Greek and Latin roots are word parts that come from the Greek and Latin languages. They are the base of many English words and help you figure out meanings when reading or writing.
Learning roots helps you unlock the meaning of unfamiliar words without using a dictionary.
Roots give clues about word meanings. When you recognize a root, you can make educated guesses about new words.
When you see a root you know, stop and think: how does it connect to the meaning of the word?
Here are some useful roots that appear often in fourth-grade reading and writing.
Some words may use the same root in different forms (like scrib/script). Both share the same meaning.
When you come across a new word, look for Greek or Latin roots inside it. Break the word into parts and use the root meaning to help define the word.
Breaking down a word into roots and prefixes/suffixes is a strategy called morphological analysis. It makes you a stronger reader.