Greek & Latin Root Words

A list of Greek & Latin roots, their meanings and English words derived from them.

Greek/Latin roots Meaning English Words derived from

Latin/Greek roots
Mater Mother matriarchy
Pater Father patriarchy
Aristos Noble aristocracy
hieros sacred hierarchy
pluto hidden wealth plutocracy
archy, cracy rule democracy
demos people democracy

phone sound phonetic, phonology

tele distance telephone, television
logy study of biology, sociology
sym together
eu good eugenics, euthanasia, eulogy
logos words eulogy,
chronos time chronology, chronometer,
chronicles, chronic, diachronic
meter measure chronometer, voltmeter
pathos feeling pathetic, sympathy, apathy,
empathy,
spec see spectator, spectacles, inspect,
circumspect, perspicacious,
retrospect, prospect

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Use of the prefix en
The prefix en gives the sense of enabling the action or quality or potential represented in the word
enrich
encapsulate
enjoy
enkindle
enable
ensure
encash

lithos stone lithography

science to know prescience, nescience
omni all omnibus, omniscient, omnivore
viva life vivacious, revive, convivial,
gamos marriage gametes
poly many polygamy
mono single monolith

Greek/Latin roots Meaning English Words derived from

Latin/Greek roots
circum circle circumnavigate, circumspect
voce voice vocal, voice
equi equal equivocate, equidistant
ambi both ambivalent, ambiguous,
ambidextrous
loq, loc speech loquacious, eloquent, colloquial,
elocution, circumlocution
dexter right dexterous
sinister left sinister
bellum war, aggression bellicose, rebellion,

Greek/Latin Roots Meaning English Words derived from

Latin/Greek roots

prime first primary, primate, primitive

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 Greek/Latin Roots Meaning English Words derived from
Latin/Greek roots

spec see spectator, spectacles, inspect,

introspect, prospect, retrospect
gymno naked gymnasium, gymnosperms
semen seed seminal, disseminate
mania madness pyromania,
pyro fire pyre, pyrotechnics
amble walk ambulance, perambulator,
preamble
pecca sin peccadillo, impeccable
super above superstructure
infra below infrastructure
iso equal isobars, isotherm
thermos heat exothermic, thermobaric
bar pressure barometer, isobars, thermobaric
hypo below hypothermia
hyper above hypervision
zoo animal zoology, zoo
fid faith fidelity, fiduciary
cap head capital, decapitate, capitulate
culp blame culpable, exculpate, culprit,
inculpate
thanatos death euthanasia
frag, fract to break fracture, fragment, fractious,
fragile
gen birth, creation gene, genetic, congenital,
progeny, engender

Greek/Latin Roots Meaning English Words derived from

Latin/Greek roots

aster star asterisk, astronaut

gnos know gnostic, agnostic
graph, gram write biography, telegram

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 Greek/Latin Roots Meaning English Words derived from
Latin/Greek roots

polis city acropolis, necropolis

andro male androgens
gynae female
cred
aqua water aquarium, aqueous,
rex king
regina queen
archae old
anthropos humans misanthrope
audio
sonic
bar pressure
biblio
cogni
cosmos
crypt hidden
ego self
psych soul
endo inside

Greek/Latin Roots Meaning English Words derived from

Latin/Greek roots

lumen light
luna moon lunatic
magna big, large magnanimous, magnificent
necro dead necropolis
nom name nomenclature, nominal
numer number supernumerary
paleo old
ped/pod foot pedestrian, pedicure, pedal
phil love philanthropic
photo light photography

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 Greek/Latin Roots Meaning English Words derived from
Latin/Greek roots

pseudo false pseudonym, pseudopodia

retro back retrospect, retro-fashion
Xeno Foreign Xenophobia, xenophile
Morph Form Morphology, morphing,
xenomorph, anthropomorphic

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