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Root words
Many English words are formed by taking basic words and adding combinations of prefixes and
suffixes to them. 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. The root word is also a word in its own right. For
example, the word lovely consists of the word love and the suffix -ly.

In contrast, a root is the basis of a new word, but it does not typically form a stand-alone word on its
own. For example, the word reject is made up of the prefix re- and the Latin root ject, which is not a
stand-alone word.

Roots vs Base

1. Basic Parts of a Word

There are three parts to a word. These are:

• Root

• Prefix

• Suffix

Most of the words used in the English language have their origins in Latin or Greek. This is the main
meaning of the word. A prefix or suffix added to the root word or base word changes its meaning or
defines it in a more concise way.

2. What Is a Prefix?

A noun prefix is a word or letter or even a number that is placed before a main word. A verb prefix is
when something at the beginning is added. An example is, “A preface was prefixed to the history
book.”

A short list of prefixes includes:

• Mis- bad or incorrect

• Non- not

• Pro- before or forward

• In- without

• Un- opposite or against

• Re- back or again

• De- away, reverse, from or down

• Dis- opposite or away

• Im- without
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For example, the prefix de- when added to the word code changes the meaning of the word and is
more concise. The prefix dis- added to the word agree creates an opposite meaning of the original
word.

3. What Is a Suffix?

A group of letters that is placed after a root word is a suffix. Some examples of suffixes include:

• -less without or not affected by

• -er comparative

• -ible capable of

• -able capable of

• -al relating to

• -ness a state or a condition

• -ly in what way

• -est superlative

• -y diminutive or denoting a condition

For instance, the base word comfort with the suffix -able turns it into comfortable. The base
word strong with the suffix -est becomes strongest.

4. What Is a Root Word?

Root words in the English language hail from Latin or Greek words. The root word, or word root,
from these ancient languages cannot stand alone. It does not have a prefix at the front of the word
or a suffix attached to the end. It is the main lexical unit of a word family and can’t be broken down
into words that can stand on their own with meaning.

A few examples of root words include:

• Aud: From Latin, it relates to hearing. Root words include "audible" and "auditorium."

• Acri: It means bitter and is the base of the root word "acrimony."

• Corp: This relates to the body and is found in the word "corporate" or "corporation."

• Deca: From the Greek, this means "ten," such as "decade."

5. What's a Base Word?

A base word is a word that can stand on its own. It conveys full meaning on its own and doesn’t need
a prefix or suffix to carry its connotation.

Happy is a base word and not a root word because it means what it is. Add the prefix un- and it
completely changes its meaning into an entirely different word, which is unhappy.

The word view is a base word. Add the suffix -er, and it denotes someone who looks at a
view: viewer. Now, add the prefix re- to the base word and you change the word to review. Add both
the prefix and suffix for yet another change to the base word view: reviewer.
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What Are Affixes? Definition, Examples and Types

An affix is a set of letters generally added to the beginning or end of a root word or base word to
modify its meaning. The root is the portion of the word that remains when all prefixes and suffixes
have been removed. Now that you've answered the question, "What are affixes," explore the types
by looking at several examples of prefixes and suffixes.

A prefix is a group of letters placed before the root of a word. For example, the word “unhappy”
consists of the prefix “un-” [which means “not”] combined with the root (or stem) word “happy”; the
word “unhappy” means “not happy.”

A suffix is a group of letters placed after the root of a word. For example, the word flavorless consists
of the root word “flavor” combined with the suffix “-less” [which means “without”]; the word
“flavorless” means “having no flavor.”

Factors affecting vocabulary

1. Learner motivation: Vocabulary development often depends on the motivation of the

language learner. For example, the purpose for which the target language is being
learnt (e.g., to get a new job, to visit a foreign country, to study a course, to improve
interpersonal communication, etc.)
2. Similarity/difference between one’s native language and target language: Vocabulary
development is also influenced by similarities and differences between one’s native
language and the target language. For example, if there are similar words in the native
language, it is easier to remember those words in the target language.
3. Usage frequency: The more frequently we use the target language, the faster we learn
new words in the target language.
4. Age and memory: The human mind have a limited capacity and it is easier to
remember new words when we are younger. Therefore, age and memory also play a
crucial role in one’s vocabulary development.

Ways to improve your vocabulary

Reading

Reading is a wonderful way to learn new words. Because reading is a one-person activity, you can
really take your time with a new word and work out its meaning and usage.

1 Popular literature
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Reading illustrated books, such as comics and children’s books, will offer you graphical clues to help
you learn new words. Plus, if you’re reading popular books, there’s a good chance that you can find a
translation to your own language as well.

2 Relevant blog posts

Reading blog posts about subjects and hobbies you enjoy in English is a great way to familiarize
yourself with new English words and will keep your interest.

