DETERMINE THE MEANINGS OF WORDS WITH GREEK AND LATIN ROOTS

Key Notes :

Introduction

Many English words are built from Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Understanding these roots can significantly improve your vocabulary and reading comprehension. By learning common roots, you can decipher the meanings of unfamiliar words. This lesson will introduce you to some frequent Greek and Latin roots and show you how to use them to determine the meanings of words.

Common Greek Roots

horo	horo means look. Example:Horoscope(Future prediction by star charts).
hypo	hypo means under Example: Hypothermia (Low body temperature).
myth	myth means story. Example: Mythology(Study of myths).
astro	astro means star. Example: Astronomy (Study of stars).
hemi/sphere	hemi/sphere means half/ball. Example: Hemisphere(Half of a sphere).
anti	Micro means small. Example: Microscope (an instrument for viewing very small objects).
poly	Scope means to see. Example: Telescope (instrument for viewing distant objects).
Scope	Scope means see. Example: Telescope (instrument for viewing distant objects).
Micro	Poly means many. Example: Polygon (A shape with many sides).
Hydro	Hydro means water. Example: Hydrology (the study of water).

Common Latin Roots

Spect	Spect means look. Example: Inspect (to look at something carefully).
Port	Port means carry. Example: Transport (to carry something from one place to another).
Form	Form means shape. Example: Conform (to be the same shape).
Struct	Struct means build. Example: Construct (to build something).
Dict	Dict means say. Example: Predict (to say what will happen in the future).
Script/Scrib	Script/Scrib means write. Example: Describe (to write about something).
Voc/Vok	Voc/Vok means call. Example: Vocal (relating to the voice).
Vid/Vis	Vid/Vis means see. Example: Vision (the ability to see).
Ject	Ject means throw. Example: Eject (to throw out).
Flect/Flex	Flect/Flex means bend. Example: Reflect (to bend back light).

How to Use Roots to Understand Word Meanings

• Identify the Root: Look for a familiar root within the word.
• Determine the Root’s Meaning: Recall or look up the meaning of the root.
• Consider Prefixes and Suffixes: Pay attention to any prefixes or suffixes attached to the root, as these modify the root’s meaning. For example, ‘un-‘ means ‘not’, so ‘unbreakable’ means ‘not able to be broken’.
• Combine the Meanings: Combine the meanings of the root, prefix, and suffix to understand the word’s overall meaning.
• Consider the Context: Use the surrounding sentences to confirm that your understanding of the word makes sense in context.

Practice

Try to determine the meanings of the following words using your knowledge of Greek and Latin roots:

• Geology
• Telescopic
• Portable
• Construction
• Predictable

Summary

Understanding Greek and Latin roots is a powerful tool for expanding your vocabulary and improving your reading comprehension. By learning to identify common roots and their meanings, you can unlock the meanings of many unfamiliar words. Remember to consider prefixes, suffixes, and context when determining a word’s meaning.

Let’s practice!