Roots

The following is a list of some of the most important roots of English words.

ROOT MEANING SAMPLE WORDS

ACRO height, high, tip, end acrophobia, acrobat, acronym, acropolis

AG R field, land agriculture, agrarian, agronomy, peregrinator
ALG, ALGOS pain nostalgia, analgesic, neuralgia, cardialgia
ALI another alias, alien, unalienable, alienate
ALT tall, high altitude, alto, altimeter, exalt
ALTER, ALTR other alternate, alternative, alter ego, altruism
AMA, AMI love amateur, amiable, amicable, amorous
AMBUL walk amble, ambulatory, somnambulist, perambulator
ANGLE, ANGUL corner angle, rectangle, quadrangle, triangular
ANNUS year anniversary, annual, biannual, annuity
ANTHROPO man, humankind anthropology, misanthrope, philanthropist, anthropopathism
AQUA water aquarium, aquatic, aquamarine, aqueduct
A R CH chief architect, monarch, archbishop, hierarchy
ARCH, ARCHE ancient, first archaeology, archaic, archive, archetype
ARM weapon armor, armory, armistice, armada
ASTER, ASTRO s ta r asterisk, disaster, astronomy, astronaut
ATHL, ATHION prize, contest athlete, athletic, decathlon, pentathlon
AUD he ar auditorium, audience, audition, audible
AUTO self autobiography, autocracy, autonomy, autograph
AVI bird aviator, aviary, aviculture, avicide
B AR O weight barometer, barograph, baroscope, isobar
BELLI war belligerent, bellicose, post-bellum, ante-bellum
BENE good, well benediction, benefit, beneficiary
BIBL book Bible, Biblical, bibliography, bibliophile
BIO life biology, biography, biopsy, antibiotic
BREV short brevity, breviary, abbreviate, breve
BRONCH windpipe bronchitis, bronchial, bronchotomy, bronchopneumonia
BURSA bag, purse bursar, bursitis, reimburse, disburse
CAMERA vault, chamber bicameral, camera, unicameral, cameral
CAND glow, white, pure candle, candidate, candelabra, incandescent
CANT song canto, incantation, canticle, cantor
CA P he ad cap, captain, capital (city), decapitate
CAPT take, receive capture, captivity, captivate, captor
CARDI heart electrocardiogram, cardiac, cardiograph, cardiectomy
CA R N flesh chili con carne, incarnation, carnivorous, carnal
CAV hollow cave, cavern, concave, excavate
CED, CEED go, yield precede, recede, accede, antecedent
CENS judge censor, censorship, census, censure
CEPT take, receive, catch reception, conception, accept, receptive
CHOREIA, CHORUS dancing choreography, chorus, chorister, Terpsichore
CHRON time anachronism, chronicle, chronic, chronological
CIDE kill suicide, fratricide, herbicide, genocide
CI R C ring, around circle, circus, circuitous, circuit
CIV citizen civilization, civil, civility, civic
CLAIM shout acclaim, exclaim, declaim, proclaim
CLAM shout exclamation, proclamation, acclamation, clamor
CLAR clear clarify, declarative, declaration, clarity
ROOT MEANING SAMPLE WORDS