Listening

Listening is how we first learn words as a child and can profoundly impact how we learn to pronounce
and use new words. There are lots of ways to learn by listening.

3 Music

Music is a fun way to learn new words while immersing yourself in the popular culture of English-
speaking countries. Find music in genres you like and listen along for words you know.

4 (Virtual) events

Attend events in English, like plays, sports matches, and exhibitions, to listen for new words.

Writing

In the age of the internet, writing has become essential to learning and using a new language. Because
of the one-sided nature of writing, it’s helpful to have a digital writing assistant, like Grammarly, on
your side to help your words flow easily.

5 Journaling

Keep a journal of your day in English. This is an easy way to incorporate new vocabulary into sentences
and to check your understanding of any new words.

6 Vocabulary building

Learn to look for synonyms. If you want to expand your vocabulary, you’ll have to push yourself to use
new words. Grammarly has a feature that can help you learn new synonyms and find just the right
word to communicate effectively.

Watching

Learn how a new word is used by watching someone use it in context. You’ll learn about the different
contexts that may surround a new word as well as the gestures and mannerisms that often accompany
it.

7 Movies and TV

Watching movies is a casual way to learn words. Similar to reading illustrated books, you get the perk
of visual cues, while also benefiting from hearing how the word is usually pronounced. Tip: Combine
your listening and reading skills by turning on the closed captioning in English, which can be a helpful
way to visualize the words being spoken aloud.
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8 People-watching

Watch people conversing around you in the world. How are they using their words? What can you
learn about the words they’re using by observing the relationships of the people and their
mannerisms?

Conversing

Now it’s time to take your new words for a test drive. Conversing allows you to gain valuable input on
your word usage and pronunciation while expanding your vocabulary.

9 Fluent speakers

Host a (virtual!) game night or dinner for your fluent-English-speaking friends and colleagues. Ask
them for feedback on your pronunciation and language use.

10 Fellow English learners

Learn from other learners. Join a study group or meet with other local people learning English. Make
a commitment to only speak English when this group meets.
 Common Latin Roots
Latin Root Definition Example

ambi both ambiguous, ambidextrous

aqua water aquarium, aquamarine
aud to hear audience, audition
bene good benefactor, benevolent
cent one hundred century, percent
circum around circumference, circumstance
contra/counter against contradict, encounter
dict to say dictation, dictator
duc/duct to lead conduct, induce
fac to do; to make factory, manufacture
form shape conform, reform
fort strength fortitude, fortress
fract break fracture, fraction
ject throw projection, rejection
jud judge judicial, prejudice
mal bad malevolent, malefactor
mater mother maternal, maternity
mit to send transmit, admit
mort death mortal, mortician
multi many multimedia, multiple
pater father paternal, paternity
port to carry portable, transportation
rupt to break bankrupt, disruption
scrib/script to write inscription, prescribe
sect/sec to cut bisect, section
sent to feel; to send consent, resent
spect to look inspection, spectator
struct to build destruction, restructure
vid/vis to see televise, video
voc voice; to call vocalize, advocate

Reproduced with permission from Corwin Press.

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Why Do We Need One Word Substitutions?

One-word substitutions are important as they make communication of the English language much
more concise, lucid, and easy. People can remember words and communicate bigger meanings
through a simple word. For example, saying “She is someone who puts forth an idea which she herself
doesn’t believe” is much harder as compared to just saying “She is a hypocrite”. One-word
substitutions make our sentences more precise and reduce complexity. These substitutions also help
us to classify words based on the suffixes which makes it easy to categorize them and put similar words
together.

In the following questions, out of the four alternatives choose the one which can be substituted
for the given words / sentence.

1. A fourteen-line poem

(1) sonnet

(2) lyric

(3) ballad

(4) ode

2. The plants and vegetation of a region

(1) flora

(2) landscape

(3) ornamental

(4) fauna

3. Constant effort to achieve some thing

(1) attempt

(2) enthusiasm

(3) vigor

(4) perseverance

4. Wildly unreasonable, illogical or ridiculous

(1) Abject

(2) Adept

(3) Arid

(4) Absurd
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5. A vivacious and lively experience Is said to be

(1) scintillating

(2) soothing

(3) scenic

(4) synthetic

6. To try to settle a dispute between two other parties

(1) medicate

(2) mediate

(3) meddle

(4) meditate

7. To secure a boat by attaching it to an anchor

(1) moor

(2) moot

(3) morose

(4) moose

8. To free a person by a verdict of ‘not guilty’.

(1) acquaint

(2) acquit

(3) acquiesce

(4) acquire

9. One who hates mankind

(1) philanthropist

(2) misogynist

(3) humanitarian

(4) misanthrope
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10. Imposed a restriction on

