnacious, repugnant, pungent

• pul-: urge

  • Examples: compulsion, impulsive, expulsion

• purg-: clean

  • Examples: purge, purgatory, expurgate

• pyr-: fire

  • Examples: pyromaniac, pyrogen

Q

• quad-: four

  • Examples: quadruple, quadrant, quadriplegic

• quin-: five

  • Examples: quints, quintessence

R

• radic (radix)-: root

  • Examples: eradicate, radical, radish

• re-: again

  • Examples: rebuild, renew, restart, reflect

• reg-: guide, rules

  • Examples: regulate, regular, regent, regime

• retro-: back, backward

  • Examples: retroactive, retrospect, retrograde

• rhod-: red

  • Examples: rhodopsin, cynorrhodon, rhodamine

• rid-: laugh

  • Examples: ridicule, ridiculous

• rub-: red

  • Examples: ruby, rubella, bilirubin

• rupt-: burst

  • Examples: rupture, disrupt, interrupt, erupt

S

• san-: health

  • Examples: sane, sanity, insane, sanitation

• scend-: climb, go

  • Examples: ascend, crescendo, descent

• sci-: to know

  • Examples: science, conscience, conscious, omniscient

• scop-: see, look

  • Examples: telescope, microscope

• scrib-: write

  • Examples: scribe, prescribe, inscribe, describe

• se-: apart

  • Examples: secede, seclude, serum

• sect-: cut

  • Examples: dissect, intersect, section

• sed-: sit

  • Examples: sediment, sedentary

• self-: of, for, by itself

  • Examples: self-respect, self-control, selfish, selfless

• semi-: half

  • Examples: semicircle, semicolon, semifinal

• sens-: feel

  • Examples: sensitive, consent, sentimental

• serv-: to save or keep

  • Examples: conservation, reserve, preserve

• sol-: comfort

  • Examples: consolation, solace

• son-: sound

  • Examples: consonant, supersonic

• soph-: wise

  • Examples: philosophy, sophisticated, sophism

• spect-: see

  • Examples: spectator, spectacles, inspect

• sphere-: ball

  • Examples: biosphere, hemisphere

• spir-: breathe

  • Examples: respiratory, inspirational

• sta-: stand

  • Examples: stable, stability, stagnant, stationary

• stell-: star

  • Examples: interstellar, constellation, stellar

• sub-: below, under

  • Examples: submarine, subpar

• super-: higher in quality or quantity

  • Examples: superior, supernatural, superfan, superb

• syn (sym)-: with, together

  • Examples: synonym, sympathy

T

• tact-: to touch

  • Examples: contact, tactile

• tax-: arrangement

  • Examples: syntax, taxonomy, ataxia

• techn (techno)-: art, skill

  • Examples: technologic, technique

• tele-: far

  • Examples: television, telephone, telescope

• temp-: time

  • Examples: contemporary, temporary, tempo

• term-: end, limit

  • Examples: determine, terminate, exterminate, midterm

• tetra-: four

  • Examples: tetrapod, tetrarchy

• theo (the)-: god

  • Examples: theology, monotheism

• tort-: twist

  • Examples: contort, distort, retort

• tox-: poison

  • Examples: toxin, detoxification, toxicology, toxic, intoxicated

• tract-: pull

  • Examples: tractor, subtract, attract, contraction

• trans-: across, through

  • Examples: transform, transaction, translate, transport

U

• ultra-: beyond, extreme

  • Examples: ultrasonic, ultramodern

• un-: not

  • Examples: unfair, unable, unfriendly, uncontrollable

• uni-: one

  • Examples: unicycle, united, unison

• urb-: city

  • Examples: suburb, urban, urbanology

V

• vac-: empty

  • Examples: vacuum, vacant, evacuate

• ven-: come

  • Examples: venue, invent, preventative

• vic (vin)-: to win

  • Examples: victory, convince, invincible

• vid (vis)-: see

  • Examples: video, visual, visible

• voc-: call

  • Examples: vocalize, vocal

• vor (vour)-: eat

  • Examples: devour, voracious, carnivore, herbivore

X

• xen-: foreign
  • Examples: xenocide, xenophobic, xenophile

Z

• zoo-: animal
  • Examples: zookeeper, zoology