Use Greek and Latin roots as clues to the meanings of words

Key Notes :

Greek Roots

Root: Phobia Meaning: Fear Examples: Acrophobia: Fear of heights Hydrophobia: Fear of water Acrophobia: Fear of heights

Root: Logy Meaning: Study of Examples: Geology – the study of Earth and rocks Psychology – the study of the mind Biology – the study of life

Root: Meter Meaning: Measure Examples: Thermometer: a device that measures temperature Speedometer: Measures the speed of a vehicle Barometer: Measures air pressure

Root: therm Meaning: Heat Examples: thermometer: a tool to measure heat thermal: relating to heat thermos: a container that keeps things heated or cooled

Latin Roots

Root: port Meaning: carry Examples: transport: to carry something from one place to another portable: able to be easily carried export: to carry goods out of a country

Root: aqua Meaning: water Examples: aquarium: a tank for keeping water animals aquatic: living in water aqueduct: a structure that carries water

Root: Struct Meaning: Build Examples: construct: To build something structure: Something that is built instruct: To build knowledge in someone

Root: ject Meaning: Throw Examples: Reject: to throw something away or not accept it Eject: To throw out Project: To throw forward (an idea, a light, or image)

Now you’re ready to be a super sleuth! When you come across a new word, try to see if you recognize any of these roots. Knowing just a few roots can unlock the meaning of hundreds of words! Keep practicing, and you’ll become a word expert in no time! 🥳

• Root Word Hunt: Find more words with the roots we learned today. Write them down and explain what they mean!
• Create a Root Word Dictionary: Start your own dictionary of Greek and Latin roots. Add new roots as you learn them!
• Word Detective Game: Play a game with your friends where you try to guess the meaning of words based on their roots.

Let’s practice!