CLASS class, group classify, classical, classic, declassify

CLIN lean declination, decline, recline, incline
CLUD shut include, preclude, exclude, seclude
CLUS shut conclusive, exclusive, seclusion, inclusion
COGN know recognize, cognitive, cognizant, incognito
COLO, CULT cultivate, settle colony, agriculture, culture, cultivate
COMMUN common community, commune, communicate, communicable
CORNU horn unicorn, cornucopia, bicorn, cornet
CO R P bod y corporation, corps, corpuscle, corpulent
COSM order, universe cosmopolitan, microcosm, cosmos, macrocosm
CRACY, CRAT rule aristocracy, democratic, bureaucrat, plutocrat
CRED believe creditor, credulous, credentials, credibility
CRIM judge, accuse crime, criminal, incriminate, discriminate
CRIT separate, judge critic, criticize, criterion, critical
CRYPT secret cryptic, crypt, cryptogram, cryptography
CULP fault, blame culpable, exculpate, culprit, inculpate
CUM pile up accumulate, cumulative, cumulate, cumulus
CUMB, CUB lie, recline incubate, incumbent, succumb, incumbency
CUR, COUR run course, courier, current, excursion
CUR ca re cure, manicure, accurate, curator
CYCL ring, circle bicycle, cyclic, cyclone, cyclist
DAT give data, postdate, mandate, antedate
DEB owe debt, indebted, debtor, debit
DECOR proper, fitting decoration, decor, indecorous, decorum
DEI god deity, deify, deiform, deism
DEMOS people democracy, epidemic, demography, demagogue
DENT tooth dentist, dental, dentifrice, trident
DERM skin hypodermic, dermatology, dermatitis, epidermis
DIA, DIE da y diary, per diem, sine die, dismal
DIC, DICT say dictate, predict, verdict, contradict
DIGN worth dignity, dignitary, condign, dignify
DIV separate divide, divisor, divisive, dividend
DO give donate, donor, condone, donee
DOC teach doctor, doctrine, indoctrinate, documentary
DORM sleep dormitory, dormant, dormer, dormancy
DOXA belief, praise unorthodox heterodoxy, orthodoxy, paradox
DUC lead conduct, abduct, aqueduct, seduce
DUR hard durable, endurable, endure, duress
DYN power dynamite, dynamic, dynasty, dynamo
EGO I egotistic, ego, egocentric, egomania
EM, EMPT buy, obtain exempt, caveat emptor, redemption, preempt
EMIA, HEMIA blood anemia, leukemia, hemostat, hemorrhage
ENNI year biennial, centennial, perennial, bicentennial
EQU equal, even, just equality, equator, inequity, equation
ERG work energy, erg, energy, synergy
ERR wander err, error, erratic, erroneous
ESTH feeling esthetic, anesthetic, esthete, anesthetist
FA C make, do manufacture, factory, benefactor, facsimile
FALL, FALS deceive fallacy, infallible, falsify, false
FEMINA woman female, feminine, feminist, effeminate
FER carry, bear transfer, refer, infer, melliferous
FI C do, make efficient, beneficial, sufficient, proficient
FID faith confide, fidelity, infidel, bona fide
FILI son, daughter filial, affiliate, filicide, affiliation
ROOT MEANING SAMPLE WORDS

FIN end final, finite, infinite, finale

FIRM s te ad y confirm, infirm, affirm, confirmation
FIX fas te n suffix, affix, fixture, prefix
FLAM blaze flame, inflammable, flammable, flamboyant
FLECT bend reflect, reflector, deflect, inflection
FLEX bend reflex, flexible, flex, circumflex
FLOR flower flora, floral, efflorescent, florist
FLU flow fluid, fluent, influx, affluent
FOL le af portfolio, foliage, folio, defoliate
FORM shape uniform, reform, formation, transform
FORT strong fort, fortify, fortification, fortitude
FRACT, FRAG break fraction, fracture, fragment, fragile
FRAT brother fraternity, fraternal, fraternize, fratricide
FRU enjoy fruit, fruitful, fructify, fruition
FUG fl ee fugitive, refuge, refugee, centrifugal
FUNCT perform functional, malfunction, defunct, dysfunction
FUS pour transfusion, fusion, diffuse, profuse
GAM marriage monogamy, bigamy, trigamy, polygamy
GEN race, birth generation, progeny, genetics, genocide
GEO earth geography, geology, apogee, perigee
GNOS know agnostic, diagnose, diagnostic, prognosticate
GON angle trigonometry, octagonal, polygon, pentagon
GRAD s te p degrade, graduation, gradation, retrograde
GRAM letter, written monogram, telegram, grammar, epigram
GRAN grain grain, granary, grange, granulated
GRAPH write autograph, paragraph, graphite, biography
GRAT please, thank grateful, congratulate, gratis, gratitude
GREG herd congregation, gregarious, aggregate, desegregate
GYN woman monogyny, polygyny, gynecologist, misogynist
HEDR side, seat polyhedron, tetrahedron, cathedral, ex cathedra
HELI sun helium, heliotrope, heliocentric, heliograph
HOM man homage, homo sapiens, homicide, hombre
HOMO same homogenized, homonym, homograph, homophone
HUM earth, soil humus, humiliate, exhume, inhume
HYDR water hydrant, hydrogen, hydrophobia, dehydrate
IATRIK, IATRO healing art pediatrician, psychiatric, geriatrics, podiatry
IDENT same identify, identical, identification, identity
IDIO peculiar idiot, idiom, idiomatic, idiosyncrasy
IGN fire ignite, ignition, igneous, ignitron
IMPERI command imperative, empire, emperor, imperious
INSUL island peninsula, insulate, insularity, insular
INTEG whole untouched integrity, integrate,integral, integer
IR anger irritate, irate, ire, irascible
IT go exit, initiate, obit
JECT throw project, inject, reject, eject
JOCUS joke joke, jocose, jocular, jocund
JOURN daily journal, journalism, journey, sojourn
JU, JUD law, right judge, judicial, judgment, judicious
JUNCT join junction, conjunction, juncture, adjunct
JUR law, right jury, perjury, jurisdiction, jurisprudence
JUS law, right just, justice, injustice, justification
LABOR work collaborate, laboratory, elaborate, laborious
LAPS slip elapse, relapse, lapse, collapse
LAT side lateral, unilateral, bilateral, quadrilateral
ROOT MEANING SAMPLE WORDS

