English Word Roots to Improve Your Vocabulary

Do you want to grow your English vocabulary in an easy, efficient way? You need to learn English word parts!

Many English words and word parts come from Greek and Latin. These word parts include prefixes, roots, and suffixes. We've already taught you the most common English prefixes and suffixes in two earlier slide decks.

Word roots, also called stems, can be at the beginning, middle, or end of words.

1. ENGLISH WORD ROOTS TO IMPROVE YOUR VOCABULARY

2. WORD ROOTS English has many common word parts: prefixes , roots , and suffixes .

3. WORD ROOTS If you learn some of these word parts, it will be easier for you to figure out the meanings of new words. WORD PARTS = VOCABULARY POWER!

4. WORD ROOTS A word root can be at the beginning, middle, or end of a word. GRAPH (writing) + OLOGY (study)= GRAPHOLOGY (study of handwriting)

5. WORD ROOTS A word root can be at the beginning, middle , or end of a word. BIO (life) + GRAPH (writing) + IC (related to)= BIOGRAPHIC (related to a life story)

6. WORD ROOTS A word root can be at the beginning, middle , or end of a word. PHOTO (light) + GRAPH (writing) = PHOTOGRAPH (writing with light)

7. ANTHRO(PO) Examples: Anthropology Philanthropy Misanthrope Meaning: “human”

8. ARCH Examples: Monarchy Architect Matriarch Meaning: “chief”

9. AUDI, AUDIT Examples: Auditorium Audience Audible Meaning: “sound”

10. CED Examples: Precede Recede Succeed Meaning: “go, move”

11. CHRON Examples: Chronological Chronic Chronometer Meaning: “go, move”

12. DIC DICT Examples: Dictator Diction Predict Dictation Meaning: “speech”

13. DUC Examples: Conduct Educate Induction Meaning: “lead”

14. FACT FECT Examples: Factory Defective Manufacture Meaning: “do, make”

15. FLECT Examples: Flexible Reflect Deflection Meaning: “bend”

16. GAM Examples: Monogamous Bigamy Homogamy Meaning: “marriage”

17. GRAPH Examples: Telegraph Photograph Program Grammar Meaning: “writing”

18. HETERO Examples: Heterosexual Heterogeneous Heteronormative Meaning: “different”

19. HOMO Examples: Homosexual Homogenized Homeopathy Meaning: “same”

20. LOG LOGY Examples: Biological Psychology Sociologist Meaning: “study”

21. MAN(U) Examples: Manuscript Manage Manufacture Meaning: “hand”

22. MIT MISS Examples: Missionary Submit Permission Meaning: “send”

23. MORPH Examples: Amorphous Metamorphosis Anthropomorphic Meaning: “form”

24. ONYM NOMEN Examples: Synonym Antonym Nominate Nominal Meaning: “name”

25. PATH(Y) Examples: Sympathy Telepathy Pathology Sociopathic Meaning: “feeling, disease”

26. PHON Examples: Telephone Microphone Phonology Meaning: “sound”

27. PON POS Examples: Postpone Position Posture Meaning: “put, place”

28. SCRIB SCRIPT Examples: Describe Script Inscription Meaning: “write”

29. SEQU SECUT Examples: Consequence Consecutive Sequel Meaning: “follow”

30. SPECT Examples: Inspect Spectator Respect Aspect Meaning: “see, look”

31. SPIR Examples: Inspiration Spirit Respiratory Meaning: “breath”

32. TELE Examples: Telegraph Telephone Teleportation Meaning: “across distance”

33. THE(O) Examples: Theology Polytheism Monotheistic Meaning: “god”

34. VEN(E) Examples: Convention Venue Adventure Meaning: “come”

35. VOC VOKE Examples: Vocal Invocation Revoke Meaning: “call”