Common Root Words, Prefixes & Suffixes To Know
- Jul 16, 2019
When it comes to reading comprehension, context is key. The same rule of thumb can apply when it comes to understanding a word you've never seen before. Breaking a word down by it's prefixes and suffixes can provide part of the meaning of the word!
Whether you’re studying for the SATs, teaching students the English language, or simply trying to stop yourself from mixing up terms, our table of roots, prefixes, and suffixes is here to help. We’ve broken down these important root words to further assist you!
Jump to the list of Suffixes!
| ROOTS | MEANING | WORD |
|---|---|---|
| alter | other | alternate, alter ego |
| ami, amic- | love | amiable, amicable |
| amphi | both ends or all sides | amphibian |
| ann, enni | year | anniversary, annual, biennial, perennial |
| anthrop | human, man | anthropology, anthropomorphic, misanthrope |
| aqua, aque | water | aquatic, aquarium, aqueduct |
| arch | chief, leader, ruler | archangel, monarch, archaic, archenemy |
| arthro | joint | arthritis |
| aud | sound | auditorium, audible, audiologist, audiotape |
| bell | war | belligerent, bellicose |
| biblio | book | bibliography, bibliophile |
| bio- | life | biography, autobiography, biology, antibiotic |
| brev | short | brief, abbreviate |
| cap | take, seize | capture, captivate, capacity |
| carn | meat | carnivorous, chili con carne |
| ced | yield, go | recede, secede, proceed, intercede, concession |
| chrom- | color | chromatic, monochrome, polychrome |
| chron- | time | chronicle, chronology, chronometer, synchronize |
| cogn | know | recognize, cognitive, incognito |
| cord/chord | cord | harpsichord |
| corp | body | corpus, corpse, corporal |
| crac, crat | rule, ruler | autocrat, democracy, bureaucrat, democracy |
| cred | believe | credible, credulous, credibility, credit, credo |
| cruc | cross | crucifix, crucial |
| crusta | shell | crustacean |
| crypt | hidden | cryptogram, cryptology, cryptic |
| culp | guilt | culpable, culprit |
| dei | god | deity, deify |
| demo- | people | demography, democracy, epidemic |
| dent | tooth | dentist, dentifrice, dentin |
| derm- | skin | dermatology, epidermis, hypodermic |
| dic | speak, say | dictate, predict, diction, indict |
| dox | belief, opinion | orthodoxy, paradox, heterodoxy |
| duc, duct | lead | induce, deduce, seduction, conduct, abduct |
| duo | two | duo |
| dynam- | power | dynamo, hydrodynamics |
| ego | self | egotist, egomania |
| equ | equal | equal, equity, equanimity, equate, equidistant |
| fac | make, do | manufacture, factory, benefactor |
| fil | threadlike | filament |
| frater | brother | fraternal, fraternize |
| gam- | marriage | monogamy, polygamy, bigamy |
| geo- | earth | geopolitical, geology, geography, geothermal |
| glyph | vertical groove | hieroglyphics |
| grad, gress | step | gradual, progression, transgression |
| graph- | writing, printing | graphology, biography, telegraph, geography |
| gym | naked | gymnasium |
| gyn- | woman | gynecologist, androgynous |
| hemo, hema, hem | blood | hemophilia, hematology, hemoglobin |
| holo | whole, entire | holograph |
| hydro, hydr | water | dehydrate, hydraulics, hydroelectric, hydroplane |
| iso | equal, identical | isolate |
| ject | throw | inject, reject, subject, projection |
| jud | judge | judicial, judge, adjudicate |
| leg, lect | read, choose | legible, lectern, lecturer, election |
| liter | letter | literature, illiterate, literal |
| loc | place | local, location |
| log | word | monologue, epilogue |
| luc | light | lucid, elucidate |
| magn | large | magnify, magnate, magnificent |
| man | hand | manufacture, manual, manuscript |
| mar | sea | marine, mariner |
| mater | mother | maternal, maternity, matriarchy, matricide |
| mere | part, segment | mere |
| meta, met | behind, between | metacognition |
| metri, meter- | measure | geometric, thermometer, odometer |
| min | small | minority, minuscule, minute |
| mit, miss | send | permit, submission, mission, emit, |
| mob, mot, mov | move | mobile, automobile, motion, promote, movie |
