1. Greek and Latin Roots Common Pre-fixes

2. What are roots? An English word can consist of three parts: the root, a prefix and a suffix. The root is the part of the word that contains the basic meaning (definition) of the word. The root is the base element of the word. Many roots to English words come from Greek or Latin words. Knowing Greek and Latin roots can help you figure out the meaning of words you don’t already know.

3. Common Greek Roots

4. auto = self autobiography automatic automobile

5. bio = life, living biology biography biome

6. geo = life, living geography geology

7. graph = write autograph biography

8. meter = measure meter (length) kilometer centimeter

9. phil = love philosophy bibliophile

10. phobe = fear phobia arachnophobia claustrophobia

11. photo = light photograph photosynthesis

12. phon = sound telephone phonics phonograph

13. tele = distance telephone television telescope teleport

14. Common Latin Roots

15. act = do react action actor

16. aud = hear audio aural audience

17. fac = make, do facilitate manufacture factory

18. jur / jus = law jury justice jurisdiction

19. loc = place location allocate relocate

20. mob = move mobility automobile

21. ped = foot pedals pedestrian

22. sign = mark signature signal signify

23. spec = see spectacles (glasses) spectacle (show) spectator

24. vac = empty vacant evacuate vacuum

25. What are pre-fixes? Prefixes are word parts that you add to the beginning of the root or base word. Prefixes can change the meaning of a word.

26. Common Pre-fixes

27. anti- or contra- = against Examples: antisocial contradict

28. cent- = hundred Examples: centimeter century

29. ex- = out Examples: exit exile excommunicate

30. ir- or in- or im- = not Examples: irregular (ir- + regular) inconvenient (in- + convenient) imperfect (im + perfect)

31. non- = not Examples: nonverbal nonsense

32. post- = after Examples: postpone post-workout

33. pre- = before Examples: prepare preview pre-workout

34. pro- = forward Examples: progress proactive product

35. re- = again Examples: reappear reply redo

36. un- = not Examples: undone uncooked unhinged