Root Words, Prefixes, Suffixes Word Up! Root Words, Prefixes, Suffixes

The average sixth grade student knows approximately 25,000 words. The average high school graduate knows approximately 50,000 words. This means that average students learn roughly 2000-3,000 words a year (Graves, 2007). This translates to 8 words a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year - including weekends or summers.

Use knowledge of root words, as well as, context clues and glossaries to understand specialized vocabulary in the content areas during reading. Use these words accurately in speaking and writing. Describe the origins and meanings of common, learned, and foreign words used frequently in English language writing and literature. Identify new words that have been added to the English language over time using prefixes. Objectives

A root word is a word that does not have a prefix (in front of the word) or a suffix (at the end of a word). The root word is the base word. Root Words

Common Root Words Root Meaning Origin Example Aud Hear Latin Auditorium Mis Send Mission Astro Star Greek Astrology Ped Foot Pedal Bio Life Biology Phon Sound Telephone Dict Say Predict Common Root Words

Common Root Words Root Meaning Origin Example Port carry Latin Import Geo Earth Greek Geography Scrib, Scrip Write Scribble, scripture Meter Measure Thermometer Min Little, small Minimum Spect See Inspect Mit, Mis Send Transit, mission Struct Build, form Instruct Common Root Words

Prefix: a part of a word that comes in front of the root and changes its meaning. Prefixes

From, out, out of, away from Prefix Meaning Examples Ad Toward, to, at, about, Admit Com, con Together with, jointly Combine De Reduce down, remove Dethrone Dis Do the opposite, not Disagree Ex From, out, out of, away from Extract Il, im, in, ir Not, without Impossible inter Between, among, jointly Intersection Most Common Prefixes

Most Common Prefixes Prefix Meaning Examples Ob No, not, without Object Per Through, throughout Persist Pre Earlier, before, in front of Prepay Pro Before, in front of Prologue Re Again, back, backward rebuild un Not, opposite of, lacking Unfriendly under Too little, not enough undercooked Most Common Prefixes

Suffix: a part of a word that comes at the end of the root and changes its meaning.

Common Suffixes Suffix Meaning Examples -al Relating to Natural -an, -ian Relating to, belonging to American -eer One that is concerned with professionally, conducts or produces Auctioneer -en Makes the word a verb awaken -ent Inclined to Different -ar Of or relating to; being Liar A person who Vegetarian -er More Faster Action of process ponder Common Suffixes

Suffix Meaning Examples -er A person who Teacher -or Inventor -ful Full of Thankful -ify Cause, specify Intensify -ist One who does an action Artist -ive Inclined to Expensive -ize To cause, to become Authorize -less Without Fearless -ly In what manner Quickly -ous wondrous