| mon | warn | premonition, admonition |
| mor, mort | death | mortal, mortician, immortality |
| morph | form, structure | metamorphosis, amorphous, morphology |
| mut | change | mutant, mutability, mutate |
| neuro | nerve | neurology, neurosis, neurobiology |
| nomen /nomin | name | nominal, nominate, nomenclature |
| nov | new | novel, renovate, innovation, novella |
| nym, onym | word, name | synonym, acronym, anonymous, pseudonym |
| odonto | tooth | orthodontist |
| ortho- | straight, correct | orthodox, orthodontist, orthopedic |
| pac | peace | pacify, Pacific Ocean, pacifist |
| pater | father | paternal, paternity, patricide, patrilineal, patriotic |
| path | feeling, suffering | sympathy, apathy, empathy, telepathy, pathology |
| ped, pod | foot | pedal, pedometer, centipede, gastropod |
| pel, puls | push | pulsate, repulsive, impulse, compel, propel |
| pend | hang, weigh | pendulum, pendant, suspend, pending |
| phon-, phono- | sound, voice | telephone, euphony, cacophony, phonograph |
| plan | flat | planar, plantation, plane |
| pneum | lung | pneumatic |
| pod | feet | podiatrist |
| port | carry | portable, transport, portage, report, |
| pot | power | potent, omnipotent, potentate |
| psych- | soul, spirit, mind | psychology, psychic, psychobiography |
| pugna | fight | pugnacious, pugilist |
| quer, quis | ask | query, inquisition, |
| scent, scend | climb | ascend, ascent |
| schizo, schiz | division, split | schizophrenic |
| sci | know | scientific |
| sciss | cut | scissors |
| scrib, script | write | manuscript, scribe, proscribe, scripture |
| sec, sect | cut | dissect, section |
| sed, sess | sit | sedentary, session |
| sens, sent | feel, be aware | sensible, sentient |
| sequ, secu | follow | sequence, sequel, consecutive |
| serv | serve, protect | service |
| simil | same | similar, assimilate, simile, facsimile (fax) |
| siphon | tube | siphon |
| sol | sun | solar |
| son | sound | sonar, resonate, unison |
| soph | wisdom, knowledge | philosophy, sophisticated, sophomore (wise fool) |
| spec, spic | look, see | spectacles, spectator, inauspicious, prospect |
| spir | coil | spiral |
| spir | breathe | inspire, respiration, conspire, perspiration |
| spond, spons | promise, answer for | respond, responsible |
| spont | by one's own force | spontaneous |
| stat | stay, position | station |
| tang, tact | touch | tactile, tangible |
| temp | time | temporary, temporize |
| ten, tent | hold | tentative, tenable, tenuous |
| terr | earth | subterranean, terrain, terrestrial, disinter |
| theo | god, deity | theology, polytheism, atheist, monotheism |
| therm- | heat | thermal, thermos, thermometer |
| trophy | nutrition, food | atrophy |
| uro | urine | urologist |
| vac | empty | vacation, vacuum, vacuous, vacant |
| ven, vent | come, go | intervene, convene, contravene |
| ver | truth | veracity, verify, verity |
| vert | turn | introvert, irreversible, vertigo |
| vit | life | vital, revitalize, vitamin |
| voc | call | revoke, invocation, vocal, evocative, convocation |
| zoo | animal | zoo, zoology, zoolatry |
| SUFFIX | DEFINITION | EXAMPLE |
|---|---|---|
| -agog, -agogue | leader | demagogue, pedagogue |
| -cide | kill(ing) | patricide, infanticide, herbicide. suicide |
| -ectomy | cutting | appendectomy, splenectomy |
| -ia, -y | act, state | amnesia, mania, democracy, anarchy |
| -ic, -tic, -ical, -ac | having to do with | anthropomorphic, dramatic, biblical, cardiac |
| -ics | things having to do with | optics, physics |
| -isk, -iscus | small | asterisk--a little star |
| -ism | the belief in | pacifism, terrorism, socialism, communism |
| -ist | one who believes in | pacifist, terrorist, socialist, communist |
| -ite | one connected with | meteorite, polite, cosmopolite |
| -logy | study field of | biology, geology, etymology, cardiology |
| -oid | resembling, like-shaped | asteroid, spheroid |
| -or, -er | one who takes part in | doctor, actor, teacher, driver |
| -phobia | exaggerated fear | photophobia, claustrophobia, agoraphobia |
| -sis | act, state, condition of | analysis |