(1) constipated

(2) conserved

(3) constrained

(4) construed

11. Unwelcome aspect of a situation

(1) flippant

(2) flip side

(3) flip-flop

(4) flintlock

12. Feeling annoyed at the sight of unfair treatment

(1) indifferent

(2) indisposed

(3) Indignant

(4) Indigent

13. Walking in sleep

(1) Somnambulism

(2) Insomnia

(3) Somnolence

(4) Sleepyhead

14. Artistic, musical or dramatic interpretation.

(1) Rendition

(2) Report

(3) Imitation

(4) Reparation
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15. That which cannot be avoided

(1) Infallible

(2) Inestimable

(3) Indifferent

(4) Inevitable

16. A person who leaves his own country in order to go and live in another.

(1) Emigrant

(2) Refugee

(3) Immigrant

(4) Expatriate

17. Showing a dislike of anything Improper.

(1) Strict

(2) Crude

(3) Prim

(4) Rude

18. A planned route or journey

(1) Iterate

(2) itinerary

(3) Itinerant

(4) isolate

19. A man who helps a stranger or a person in difficulties is

(1) a Samaritan

(2) a mercenary

(3) a stoic

(4) an altruist
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20. Speech of great importance and gravity

(1) maiden

(2) momentous

(3) monumental

(4) momentary

21. Continuing for a long period of time without interruption

(1) continuum

(2) recurring

(3) perpetual

(4) frequenting

22. Skilled in story – telling

(1) a compositor

(2) a raconteur

(3) a vocalist

(4) a narrator

23. Medical study of skin and its diseases.

(1) Orthopedics

(2) Dermatology

(3) Endocrinology

(4) Gynecology

24. A process involving too much official formality.

(1) Nepotism

(2) Diplomacy

(3) Bureaucracy

(4) Redtapism
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25. A person who enters without any invitation.

(1) Vandal

(2) Burglar

(3) Intruder

(4) Thief

26. Not suitable for eating

(1) Spicy

(2) Tasteless

(3) Uneatable

(4) Inedible

27. A recurrent compulsive urge to steal.

(1) Kleptomania

(2) Pneumonia

(3) Insomnia

(4) Nymphomania

28. Act of injuring another’s reputation by any slanderous communication.

(1) Defamation

(2) Orchestration

(3) Aberration

(4) Misrepresentation

29. A story in which animals or objects speak and give wholesome moral lesson.

(1) Legend

(2) Fable

(3) Parable

(4) Allegory
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30. One who does not believe in the existence of God

(1) Atheist

(2) Theist

(3) Mystic

(4) Cynic

31. To free someone from all blames

(1) Consolidate

(2) Fling

(3) Forbid

(4) Exonerate

32. That which cannot be effaced

(1) Illegible

(2) Indelible

(3) Invincible

(4) Affable

33. A person who deliberately sets fire to a building

(1) Arsonist

(2) Extortionist

(3) Hijacker

(4) Assassin

34. One who makes an official examination of accounts

(1) Auditor

(2) Registrar

(3) Creditor

(4) Chartered Accountant

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35. Conferred as an honor

(1) Honorary

(2) Honorable

(3) Honorarium

(4) Honorific

36. The burial of a corpse

(1) Internment

(2) Interment

(3) Interrogate

(4) Interpose

37. A study of ancient things.

(1) Physiology

(2) Archaeology

(3) Ethnology

(4) Zoology

38. A person who deserves all praise.

(1) detestable

(2) lovable

(3) despicable

(4) laudable

39. One who is skillful.

(1) disciplined

(2) diligent

(3) different

(4) dexterous
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40. One who runs away from justice or the law.

(1) Smuggler

(2) Criminal

(3) Fugitive

(4) Thief

41. Of one’s own free will.

(1) mandatory

(2) obligatory

(3) voluntary

(4) compulsory

42. One who is too careless to plan for the future.

(1) imprudent

(2) impractical

(3) impotent

(4) improvident

43. One who has long experience.

(1) novice

(2) expert

(3) veteran

(4) practitioner

44. To die without making a will.

(1) Inure

(2) Inane

(3) Intestate

(4) Indigent
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45. One who is concerned with the welfare of others.

(1) Ascetic

(2) Hedonist

(3) Egoist

(4) Altruist

46. That which cannot be avoided.

(1) Inevitable

(2) Unrestrained

(3) Unvarying

(4) Integral

47. A person who agrees to work for somebody in order to learn a skill.

(1) Lackey

(2) Pupil

(3) Apprentice

(4) Assistant

48. Opinion contrary to accepted doctrines

(1) Controversy

(2) Advocacy

(3) Heresy

(4) Convention

49. Make pale by excluding light.

(1) Foliate

(2) Percolate

(3) Procreate

(4) Etiolate
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50. Someone who is designated to hear both sides of a dispute and make a judgement.

(1) Counsellor

(2) Arbitrator

(3) Magistrate

(4) Manager