Greek Alphabet and Roots

Greek Alphabet• Alpha• Beta• Gamma• Delta• Epsilon• Zeta• Eta• Theta• Iota• Kappa• Lambda• Mu

• Nu• Xi• Omicron• Pi• Rho• Sigma• Tau• Upsilon• Phi• Chi• Psi• Omega

Astron: star

• Astronomer: one who names the star

• Astronaut: star sailor

Autos: self

• Autograph: writing the name of oneself

• Automobile: self moving• Automatic: a machine

that seems to think for itself

Biblios: of Books

• Bibliography: a list of books on a particular subject

• Bibliomania: craziness about books

Bio: Life• Biology: study of life• Autobiography: written life

story of one’s self• Antibiotic: against living forms

which invade the body

Chronos: Time

• Synchronize: do at the same time• Chronology: relate events in time

sequence

Crypto: Hide

• Cryptogram: a message whose meaning is hidden

• Cryptograph: a system of secret writing

Demos: People

• Democracy: people power• Demography: draw charts of

information about people

Geo: Earth

• Geography: draw the earth and write about it

• Geometry: branch of study on ways to measure the earth

• Geology: study of the earth and its formations

Graph: Write

• Telegraph: writing from far away• Graphite: black carbon used for drawing or writing

Hydros: Water

• Hydrogen: a gas which, when burned, produces water• Hydroplane: a boat that glides on the surface of the

water• Dehydrate: to take water away

Hypnos: Sleep

• Hypnosis: sleep-like state• Hypnos: god of sleep in Greek

mythology

Lithos: Stone

• Lithograph: picture drawn on stone

• Monolith: lone stone

Logos: study • Zoology: study of animals• Psychology: study of the mind

Mania: madness

• Pyromania: a compulsion to set things on fire

• Kleptomania: an irresistible impulse to steal

Megas: large, powerful

• Megalomania: crazy person with delusions of greatness

• Megaphone: device for making a sound larger

Metron: Measure

• Optometry: measure eyesight• Diameter: measuring across• Meter: unit of measure

Mikros: small

• Microphone: device for transmitting a small sound over distance

• Microwave: tiny electromagnetic wave between 1 and 100 centimeters long

• Microscope: instrument for looking at tiny things

Mono: one, alone

• Monocle: an eyeglass for one eye• Monochrome: a painting or

drawing in a single color• Monogram: two or more letters

interwoven into one

Pathos: suffering, disease

• Pathetic: marked by suffering or sorrow

• Apathy: lack of feeling• Sympathy: to feel what another

feels

Phobos: fear, dread

• Phobia: irrational fear• Claustrophobia: fear of

enclosed or confined places• Acrophobia: fear of high

places

Tele: far, far off

• Television: seeing distant things

• Telepathy: knowing how someone far away is feeling

Thermo: heat

• Thermal: relating to heat• Thermometer: device for

measuring heat