LECT gather, choose collect, elect, select, electoral

LECT, LEG re ad lectern, legend, legible, illegible
LEG law, contract legal, delegate, legitimate, legislate
LEV raise, lift elevator, leverage, lever, levee
LIBER free liberty, liberate, libertarian, liberal
LIBR book library, librarian, librettist, libretto
LINGU tongue lingual, linguistics, linguist, bilingual
LITERA letter literature, literary, illiterate, literal
LITH stone monolith, paleolithic, neolithic, lithograph
LOC place local, location, dislocate, localize
LOCU speak locution, elocution, circumlocution, interlocutor
LOG, LOGUE, LOGY speech dialogue, prologue, epilogue, eulogy
LOP run, leap elope, interloper, elopement, lope
LOQU speak eloquence, soliloquy, colloquial, loquacious
LU wash deluge, antediluvian, ablution, dilute
LUC light lucid, translucent, elucidate, Lucifer
LUD play interlude, prelude, postlude, ludicrous
LUNA moon lunar, lunatic, translunar
MAGNI great magnify, magnitude, magnanimity, magnificent
MAL bad malice, malady, malign, malignant
MAN hand manual, manuscript, manipulate, manicure
MAND order command, demand, mandatory, mandate
MARE se a marine, submarine, mariner, maritime
MATER, MATRI mother, source maternal, maternity, alma mater, matron
MED middle medium, mediate, medieval, mediocre
MEMORIA memory commemorate, memorize, memorandum, memorial
MENT mind mental, demented, mentality, memento
MERG plunge, dip merge, submerge, merger, emerge
METER measure diameter, barometer, altimeter, perimeter
METR measure metric, geometric, isometric, symmetrical
MIGR move migrate, emigrate, immigrant, migratory
MIL soldier militant, military, militia, militate
MIM imitate mimic, mimeograph, pantomime, mime
MISER wretched, pity miserable, miser, misery, commiserate
MISS send, let go mission, missionary, missive, missile
MNEM memory amnesia, mnemonic, amnesty, Mnemosyne
MOB move automobile, mobile, immobile, mobility
MON advise, warn admonish, monitor, admonition, premonition
MOR custom moral, morality, morals, mores
MORT death mortal, immortal, mortality, mortician
MOT move motion, motor, promote, demote
MOV move move, movable, remove, movie
MUT change, exchange mutual, commute, mutuality, mutation
NAT born native, nativity, natal, innate
NAUS, NAUT ship nausea, nautical, nautilus, aquanaut
NAV ship navy, navigate, naval, circumnavigate
NES island Indonesia, Polynesian, Micronesia, Dodecanese
NOM law, arrangement astronomy, economy, autonomy, taxonomy
NOMEN name nomenclature, denomination, nominative, nominate
NOV new novel, novelty, novice, innovate
NUMER number numeral, numerator, numerous, enumerate
OCUL eye ocular, oculist, binoculars, monocular
ONYM name antonym, synonym, homonym, acronym
OP, OPT sight myopic, optic, optometrist, optical
ROOT MEANING SAMPLE WORDS

