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Word Root
What Is a Word Root? (with Examples)
A word root is the base part of a word (i.e., the word less any prefixes and suffixes).To change the meaning of a word, a prefix can be added to the front of the word root, or a suffix can be added to the back. Quite often, a prefix and a suffix are added to a word root to change the meaning. (Prefixes and suffixes are known as affixes.)
Table of Contents
- Example of Word Roots with Prefixes and Suffixes
- Word Roots with Greek Origins
- Word Roots with Latin Origins
- "Word Root" or "Base Word"?
- A List of Common Prefixes
- Why Word Roots Are Important
- Printable Test

Example of Word Roots with Prefixes and Suffixes
In these examples, the word roots are in shaded, but the prefixes and suffixes aren't.- Word root: friend
- friends, friendly, unfriendly, friendship
- Word root: normal
- abnormal, normality, normalize, abnormality
- Word root: mature
- immature, maturity (Notice how the "e" is dropped off the root word for "maturity." Often, there are spelling rules to consider.)
Word Roots with Greek Origins
Lots of word roots in English derive from Greek. For example:Word Root | Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
aster | star | asteroid, astronaut |
auto | self | automatic, autobiography |
biblio | book | bibliography, bibliophile |
bio | life | biography, biology |
chrome | color | monochromatic, phytochrome |
chrono | time | chronic, chronicle |
dyna | power | dynasty, dynamite |
geo | earth | geography, geology |
graph | write | autograph, graphic |
hydr | water | dehydrate, hydrant |
kinesis | movement | kinetic, psychokinesis |
log | thought | logic, analogy |
logos | word, study | astrology, logosglyph |
narc | sleep | narcotic, narcolepsy |
path | feel | empathy, pathetic |
phil | love | philosophy, philanthropy |
phon | sound | microphone, telephone |
photo | light | photograph, photocopy |
schem | plan | scheme, schematic |
syn | together, with | synthetic, photosynthesis |
tele | far | telescope, telepathy |
Word Roots with Latin Origins
Lots of word roots derive from Latin. For example:Word Root | Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
acri | bitter | acrid, acrimony |
aqu | water | aquarium, aquatic |
audi | hear | audible, audience |
bene | good | benefit, benefactor |
brev | short | abbreviate, brief |
circ | round | circus, circulate |
dict | say | dictate, diction |
doc | teach | document, doctrine |
duc | lead, make | deduce, educate |
fund | bottom | founder, foundation |
gen | to birth | gene, generate |
hab | to have | ability, exhibit |
jur | law | jury, justify |
lev | to lift | levitate, elevate |
manu | hand | manual, manicure |
mis, mit | send | missile, transmit |
pac | peace | pacify, pacifist |
port | carry | export, import |
quit | silent, restive | tranquil, acquit |
scrib, script | write | script, describe |
sens | feel | sensitive, sentient |
terr | earth | terrain, territory |
vac | empty | vacuum, vacate |
vid, vis | to see | video, invisible |
"Word Root" or "Base Word"?
Be aware that there are two different terminologies for dissecting words:"Word Root" MethodSome (like us) use these terms:Example: unfriendly
|
"Base Word" MethodSome use these terms:Example: unfriendly
|
Prefix | Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
a-, an- | without | amoral, atypical |
ante- | before | antecedent, antenatal |
anti- | against | anti-establishment |
auto- | self | autopilot |
co- | with | co-conspirator, co-pilot |
com-, con- | with | companion, contact |
de- | off | delist, devalue |
dis- | not | disappear |
en- | put into | enclose, envelop |
ex- | out of, former | extract, ex-governor |
extra- | beyond, more than | extracurricular |
il-, im-, in-, ir- | not, without | illegal, impractical, inconsiderate, irresponsible |
in- | into | insert |
inter- | between | internet, intersection, |
intra- | between | intranet, intravenous |
mono- | one | monocle |
non- | not, without | nonentity, nonstarter, |
post- | after | post-mortem |
pre-, pro- | before, forward | precede, project |
sub- | under | submarine, substandard |
super- | above | supervisor, superhuman |
un- | not | undone, unfinished, |
uni- | one | unicorn, unilaterally |
A List of Common Suffixes
Here is a list of common suffixes with some examples:Suffix | Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
-able, -ible | can be done | comfortable, passable |
-al, -ial | having the characteristics of | personal |
-ed | past-tense verbs (weak verbs) | danced, jumped |
-en | made of | golden, wooden |
-er | comparative | tidier, nicer |
-er, -or | one who | actor, narrator, worker |
-est | superlative | nicest, greatest |
-ful | full or full of | cupful, careful |
-ic | having characteristics of | linguistic, sarcastic |
-ing | verb form (present participle and gerund) | dancing, singing |
-ion, -tion, -ation, ition | act or process | attraction, attrition |
-ity, -ty | state of | humility, infinity |
-ive, -ative, itive | adjective form of a noun | expensive, plaintive |
-less | without | topless, fearless |
-ly | adverb ending | nicely, quickly |
-ment | action or process | enjoyment, entrenchment |
-ness | state of, condition of | eagerness, kindness |
-ous, -eous, -ious | possessing the qualities of | erroneous, joyous |
-s, -es | plural | tables, foxes |
-y | characterized by | fatty, happy, jumpy |
- Word root: play
- He plays football. (Here, the suffix "s" is added to the word root to ensure the verb fits grammatically.)
- He played tennis. (The suffix "ed" forms the past tense.)
- He had played badly. (The suffix "ed" forms a past participle.)
- He skipped playfully. (The suffix "fully" forms an adverb.)
- This game is not playable. (The suffix "able" forms an adjective.)
(Reason 1) Use root words to increase your vocabulary.
If you're learning English, you can quickly increase your vocabulary by learning some common word roots and the most common prefixes and suffixes.(Reason 2) Use your understanding of word roots and affixes to decode the meanings of long words.
Often, you can decode the meaning of a word by identifying the word root and applying your understanding of any affixes. Here's an easy example with the word "disrespectfully":- Disrespectfully" breaks down to dis-respect-ful-ly. This gets you to something like "not-respect-full of-adverb," which would lead to something like "done in a manner that is full of no respect." And, that's a great starting point for decoding its meaning.)
- lonelinesslessness (With three suffixes, this is the concept of no loneliness.)
- semihemidemisemiquaver (With four prefixes, this a hundred twenty-eighth note.)
(Reason 3) Use an affix to reduce your word count.
A word's meaning is changed when an affix is added. Sometimes, you can exploit this to reduce your word count and to create a more flowing text.- Not aware > unaware
- Not sure > unsure
- to bake cakes > baking cakes
- a comparison of the data shows > comparing the data shows
(Reason 4) Break down long words to help with spelling
The word "antidisestablishmentarianism" (a 19th-century political position that sought the removal of the Anglican Church's status as the state church of England, Ireland and Wales) is best known not for what it represents but for its length (28 letters and 12 syllables). Can you spell it? No? I bet you can. If you break it down into its word root and affixes, it's pretty simple.- Anti-dis-establ-ish-ment-arian-ism
- Expand your vocabulary by the affixes and applying them to word roots.
- Use an affix to create a new word that allows you to reduce your word count.
- Identify the word root and any affixes in a word to help with spelling it and decoding its meaning.
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