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

Key Notes :

What are Roots?

Think of a root as the core of a word, like the roots of a tree. It gives the word its basic meaning. Sometimes, roots are combined with other parts (prefixes and suffixes) to make new words!

Common Greek Roots

Photo: Tele: Micro: Bio: Geo:

Photo: Means “light” (like in photograph: a picture made with light). Tele: Means “far away” (like in telephone: a device to hear sound from far away). Micro: Means “small” (like in microscope: a tool to see very small things). Bio: Means “life” (like in biology: the study of life). Geo: Means “earth” (like in geography: the study of the Earth).

Common Latin Roots

Spect: Port: Form: Fact: Dict:

Spect: Means “to see” (like in spectacles: eyeglasses to help you see). Port: Means “to carry” (like in transport: to carry something from one place to another). Form: Means “shape” (like in form: the shape or structure of something). Fact: Means “to make or do” (like in factory: a place where things are made). Dict: Means “to say” (like in dictate: to say something aloud to be written down).

How Roots Help You!

When you see a new word, try to spot a root you know! If you know what the root means, you can guess what the whole word means! It’s like being a word detective and cracking the code! 🕵️‍♀️🕵️‍♂️

For example: the word autobiography contains:

• bio which means life.
• Combine ‘life’ with auto and graphy which means self and writing respectfully. And you get self-life-writing!

Keep Exploring!

Learning about roots is a fun way to build your vocabulary! The more roots you know, the easier it will be to understand new words. Keep exploring, and you’ll become a word wizard in no time! ✨

let’s practice!