ORARE speak, pray oral, oracle, orator, oratory

OSS, OSTEO bone ossify, osteopath, osteomyelitis, osteotomy
OV egg oval, ovum, ovary, oviparous
PAED, PED child, teach encyclopedia, pedantic, pedagogue, pediatrician
PAR give birth parent, parentage, biparous, viviparous
PAR equal, compare compare, comparable, parable, parity
PAST shepherd pastor, pastoral, pasture
PATER, PATR fa ther paternal, patriarch, patriot, repatriation
PATH feel, suffer sympathy, empathy, pathos, antipathy
PED f oo t pedal, pedestrian, biped, centipede
PEL drive repel, dispel, expel, propel
PEN, PUN punishment penal, penitentiary, penalize, punitive
PEND, PENS hang pendulum, appendage, suspend, appendix
PETR rock petrify, petroleum, petrification, petrol
PHAG ea t esophagus, dysphagia, sarcophagus, anthropophagi
PHIL love philharmonic, philosopher, philatelist, Philadelphia
PHOBOS fear Phobos, agoraphobia, claustrophobia, acrophobia
PHON sound phone, symphony, phonics, telephone
PHOR to carry euphoria, dysphoria, metaphor, semaphore
PHOTO light photocell, photosynthesis, photography, photostatic
PL AC please placate, placid, complacent, placebo
PNE air, lung, breathe pneumatic, pneumonia, apnea,
PD, PUS f oo t bipod, tripod, chiropodist, octopus
POLI, POLIT city acropolis, metropolis, politics, politician
PORT carry transport, import, export, deport
PORTA ga te port, seaport, portal, Puerto [Porto] Rico
POS place, set depose, deposit, preposition, apposition
PTER wing, feather helicopter, pterodactyl, pterosaur, lepidopterous
PULS drive, push repulse, expulsion, compulsory, propulsion
QUER, QUEST, QUIR seek, ask query, questionnaire, inquest, inquire
RECT straight, right correct, rectify, erect, rectangle
REFERRE carry back refer, reference, referendum, referent
REG, REGN rule regal, regime, regency, interregnum
RID, RIS laugh deride, ridiculous, ridicule, derision
ROD, ROS gnaw rodent, erode, corrode, erosion
ROGARE ask, request interrogate, interrogative, prerogative, abrogate
ROTA wheel, round rotate, rotary, rotunda, rotor
RUPT to break rupture, erupt, interrupt, disrupt
S A CR holy sacrifice, sacrament, sacred, sacrilege
SAN healthy, sound sane, sanity, sanitation, sanitarium
SANCT holy sanctuary, sanctity, sanctify, sanctimonious
SAT, SATIS enough satiety, saturate, insatiable, satisfy
SAUR lizard dinosaur, tyrannosaurus, sauropod, brontosaurus
SCEND, SCEN climb descend, ascend, transcend, ascension
SCHOLE leisure, school school, scholastic, scholarship, scholar
SCI know science, conscious, scientific, omniscient
SCOPE to watch telescope, microscope, periscope, kaleidoscope
SCRIB, SCRIPT write describe, inscribe, manuscript, inscription
SEC, SECT cut dissect, bisect, insect, intersect
SED, SESS, SID sit, settle sedative, sedentary, session, preside
SEMIN se ed seminary, disseminate, seminarian, seminar
SEN old senator, senior, seniority, senile
SENS, SENT fe el sensitive, sensation, assent, dissent
SEPS, SEPT decay antiseptic, septic, aseptic, septicemia
ROOT MEANING SAMPLE WORDS

