Word Roots & Vocabulary
About 60% of English words come from Latin or Greek roots. Knowing them lets you decode unfamiliar words without a dictionary.
Why Word Roots Matter
If you know that rupt means "break," you can figure out: disrupt, erupt, rupture, corrupt, abrupt — all without memorizing each word separately.
Common Latin Roots
| Root | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| aud | hear | audio, auditorium, audience |
| dict | say/tell | dictate, predict, contradict |
| port | carry | transport, import, portable |
| script/scrib | write | describe, manuscript, inscription |
| vis/vid | see | vision, video, evident |
Common Greek Roots
| Root | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| bio | life | biology, biography, antibiotic |
| geo | earth | geography, geology, geometry |
| graph/gram | write | paragraph, telegram, autograph |
| phon | sound | telephone, phonics, microphone |
| therm | heat | thermometer, thermostat |
Prefixes & Suffixes
Prefixes go before the root: un-, re-, pre-, dis-, mis-
Suffixes go after: -tion, -ment, -ful, -less, -able
predict → pre (before) + dict (say) = to say before
impossible → im (not) + possible = not possible
FAQ
How many roots should I learn? Start with 30–40 high-frequency ones. They unlock thousands of words.
Quick Quiz
Test what you just learned. Choose the best answer for each question.