Latin Roots
* -aud-, -audit- (to hear): audio, audition, auditory
* -bene- (well, good): benefit, benevolent, benefactor
* -bio- (life): biology, biography, biosphere
* -chron- (time): chronic, chronicle, synchronize
* -dict- (to say, to speak): predict, dictation, contradict
* -graph- (to write): autograph, graphic, biography
* -ject- (to throw): inject, eject, project
* -mit-, -miss- (to send): transmit, emit, dismiss
* -path- (feeling, suffering): sympathy, empathy, pathos
* -phon- (sound): phone, symphony, microphone
* -scrib-, -script- (to write): subscribe, manuscript, inscription
* -spect- (to look): inspect, prospect, retrospect
* -vert-, -vers- (to turn): convert, revert, diversity
Greek Roots
* -arch- (rule, chief): monarchy, archive, architect
* -cosm- (universe, order): cosmos, microcosm, cosmopolitan
* -derm- (skin): epidermis, dermatology, hypodermic
* -geo- (earth): geology, geography, geophysics
* -graph- (to write): autograph, telegraph, biography
* -hydr- (water): dehydrate, hydroelectric, hydrant
* -log- (word, study): biology, prologue, dialogue
* -meter- (measure): thermometer, speedometer, perimeter
* -morph- (shape, form): metamorphosis, morphology, amorphous
* -path- (feeling, suffering): empathy, pathos, sympathy
* -phil- (love): philosophy, philanthropy, bibliophile
* -phob- (fear): claustrophobia, agoraphobia, hydrophobia
* -psych- (mind, soul): psychology, psychic, psychiatrist
Other Roots
* -ceive-, -cept- (to take): receive, perceive, concept
* -fac-, -fect- (to make, to do): manufacture, perfect, affect
* -port- (to carry): import, export, transport
* -rupt- (to break): interrupt, corrupt, disrupt
Remember:
* Root words can be combined with prefixes (at the beginning) and suffixes (at the end) to create new words.
* The meaning of a root word is usually the core meaning of a word.
Understanding root words can greatly improve your vocabulary and make learning new words easier.