1. from Latin & Greek Roots
English Words
from Latin & Greek Roots
Increase vocabulary, spelling, and reading comprehension
Susan Ebbers 2005
teacherweb.com/MN/OltmanJuniorHigh/MsUphus/Word-Originspam.ppt

2. Learning Objective
TEKS 2A: determine the meaning of grade-level academic English words derived from Latin, Greek, or other linguistic roots and affixes
“I can use Greek and Latin word roots to *determine the meaning of words.”
*determine = figure out
What are we going to do today?

3. A root is a set of letters that have meaning. It is the most basic form . Affixes are added to the root to create a new word.
Example:
The Latin root ject means “throw”
So project can mean “to throw forward”
A root can be at the front, middle or end of a word.
Many words in the English language are based on Greek & Latin word roots.
What is a word root?
Concept

4. Shrinking personal vocabularies
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 ,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.
Susan Ebbers 2005
teacherweb.com/MN/OltmanJuniorHigh/MsUphus/Word-Originspam.ppt

5. Importance
Knowing and using Greek and Latin word roots can help you figure out the meaning of words you don’t recognize.
This will make you a better reader and writer.
Why is it important to know how to use Greek and Latin word roots?
Can anyone share a different reason?

6. Basic Terms
root form: a word with no prefix or suffix added; may also be referred to as a base word inspector, thermal
affix: meaningful part of a word attached before or after a root or base word to modify its meaning
prefix: an affix which is placed before the stem of a word re-, un-, dis-
suffix: an affix which is placed after the stem of a word -able, -ive, -ly
derivation-a word formed from an existing word, root, or affix: electric, electricity
Susan Ebbers 2005
teacherweb.com/MN/OltmanJuniorHigh/MsUphus/Word-Originspam.ppt

7. Derivational Suffixes
Derivational suffixes change the part of speech
words ending with –tion are often nouns
words ending with –ive are often adjectives
words ending with –ish are often adjectives
words ending with –ity are often nouns
What about -ment, -ous, -ness?
Susan Ebbers 2005
teacherweb.com/MN/OltmanJuniorHigh/MsUphus/Word-Originspam.ppt

8. We know that words are broken into parts that help us figure out their meaning.
Prefixes
Suffixes
Prefix
Meaning
Example
re-
back, again
refill
tri-
three
triplet
un-
not
undo
Suffix
Meaning
Example
-ful
Having
careful
-less
Without, missing
joyless
-ly
In the manner of
hopefully
APK
Tell your partner:
An example of a prefix is ______ which means ______.
How do word parts like prefixes and suffixes help us _______?

9. Suffixes: -ful joyful -ly sadly -ness kindness
We know that words are broken into parts that help us figure out their meaning:
Prefixes:
un- undo
re- refill
pro- for,
forward
Prefixes are at the beginning of words.
pre- means before
fix means attach, repair
Suffixes:
-ful joyful
-ly sadly
-ness kindness
Suffixes are at the end of words.
So, “prefix” means “attached before.”
Which word part is found at the end of words?

10. English words can have all three parts:
prefix + root + suffix
ab + duct + ed
away from + to lead/pull + verb: past tense
abducted means ”pulled or lead away from”
i.e. The general was abducted by masked stranger.
Roots can appear more than once, and anywhere in the word.
Word
Meaning
geology
earth study / study of the earth
telegraph
distance writing / writing that travels far
tricycle
three wheels
asocial
not being companionable /
not wanting to join others
Concept

11. prefix + root + suffix retrospective carnivore I Do We Do
retro = backwards
spect = look
-ive = having quality of
“quality of looking backward”
History is a retrospective way of looking at life.
We Do
carnivore
carni = meat
vor = eat
-e = one who
“one who eats meat”
What does carnivore mean?
How did you know?

12. Prefixes: Meaning and Connotation
Often Negative
dis-, de-
non-
sub-
in-
un-
mis-
mal-
anti, contra a-
Somewhat Positive
pro-
co-
bene-
super-
com-
be-
en-, em-
ad-
Susan Ebbers 2005
teacherweb.com/MN/OltmanJuniorHigh/MsUphus/Word-Originspam.ppt

13. The soldier had empathy for the prisoner.
prefix + root
We Do
enamor
en- = having
amor = love
What does enamor mean?
“having love”
How do you know that?
I Do
empathy
em- = having
pathy = feeling
So it means:
“having feeling”
The soldier had empathy for the prisoner.

