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 |