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NN.1 Use Greek and Latin roots to determine the meanings of words

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What are Greek and Latin roots?

Greek and Latin roots are word parts that come from the Greek and Latin languages. Many English words are built from these roots, and knowing them helps you figure out what unfamiliar words mean.

Examples:
  • tele (Greek root) means “far” → telephone means “sound from far away.”
  • aud (Latin root) means “hear” → audience means “people who listen.”
Note

Roots give you clues to the meanings of words. They are like puzzle pieces that help build understanding.

Why are Greek and Latin roots important?

Knowing Greek and Latin roots helps you unlock the meaning of many English words. If you know the root, you can often guess what the word means without looking it up.

Examples:
  • geo = earth → geography means “writing about the earth.”
  • photo = light → photograph means “picture made with light.”
Note

When you see a new word, look for the root. It may help you figure out the meaning quickly.

How do roots combine with prefixes and suffixes?

A root word can combine with a prefix (a word part added to the beginning) or a suffix (a word part added to the end). This changes the meaning of the word while keeping the root meaning in place.

Examples:
  • tele (far) + vision (seeing) → television = “seeing from far away.”
  • dict (say) + ion (act of) → diction = “the act of saying words.”
Note

Prefixes, roots, and suffixes work together to build words. Look at each part to understand the whole meaning.

Common Greek and Latin roots to know

Here are some common roots you will see often. Learning them will help you with reading and vocabulary.

Root List:
  • astro (Greek) = star → astronaut, astronomy
  • struct (Latin) = build → construct, structure
  • port (Latin) = carry → transport, portable
  • hydr (Greek) = water → hydrant, hydrate
Note

Learning a small set of roots can help you understand many words in English, especially in science and reading.

Using roots to figure out word meanings

When you see an unfamiliar word, look for a root you know. Then, use the root, plus the other word parts, to make an educated guess about the meaning.

Examples:
  • thermometer → therm (heat) + meter (measure) = “a tool for measuring heat.”
  • aquarium → aqu (water) + arium (place) = “a place for water and water animals.”
Note

This strategy works with many words you read in science, history, and stories. Keep practicing with new words you encounter.

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