Word Root

A word root is the base part of a word (i.e., the word less any prefixes and suffixes).

To change the meaning of a word, a prefix can be added to the front of the word root, or a suffix can be added to the back. Quite often, a prefix and a suffix are added to a word root to change the meaning. (Prefixes and suffixes are known as affixes.)

Table of Contents

• Example of Word Roots with Prefixes and Suffixes
• Word Roots with Greek Origins
• Word Roots with Latin Origins
• "Word Root" or "Base Word"?
• A List of Common Prefixes
• Why Word Roots Are Important
• Test Time!

Example of Word Roots with Prefixes and Suffixes

• Word root: friend
  • friend s, friend ly, un friend ly, friend ship
  • ab normal , normal ity, normal ize, ab normal ity
  • im mature , matur ity (Notice how the "e" is dropped off the root word for "maturity." Often, there are spelling rules to consider.)

  Word Roots with Greek Origins

  Lots of word roots in English derive from Greek. For example:

  Word Root	Meaning	Example
  aster	star	asteroid, astronaut
  auto	self	automatic, autobiography
  biblio	book	bibliography, bibliophile
  bio	life	biography, biology
  chrome	color	monochromatic, phytochrome
  chrono	time	chronic, chronicle
  dyna	power	dynasty, dynamite
  geo	earth	geography, geology
  graph	write	autograph, graphic
  hydr	water	dehydrate, hydrant
  kinesis	movement	kinetic, psychokinesis
  log	thought	logic, analogy
  logos	word, study	astrology, logosglyph
  narc	sleep	narcotic, narcolepsy
  path	feel	empathy, pathetic
  phil	love	philosophy, philanthropy
  phon	sound	microphone, telephone
  photo	light	photograph, photocopy
  schem	plan	scheme, schematic
  syn	together, with	synthetic, photosynthesis
  tele	far	telescope, telepathy

  Word Roots with Latin Origins

  Lots of word roots derive from Latin. For example:

  Word Root	Meaning	Example
  acri	bitter	acrid, acrimony
  aqu	water	aquarium, aquatic
  audi	hear	audible, audience
  bene	good	benefit, benefactor
  brev	short	abbreviate, brief
  circ	round	circus, circulate
  dict	say	dictate, diction
  doc	teach	document, doctrine
  duc	lead, make	deduce, educate
  fund	bottom	founder, foundation
  gen	to birth	gene, generate
  hab	to have	ability, exhibit
  jur	law	jury, justify
  lev	to lift	levitate, elevate
  manu	hand	manual, manicure
  mis, mit	send	missile, transmit
  pac	peace	pacify, pacifist
  port	carry	export, import
  quit	silent, restive	tranquil, acquit
  scrib, script	write	script, describe
  sens	feel	sensitive, sentient
  terr	earth	terrain, territory
  vac	empty	vacuum, vacate
  vid, vis	to see	video, invisible

  A knowledge of these word roots can help greatly with spelling and deciphering the meanings of unfamiliar words. Read more about way to improve your spelling.

  "Word Root" or "Base Word"?

  Be aware that there are two different terminologies for dissecting words:

  "Word Root" Method

  Some (like us) use these terms:

  • "un" is a prefix.
  • "friend" is the word root.
  • "ly" is a suffix

  "Base Word" Method

  Some use these terms:

  • "un" is prefix. (A prefix is a type of root word.)
  • "friend" is the base word. (A base word is a type of root word.)
  • "ly" is a suffix. (A suffix is a type of root word.)
  Here at Grammar Monster, we use the version on the left (i.e. "word root"), but be aware that you might encounter the version on the right (i.e., "base word" and "root words" to mean the base word and the affixes).

  A List of Common Prefixes

  Here is a list of common prefixes with some examples:

  Prefix	Meaning	Example
  a-, an-	without	amoral, atypical
  ante-	before	antecedent, antenatal
  anti-	against	anti-establishment
  auto-	self	autopilot
  co-	with	co-conspirator, co-pilot
  com-, con-	with	companion, contact
  de-	off	delist, devalue
  dis-	not	disappear
  en-	put into	enclose, envelop
  ex-	out of, former	extract, ex-governor
  extra-	beyond, more than	extracurricular
  il-, im-, in-, ir-	not, without	illegal, impractical, inconsiderate, irresponsible
  in-	into	insert
  inter-	between	internet, intersection,
  intra-	between	intranet, intravenous
  mono-	one	monocle
  non-	not, without	nonentity, nonstarter,
  post-	after	post-mortem
  pre-, pro-	before, forward	precede, project
  sub-	under	submarine, substandard
  super-	above	supervisor, superhuman
  un-	not	undone, unfinished,
  uni-	one	unicorn, unilaterally

  A List of Common Suffixes

  Here is a list of common suffixes with some examples:

  Suffix	Meaning	Example
  -able, -ible	can be done	comfortable, passable
  -al, -ial	having the characteristics of	personal
  -ed	past-tense verbs (weak verbs)	danced, jumped
  -en	made of	golden, wooden
  -er	comparative	tidier, nicer
  -er, -or	one who	actor, narrator, worker
  -est	superlative	nicest, greatest
  -ful	full or full of	cupful, careful
  -ic	having characteristics of	linguistic, sarcastic
  -ing	verb form (present participle and gerund)	dancing, singing
  -ion, -tion, -ation, ition	act or process	attraction, attrition
  -ity, -ty	state of	humility, infinity
  -ive, -ative, itive	adjective form of a noun	expensive, plaintive
  -less	without	topless, fearless
  -ly	adverb ending	nicely, quickly
  -ment	action or process	enjoyment, entrenchment
  -ness	state of, condition of	eagerness, kindness
  -ous, -eous, -ious	possessing the qualities of	erroneous, joyous
  -s, -es	plural	tables, foxes
  -y	characterized by	fatty, happy, jumpy

  • Word root: play
    • He play s football. (Here, the suffix "s" is added to the word root to ensure the verb fits grammatically.)
    • He play ed tennis. (The suffix "ed" forms the past tense.)
    • He had play ed badly. (The suffix "ed" forms a past participle.)
    • He skipped play fully. (The suffix "fully" forms an adverb.)
    • This game is not play able. (The suffix "able" forms an adjective.)

    Why Word Roots Are Important

    Here are four good reasons to care about word roots.

    (Reason 1) Use root words to increase your vocabulary.

    If you're learning English, you can quickly increase your vocabulary by learning some common word roots and the most common prefixes and suffixes.

    (Reason 2) Use your understanding of word roots and affixes to decode the meanings of long words.

    • Disrespectfully" breaks down to dis-respect-ful-ly. This gets you to something like "not-respect-full of-adverb," which would lead to something like "done in a manner that is full of no respect." And, that's a great starting point for decoding its meaning.)
    • lonelinesslessness (With three suffixes, this is the concept of no loneliness.)
    • semihemidemisemiquaver (With four prefixes, this a hundred twenty-eighth note.)

    (Reason 3) Use an affix to reduce your word count.

    • Not aware > unaware
    • Not sure > unsure
    • to bake cakes > baking cakes
    • a comparison of the data shows > comparing the data shows

    (Reason 4) Break down long words to help with spelling

    • Anti-dis-establ-ish-ment-arian-ism

    Key Points

    • Expand your vocabulary by the affixes and applying them to word roots.
    • Use an affix to create a new word that allows you to reduce your word count.
    • Identify the word root and any affixes in a word to help with spelling it and decoding its meaning.

    This page was written by Craig Shrives.