Many weeks, I teach two to four roots, prefixes, or suffixes from Latin or Greek. Students and I identify English words that include those roots, prefixes, or suffixes. In our classroom, the Latin roots are always identified in red and the Greek in green. The record of what we learn is on this web page.
Week of May 17--
peri = around, about. English words include perimeter, periscope, periodontist, pericardium, periphery. This prefix is not the same as the Greek prefix para as in paralegal, paramedic, paragraph, parallel, paralysis, or parameter. Para means alongside or beyond. We may study this one later.
Week of May 10--
lex, leg = law. English words include legal, illegal, legislature.
mar = sea. English words include marine, marina, mariner, maritime.
super = over, above. English words include superb, superimpose, superintendent, superior, supervisor.
Week of May 3--
prim = first. English words include prime, primary, primate, primer, primer, primarily, primordial, primitive.
fess = declare, acknowledge. English words include profess, profession, confess, confession.
pro = forward, for [on behalf of]. English words include profess, progress, pronoun, professional.
Week of April 26--
mem = memory. English words include memory, memorial, memorialize, memo, memoir, remember, commemorate.
per = through. English words include perspiration, percussion, perspective, percolate.
num = number. English words include number, numeral, innumerable, enumerate, numerator
mille = thousand. English words include mile (1000 paces; a pace is two steps), millennium, millipede, milligram, milliliter, millimeter, million.
Week of April 19--
duc, duct = lead. English words include duct, induction, deduction, conduct, introduction.
liter = letter. English words include literature, literary, literate, literacy, literally.
equi = equal. English words include equal, equivalent, equalize, equation, equator, equatorial, equate.
Week of March 22--
simil, simul = like, resembling. English words include similar, similarity, simile, facsimile, simulation,simulator, simultaneous.
pax, pacis = peace. English words include Pacific, pacify, pact, peace.
sec, sequ = to follow. English words include sequence, second, sequel, consequence, subsequently, consecutive.
typ = mark or indentation. English words include type, typical.
Week of March 15--
scribe, script = write. English words include describe, description, scribe, inscribe, inscription, Scripture, subscript, superscript.
dorm = sleep. English words include dormitory, dormant.
vit = life. English words include vitamin, vital, vitality.
dict = say. English words include dictate, dictionary, diction.
cur = run. English words include curriculum, cursor, cursive, occur, recur.
phobia = fear. English words include hydrophobia, arachnophobia, clautrophobia.
pan = all. English words incllude Pangea, pan-American, pandemic.
Week of March 8--
circ, circum = around. English words include circle, circus, circumference, circumstances.
rupt = break or burst. English words include erupt, disrupt, interrupt, rupture.
form = to shape or form. English words include form, transform, formation, information.
vid, vis = see. English words include video, visible, vision, invisible.
dia = through. (This is a Greek prefix, not root.) English words include diagram, diameter, diagonal.
Week of March 1--
bene = well. English words include benediction, Benedict, benefit, beneficial, benevolent, benefactor.
nox, noct = night. English words include equinox, nocturnal.
anni, annu, enni = year. English words include annual, annually, anniversary, centennial, biennial, quadrennial, anno Domini (A.D.)
mega = large. English words include megabyte, megaphone, megalodon,
Week of February 22--
cred = belief. English words include incredible, credible, creed, credit.
stru, struct = build. English words include structure, instruct, destruction, construction, deconstruct.
sci = know. English words include science, scientist, conscience, omniscient, conscious, unconscious, consciencious.
medi =middle. English words include medium, median, mediate, Mediterranean
therm = heat. English words include thermal, Thermos, thermometer.
tele = distant. English words include telephone, telegraph, telegram, television, telescope.
Week of February 16--
nat = birth, born. English words include natural, native, nation, innate.
grad, gress = step. English words include graduate, progress, regress, gradual.
pon, pos = put or place. English words include compose, opponent, postpone, deposit, preposition.
post = after. English words include postpone, post script (p.s.).
Week of January 11
homo = same. English words include homograph, homophone, homonym.
Note that the Latin word homo means man [humanity, not a male person] as in Homo sapiens. The word human comes from the Latin word homo, which means man (as in people).
photo = light. English words include photograph, photosynthesis.
phone = sound. English words include telephone, phonograms, phonograph, megaphone, phonics.
auto = self. English words include automobile, automatic, autobiography.
graph = writing. English words include graphic, photograph, paragraph, autograph, telegraph, biography, autobiography, geography.
bio = life. English words include biography, biology, autobiography.
Week of December 7
flex, flect = bend. English words include deflect, reflect, flection, reflection, flexible
liber = free. English words include liberty, library, liberation.
cent = 100. English words include centimeter, cent, century, percent.
ped = foot. English words include pedestrian, pedestal, pedicure.
tract = pull or drag. English words include tractor, subtract, distract, traction.
quad = four. English words include quadriplegic, quadrilateral, quadrangle.
dem = people. English words include democracy, demographics, pandemic.
Week of October 26
ex, eco = outside, out. English words include exoskeleton, exit, Exodus.
endo = inside, within. English words include endoderm, endoskeleton.
derm = skin. English words include dermatologist, dermatitis, endoderm, epidermis.
Week of October 12
semptem = seven. English words include September, septuagenarian
octo = eight. English words include October, octopus
novem = nine. English words include November, novena
decem = ten. English words include December
terra = land, Earth. English words include terrarium, Mediterranean, terrain
meter = measure. English words include meter, metric, centimeter, millimeter, thermometer, barometer
scope = watch, see. English words include microscope, telescope, stethoscope
Week of October 5
helio = sun. English words include heliocentric, heliotrope, heliophobia, helioscope
geo = land, Earth. English words include geography, geology, geocentric
micro = small. English words include micrometer, microscope, microwave, microchip, michophone
hydro = water. English words include hydroplane, hydrate, dehydrated, hydrophobia, hydroelectricity, hydraulics
pol, polis = city. English words include Indianapolis, Annapolis, Minneapolis, politics, metropolitan
spect = look at. English words include inspect, spectator, spectacles, respect
port = carry. English words include import, export, portable, important, airport, seaport, Portland