14. root + root pseudonym aqueduct I Do We Do pseudo = false aque = water
nym = name
”false name”
Samuel Clemens wrote under the pseudonym “Mark Twain.”
We Do
aqueduct
aque = water
duct = to lead/pull
What is an aqueduct used for?
How do you know that?

15. root + suffix biology We Do I Do astrology bio = life astro = stars
-logy = study of
So it means:
“the study of life”
I Do
astrology
astro = stars
-logy = study of
So it means:
"the study of stars”
How did we know biology meant ‘the study of life’?
Frame: “We knew that biology meant ‘the study of life’
because _______________________.”
How did I determine the meaning of astrology?
Frame: “We determined the meaning of astrology by ______________.”

16. A List of Greek and Latin Word Roots, Prefixes and Suffixes
Meaning
Prefix/Suffix
duct
to lead/pull
micro
small
phobia
fear of
ab-
away from
tele
distance
spect
look, see
auto
self
a-, un-,
-less
not, without
graph
write, draw
aque, aqua
water
rupt
break
em-. en-, -y, -ful
having,
marked by
bio
life
astr, aster
stars
scope
see, watch
retro-
backwards
geo
earth
logy, ology
study of
pseudo
false
-ive, -ic
having quality of
rium
house
cycle
wheel
dynam
power
-al
result of
trans
across
nym, nom
name
ject
throw
-able, -ible
ability
pathy
feeling for
amor
love
pro
forward
-oid
resembling, like
cent, centi
hundred
derm, derma
skin
vor
eat greedily
-or, -er, -e
one who
carn
meat
chron
time
soci
joining in, being together
ex-
out of
omni
all, every
meter
measure
ped, pod
foot, footed
bi-
two
struc, struct
build
cent
con, com
together, with
tri-
three
hydro
-ly
in the manner of

17. Skill Steps Highlight the word root (or roots).
What does the word root mean?
Look at the remainder of the word:
What does the prefix mean?
What does the suffix mean?
Use the word root table to determine the meaning.
Skill

18. Look Inside—Look Outside
pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
Look inside the word for known word parts: prefixes, roots or combining forms, suffixes.
Use the analogy strategy—“I don’t know this word, but I know pneumonia and I know volcano, so by analogy, this word might have something to do with lungs and heat.”
Look outside the word at context clues, visuals
The coal miners, coughing and wheezing, suffered from pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.
Susan Ebbers 2005
teacherweb.com/MN/OltmanJuniorHigh/MsUphus/Word-Originspam.ppt

19. Developing content-specific, academic vocabulary depends on a basic understanding of Greek and Latin
Sixty percent of the words in English texts are of Latin and Greek origin Bear et al., 1996; Henry, 1997
Susan Ebbers 2005
teacherweb.com/MN/OltmanJuniorHigh/MsUphus/Word-Originspam.ppt

20. Content-Specific Greek Terms
Anatomy and Medical Terms
esophagus, thyroid, diagnosis, psoriasis, dyslexia
Studies and Sciences
biology, seismology, morphology, geochronometry
Animals and Plants
arachnid, amphibian, chlorophyll, dinosaur, nectar
Theatre and the Arts
charisma, drama, chorus, muse, symphony, acoustics
Susan Ebbers 2005
teacherweb.com/MN/OltmanJuniorHigh/MsUphus/Word-Originspam.ppt

21. Counting in Greek and Latin mono uni di bi du, duo tri tetra quadri
penta
hexa
sept
oct
nove
deca
deci
cent
milli
poly
multi
semi
hemi
Susan Ebbers 2005
teacherweb.com/MN/OltmanJuniorHigh/MsUphus/Word-Originspam.ppt

22. Learning Objective
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.7.4b Use common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., belligerent, bellicose, rebel).
“I can use Greek and Latin word roots to *determine the meaning of words.”
*determine = figure out
What are we going to do today?

23. Closure What does portable mean?
What do we call the most basic form of a word that has meaning?
What does portable mean?
Why do you think knowing and using Greek and Latin word roots is important?
Exit Slip