Prefixes and

Root Words

Ms. Jordan’s Reading Class 

English contains many words adopted from other languages. In fact, experts estimate 80% of English words originated elsewhere. The biggest influence on the English vocabulary is Latin.

Even though Latin is called a “dead language,” it still lives within the English language.

Are you paying attention? Which language has the biggest influence on

English?

33%

33%

33% 1. French2. Latin3. Spanish

Knowing the meaning of prefixes and root words helps you to understand words you’ve never seen before.

Take, for example, the word:

hydrophobia

Let’s say you’ve never seen nor heard it before.

If you know that “hydro-” means “water”

and “phobia” means “fear of,” you instantly know the meaning of the word.

A couple more ….

1. “pre-” means “before” and “dict” means “to say.” Put them together for the word “predict” which means to say something beforehand.

Now let’s learn some prefixes and roots.

ambi- means bothExamples:Ambidextrous – the

ability to write with both hands.

Ambiguous – having more than one meaning.

astro- means star

Examples:Astronaut – a person

trained for a space flight.Astronomy – the study of

celestial bodies.Astrology – the study of

horoscopes.

aud- means to hearExamples:Audio – sound.Auditorium – theatre

with acoustics for sound.

Auditory – have to doing with hearing.

com/con- means together

Examples:Combine – placing two

or more things together.

Also… • Connect• Congregation

chron- means time

Examples:Chronological – arranged

in order of time.Chronic – continuing for

a long time.Chronicle – a historical

report.

cide or cis- to cut or to kill

Examples:Incision – a cut or gash.Homicide – the killing of

one human by another.Suicide – the deliberate

killing of oneself.Genocide – race murder.

circum- means around

Examples:Circumference – the outer

boundary of a circular area.Circumstances – continuing for

a long time.Circumnavigate – to go, fly, or

said around.

dyn/dyna- means power

Examples:Dynasty – rulers from the

same family.Dynamic – a force in motion.Dynomite – an explosive

device.

equi- means equal

Examples:Equity – fairness.Equator – circling the Earth’s

surface with equal distance from North & South Poles.

Equilateral – having all sides equal.

Examples:Hyperbole – an over

exaggeration.Hyperactive – overly active. Hypersensitive – overly

sensitive.

hyper- means over or above

Examples:Hypodermic – under the skin.Hypothermia – under normal

body temperature.

hypo- means under

Examples: Malevolent – evil. Malpractice – bad medical work.“Maleficent” – the evil queen in

Sleeping Beauty.

mal- means bad or evil

Examples:• Microscope• Microwave• Microchip

micro- means small

Examples: Misuse – the wrong use of something. Mistake – something wrong occurred. Misunderstand – the wrong

understanding of something.

mis- means wrong

Examples: Omnipresent – means always

present.Omnipotent – means all-powerful.Omnivore – means eats all food

types.

omni- means all or everywhere

Examples: Polygamy – marriage to more

than one person.Polytheism – a belief in more

than one god.Polygon – a figure with many

sides.

poly- means many

Examples: Prefix – word part that

comes before the word.Preamble – an introduction.Preview – to see

beforehand.

pre- means before

Examples:Postpone – reschedule

for later.Postscript – (P.S.) after

writing.

post- means after

Examples:Protagonist – must move

forward through conflict.Prominent – leading, standing

out.Proceed – to move forward.

pro- means forward

Examples:• Unable• Unbearable• Unstable• Unhappy• Unmistakable

un- means not

Now it’s time to study and memorize them!