Word Roots
Did you know that many English words are like puzzles? They have parts that come from ancient Greek and Latin languages. Learning these word parts, called roots, is like getting a secret code to unlock the meaning of thousands of words!
What Are Word Roots?
A Root is the Main Part of a Word!
Just like a tree has roots that give it life, words have roots that give them meaning. The root is the core part of a word that carries its main idea.
🌳 Think of It Like a Tree
A tree root is underground and helps the tree grow. A word root is hidden inside a word and helps you understand what the word means!
photograph
photo (light) + graph (write/draw)
= "writing with light" = a picture!
🔍 Where Do Roots Come From?
Most English word roots come from two ancient languages:
- Greek - spoken in ancient Greece thousands of years ago
- Latin - spoken by ancient Romans
Learning these roots is like learning a secret language that helps you understand English better!
Common Greek and Latin Roots
Here are some of the most useful roots to know. Learn these, and you'll be able to figure out many new words!
| Root | Meaning | Origin | Example Words |
|---|---|---|---|
| graph | write, draw | Greek | photograph, autograph, paragraph |
| phone | sound, voice | Greek | telephone, microphone, phonics |
| bio | life | Greek | biology, biography, biome |
| geo | earth | Greek | geography, geology, geometry |
| port | carry | Latin | transport, portable, import |
| vis/vid | see | Latin | vision, video, invisible |
| aud | hear | Latin | audio, audience, auditorium |
| scrib/script | write | Latin | scribble, script, describe |
Greek Root
Greek Root
Greek Root
Greek Root
Latin Root
Latin Root
Using Roots to Figure Out Word Meanings
Let's practice being word detectives! When you see a new word, look for roots you know.
🔬 Example 1: Biology
biology
bio (life) + logy (study of)
= the study of life / living things!
📞 Example 2: Telephone
telephone
tele (far away) + phone (sound)
= sound from far away = a phone!
✍️ Example 3: Autograph
autograph
auto (self) + graph (write)
= self-writing = your own signature!
🚚 Example 4: Transport
transport
trans (across) + port (carry)
= carry across = move from place to place!
Root Matching Game
Click a root, then click its meaning to make a match!
Match the Root to Its Meaning
Roots
Meanings
Word Builder Challenge
Build real words by clicking the word parts in the right order!
Build the Word: telephone
Hint: sound from far away
Word Detective Challenge
Use your root knowledge to figure out what these mystery words mean!
Be a Word Detective!
Follow these steps:
- Look at the mystery word
- Find the root(s) you recognize
- Think about what those roots mean
- Put it together to guess the meaning!
Mystery Word 1
Hint: geo = earth, graph = write/draw
Mystery Word 2
Hint: port = carry
Mystery Word 3
Hint: micro = small, phone = sound
Practice Problems
Test your root knowledge! Choose the best answer.
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
Question 4
Question 5
Check Your Understanding
What is a word root?
Where do most English word roots come from?
Why is learning word roots helpful?
What We Learned
Word Roots
The main part of a word that carries its core meaning.
Greek & Latin
Ancient languages that gave us most English word roots.
Detective Skills
Use roots to figure out what new words mean.
Build Vocabulary
Knowing roots helps you learn more words faster!
⭐ Roots to Remember
- graph = write, draw
- phone = sound, voice
- bio = life
- geo = earth
- port = carry
- vis/vid = see
- aud = hear
- scrib/script = write
Next Steps
- Practice recognizing roots in words you read every day
- Keep a "root journal" where you write new roots and words
- Try the matching game and word builder again to improve your score
- Learn more roots and prefixes in the next lessons!