Determine the meanings of Greek and Latin roots

Key Notes :

What are Greek and Latin Roots?

Imagine you’re a word detective! Greek and Latin roots are like clues that unlock the meanings of many English words. A root is a basic part of a word that carries its core meaning. Many English words are built from these ancient roots, kind of like LEGO bricks!

Think of it this way:

• Root: The foundation or main part of a word.
• Prefix: Added to the beginning of a root to change its meaning (like adding ‘un-‘ to ‘happy’ to make ‘unhappy’).
• Suffix: Added to the end of a root to change its meaning or grammatical function (like adding ‘-ing’ to ‘walk’ to make ‘walking’).

Why are Roots Important?

Knowing common Greek and Latin roots helps you:

• Understand new words: Even if you’ve never seen a word before, recognizing its root can give you a good idea of what it means.
• Expand your vocabulary: Learning roots is like learning a whole bunch of words at once!
• Improve your reading comprehension: You’ll be able to understand more complex texts more easily.
• Become a word detective! It’s fun to figure out the meaning of words by breaking them down.

How to Determine the Meaning of a Root

Here’s how to crack the code:

1. Identify the Root: Look for a familiar part of the word.
2. Think of Related Words: What other words contain the same root?
3. Consider the Context: How is the word used in the sentence?
4. Use a Dictionary (if needed): Confirm your guess and learn more about the root.

Common Greek and Latin Roots

Root: inter Meaning: between, among, or together Examples: Interact inter (between) + act (to do) ➤ Meaning: To act between or with others. International inter (between) + national (nations) ➤ Meaning: Between or involving two or more nations. Interfere inter (between) + fere (strike) ➤ Meaning: To come between two parties and interrupt.

Root:morph Meaning: change in form, Examples: Metamorphosis → “Meta” (change) + “morph” (form) + “-osis” (process) ➤ Meaning: A process of complete change in form (like a caterpillar changing into a butterfly). Amorphous → “A-“ (without) + “morph” (form) ➤ Meaning: Without a clear or definite shape or form.

Root: scrib/script Meaning: to write Examples: scribble (to write carelessly) describe (to write about) script (written text of a play or movie) prescription (a written order for medicine)

Root: tox Meaning: poison. Examples: Toxic (Poisonous or harmful) Toxin (A poisonous substance made by living things) Toxicology (The study of poisons and their effects)

Root: vis/vid Meaning: to see Examples: vision (the ability to see) video (moving images that you see) visible (able to be seen) provide (to see ahead and prepare)

Root: ject Meaning: to throw Examples: reject (to throw back) eject (to throw out) inject (to throw in) project (to throw forward)

Next Steps

Now it’s your turn to be a word detective! Look for Greek and Latin roots in the words you read and hear. Use a dictionary to explore the meanings of roots you don’t know. The more you practice, the better you’ll become at decoding words and expanding your vocabulary!

Let’s practice!