SEQU follow sequence, subsequent, sequel, consequently

SERV save, keep reservoir, reservation, preservation, conservation
SERVUS slave, server service, servitude, subservient, servile
SEXUS division, sex sex, sexual, sexism, bisexual
SIGNI mark, sign signify, signal, signature, insignia
SIMIL, SIMUL like, same similarity, simile, simultaneous, simulate
SOL alone solitude, solitary, desolate, soliloquy
SOLIDUS solid solid, solidarity, consolidate, solidify
SOLU, SOLV loosen, free soluble, dissolve, solvent, absolve
SOMN sleep insomnia, insomniac, somnambulist, somnolent
SON sound unison, sonorous, dissonant, subsonic
SOPH wise philosopher, sophisticated, sophomoric, sophistry
SPEC, SPECT look spectator, spectacular, spectacle, prospect
SPHER ball, sphere atmosphere, hemisphere, stratosphere, spherical
SPIR breathe, live conspirator, inspire, respiration, expire
SPOND, SPONS answer respond, respondent, correspondent, responsive
STA stand stationary, standard, stability, stagnant
STRU build construct, structure, instruct, structural
STUDEO be eager student, studious, study, studio
SURG, SURR rise surge, resurgence, resurrection, insurrection
SYLLABA take together syllable, syllabus, syllabify, syllabification
TABL, TABULA board, tablet table, tablet, entablature, tabular
FACT, TANG touch intact, tangent, tangible, intangible
TAIN, TEN hold attain, retain, detain, tenacious
TACT, TAX to arrange, order tactics, syntactical, syntax, taxidermist
TELE distant telephone, telegraph, telescope, television
TEMP time, season temporary, contemporary, temporal, extemporaneous
TEND, TENS, TENT tend, stretch extend, tendon, tensile, extent
TERRERE to frighten terrify, terror, terrorist, terrible
TESTARE to witness testify, testimony, testament, intestate
THANATOS death thanatophobia, thanatopsis, euthanasia, Thanatos
THE god theism, atheist, theology, monotheism
THERMO he a t thermos, thermometer, thermal, thermostat
TOM cut appendectomy, tonsillectomy, neurectomy, anatomy
TOPOS place, spot topical, topography, utopia, topology
TORT twist, turn distort, extort, retort, torture
TOX poison toxin, antitoxin, toxic, intoxication
TRACT pull, draw, drag attract, tractor, distract, extract
TRUD thrust intrude, protrude, extrude, obtrude
TUITUS watch over tuition, tutorial, tutelage, tutor
TURB whirling, turmoil turbine, turbid, turbulent, perturb
ULTIMUS last antepenult, ultimate, penult, ultimatum
UMBER, UMBRA shade, shadow umbra, umbrella, adumbrate, penumbra
UNDA wave undulate, inundate, abundant, redundant
URB city urban, urbane, suburb, suburban
VACA, VACU empty, hollow vacate, vacant, vacuum, evacuate
VAD, VAS go invade, evade, pervade, evasive
VAG wander vagrant, vagrancy, vagabond, extravagant
VAL strong, worth valid, equivalent, invalid, valetudinarian
VAN front, forward vanguard, van, avant-garde, vantage point
VAPOR steam vapor, vaporous, vaporizer, evaporate
VARI different, various vary, variant, variety, variegated
VEN come convention, convent, intervention, convene
VEN sale vend, vendor, venal, caveat vendor
ROOT MEANING SAMPLE WORDS

VEN vein vein, venous, intravenous, venule

VER tru e verdict, verify, veracity, verification
VER, VERER fear, awe reverence, reverend, revere, irreverent
VERB word verb, adverb, proverb, verbatim
VERS, VERT turn reverse, inverse, divert, invert
VESPER evening vespers, Vesper, Hesperus, vespertilionid
VEST clothing vest, vestment, divest, investiture
VETER old, experienced vet, veteran, veterinary, veterinarian
VIA wa y viaduct, trivial, trivia, deviate
VICT conquer victory, evict, victorious, victor
VID se e video, providence, evident, videotape
VIS se e vision, visualize, visible, supervision
VIT live vitamin, vitality, vital, revitalize
VIV live survive, revive, vivid, vivacious
VOC, VOKE call vocal, vocabulary, avocation, evoke
VOL wish, will volunteer, benevolent, malevolent, involuntary
VOL, VOLV roll, turn revolt, revolve, evolve, revolver
VOR ea t devour, voracious, carnivorus, herbivorous
XYLO wood
ZO animal zoo, zoologist, protozoan, zodiac