READING TO IMPROVE VOCABULARY BUILDING

PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES (VIDEO)

WHAT ARE ROOT WORDS?

Many words we use in our daily language come from a root word. Once you pull off any prefixes or suffixes, the root is usually what remains.

A basic word to which affixes (prefixes and suffixes) are added is called a root word because it forms the basis of a new word. 

Knowing just a few root words in English can help you understand the meaning of hundreds more words.

Example

Two forms of the root word

“see” are vis- and vid- such as in the words "television" and "video."

“egotist” has a root word of “ego” plus the suffix -ist.

“Acting” has the root word “act” and -ing is merely the suffix.

lovely consists of the word love and the suffix -ly.

 

Root Words from the Greek Language
Root Words	Meaning	Examples
meter/metr	measure	thermometer, perimeter
tele	far off	television, telephone
therm	heat	thermal, thermometer
techno	art; science; skill	technique, technological
photo/phos	light	photograph, phosphorous
phon	sound	phone
hydr	water	hydration
micro	small	microbe, microscope
bio	life	biology, biography

 

English Root Words From the Latin Language
Root Words	Meaning	Examples
aqua	water	aquarium, aquamarine
circum	around	circumference, circumstance
cent	one hundred	century, percent
form	shape	conform, reform
dict	to say	dictation, dictator
multi	many	multimedia, multiple
fac	to do; to make	factory, manufacture
aud	to hear	audience, audition