1. Roots and Affixes
How words are created

2. Vocabulary (n.) Body of words used in a particular language
English language consists of a almost 200,000 words
Words range in length from “a” to “antidisestablishmentarianism”

3. Base Words Words that cannot be reduced down to smaller words
Ex.) Speak, dog, happy
Other words or word parts can be added to them to make longer words
Ex.) Happiness
Ex.) Speaker

4. Word Parts There are two kinds of word parts: roots and affixes.
A root is a word part that comes from another language, such as Greek or Latin.
An affix is a word part that can be attached to either a root or a base word to create a new word.

5. AFFIXES can be divided into two categories…
1. Prefixes (appear at the beginning of words)
2. Suffixes (appear at the end of words)
Common Prefixes
Common Suffixes
Bi-
two
-ist
Person who does action
Anti-
against
-less
Without
Inter-
between
-ize
Cause, treat, become
Pre-
before
-ism
State or quality
Super-
above
-ship
State or condition of
Trans-
across
-ward
Specifies direction
Dis-
not
-ular
Relating to/resembling

6. Many (not all) English words can be broken down like this…
Root
Affix
Prefix
Suffix
For example…
In-cred-ible
Prefix +Root +Suffix
*Without a root word, affixes have nothing the change the meaning of.

7. Meaning
The meaning of a word is related to the meaning of its word parts.
To unlock the meaning of an unfamiliar word, break the word down into its component parts; then think about the meaning of the word’s affixes and root.

8. Check it out Roots Affixes Latin Root: tang, meaning “touch”
Prefix: in-, meaning “not”
Suffix: -ible, meaing “able to”

9. Apply
For example one could analyze the word intangible, using the chart shown previously.
First break the word into its parts:
PREFIX ROOT SUFFIX ENGLISH WORD
In tang ible = intangible
Tang is a latin roots meaning “touch”
In is a prefix meaning “not”
-ible is a suffix meaning “able to”

10. Word Families
A group of English words may be derived from the same word part of root. Such a group is called a word family.
You can use this knowledge to help you determine the meaning of unknown words.
Example: Sol
Solitary, soloist, desolate, solitaire, soliloquy
What might SOL mean?
ALONE

11. Word Family Practice Questions:
Word family: ethnicity, ethnic, ethnographer Root: ethn Meaning:
Ocean
Nation
Hesitation

12. Word Family Practice Questions:
Word family: maniac, maniacal Root: mania Meaning:
Education
Sanitation
Madness

13. Word Family Practice Questions:
Word family: epidermis, dermatology Root: derm Meaning:
Skin
Body
Mind

14. Word Family Practice Questions:
Word Family: laboratory, labor Root: lab Meaning:
Work
Good
Weak

15. Let’s see what you know:
Divide and indivisible are members of the same word family. Which root so they share?
A. –vis B. -visible C. -div-
What is the meaning of this root?
A. separate B. shrink C. junk
What is another member of the same word family?
A. December B. dividend C. invisible

16. Vocab Scattegories!
Individually, come up with as many root and affix c0mbinations as you can.
After time is up, you will share your list with the four people around you.
Then your group of four will share the words that they had that no one within the group had.

17. Vocab Scattegories! Within groups of four share your lists.
ALSO – cross check the list on the handout to make sure no one used an example word.
Have a list of your unique words ready to share to the class.

18. Example)
Consecutive Con + secu + ive Con: With Secu(t): To Follow Ive: Having the nature of