List of Greek and Latin Roots


Greek Root

Meaning

English Words

aer

air, atmosphere

aeronautics, aerosol

anti

opposite, against

antisocial, antithesis

arche/archaeo

primitive, ancient, origin

archaic, archaeology

auto

self

autobiography, autoimmune

biblio

books, of books

bibliography, bibliophile

bio

life

autobiography, biology

chron

time

chronology, chronological

cosm/cosmo

world

microcosm, cosmic

dem

people

demographics, democracy

derma

skin

dermatologist, hypodermic

ethn/ethno

nation, race

ethnicity, ethos

geo

earth

geography, geology

gen

family, race

genealogy, genetic

gram

writing

grammar, grammatical

hemo

blood

hemophiliac, hemorrhage

hiero

sacred, holy

hieroglyphics, hierarchy

hydr/hydra/hydro

water

hydrate, hydraulic

ideo

idea

ideology, ideologue

log/logy

study, speech

logic, dialogue

meter/metr

measure

diameter, thermometer

micro

small

microscope, microcosm

ono/onym

name

anonymous, onomatopoeia

phil

loving

philanthropic, philanthropy

phob

fear

phobia, arachnophobia

phon

sound

phonetic, telephone

photo/phos

light

photograph, phosphorous

pneu

air, breath

pneumonia, pneumatic

polis

city

metropolis, cosmopolitan

psyche

mind, spirit

psychology, psychic

pyr

fire

pyromaniac, pyrogen

techno

Art, skill

architect, technique

the/theo

god

theology, apotheosize

Latin Root

Meaning

English Words

acer/acid/acri

bitter, sour

acerbic, acidic

agri

field, country

agriculture, agribusiness

alb

white

albino, alabaster

amic

friendly

amicable, inimical

ante

before

antechamber, antecedent

aud

hear, sound

audible, audiology

bon

good

bonanza, bonus

ced/cess

go, yield

recession, recede

femin

woman

feminine, feminism

flect/flex

bend

reflect, flexible

foli

leaf

foliage, defoliant

fract

to break

fracture, fractal

lat

broad, wide

latitude, lateral

lingu

language

bilingual, linguistics

longus

long

longevity, longitude

magn

great, large

magnificent, magnitude

mar

sea

maritime, marine

mir

amazement, wonder

miraculous, mirage

mit/miss

send, cast

remit, dismiss

mut

to change

mutate, mutation

naut

sailor

nautical, nautilus

noc/nox

harmful

noxious, inoculate

nomin

to name

name, nominate

not

note, paper

notable, noted

nov

new

novice, novelty

pend

hang

pending, pendulum

port

to carry, to bear

portal, transport

pel/puls

drive, push

dispel, repulse

port

carry

transport, portable

rupt

to break

rupture, interrupt

sed

Sit

reside, sediment

sol

comfort, soothe

consolation, solace

tact

to touch

contact, tactile