List of Greek and Latin roots in English
List of Greek and Latin roots in English
1
List of Greek and Latin roots in English
The following is an alphabetical list of Greek and Latin roots, stems, and prefixes commonly used in English.
Some of those used in medicine and medical terminology are not listed here but instead in Wikipedia's List of
medical roots, suffixes and prefixes.
?
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
A
Root
Meaning in English
Origin
language
Etymology (root origin)
English examples
ab-, a-, abs-
away from
Latin
ab "away"
abnormal, abrasion, absent,
abstain, abstract, aversion
ac-
sharp or pointed
Latin
acere
acupuncture
acerb-
sharp, bitter, sour
Latin
acerbus
acerbic, exacerbate
acid-
sour or acid
Latin
acidus
acidosis
acr-
height, summit, tip
Greek
?¦Ê¦Ñ¦Ï? (¨¢kros) "high", "extreme"
acrobatics, acromegaly,
acronym, acrophobia
acr-
bitter, pungent, sharp, sour
Latin
acer, acris
acrid, acrimony
acu-
sharp
Latin
acutus, past participle of acuere
"to sharpen", from acus "needle"
acupuncture, acute,
acutifoliate
ad-, a-, ac-, af-,
ag-, al-, ap-, ar-,
as-, at-
movement to or toward; in addition to
Latin
ad "to", "toward"
accept, adapt, affect,
approximate, ascend
adip-
fat
Latin
adeps, adipis "fat"
adipose
aer-
air, atmosphere
Greek
??¦Ñ (a¨¥r) "air"
aeronautics, aerosol
aesthet-
feeling, sensation
Greek
aisth¨¥tikos "of sense perception"
from ¦Á?¦Ò¦È?¦Í¦Å¦Ò¦È¦Á¦É
(aisthanesthai) "to perceive"
aesthetics, anaesthetic
agr-
field
Greek
?¦Ã¦Ñ?? (agros) "field"
agronomy
agri-, -egri-
field
Latin
ager, agris "field, country"
agriculture, peregrine
alb-
dull white
Latin
albus
albedo, albino, albumen
am-, amat-,
amor-
love, loved
Latin
amor "love" from am¨¡re "to
love"
amateur, amorous
ambi-
both, on both sides
Latin
ambi "on both sides"
ambidexterity, ambivalent
amic-, -imic-
friend
Latin
amicus
amicable, inimical
amph-, amphi-
around, about, both, on both sides of, both kinds
Greek
?¦Ì¦Õ? (amphi) "on both sides"
amphibian, amphibolic,
amphoterism
ampl-
ample, abundant, bountiful
Latin
amplus
amplification
an-, a-
not, without
Greek
Greek ?¦Í-/?- "not"
anhydrous, atypical
ana-, an-
again, against, back, up
Greek
?¦Í? (ana) "again", "against"
anabaptist, anaphylaxis,
anion, anode
andr-
male, masculine
Greek
?¦Í¦Ä¦Ñ?? andros
androgen, android
List of Greek and Latin roots in English
2
anem-
wind
Greek
?¦Í¦Å¦Ì¦Ï? anemos
anemometer
anim-
breath
Latin
anima "breath"
animal, animation
ann-, -enn-
year, yearly
Latin
annus "year"
anniversary, annual,
biannual, millennium
ant-, anti-
against, opposed to, preventive
Greek
?¦Í¦Ó? anti "against"
antagonist, antibiotic,
antipodes
ante-, anti-
before, in front of, prior to
Latin
ante "before", "against"
antebellum, antediluvian,
anticipate, antiquarian
anth-
flower
Greek
?¦Í¦È¦Ï? (anthos) "flower"
anther, anthology
anthrop-
human
Greek
?¦Í¦È¦Ñ¦Ø¦Ð¦Ï? (anthropos) "man"
anthropology,
anthropomorphic
ap-, apo-
away from, separate, at the farthest point
Greek
?¦Ð? (apo) "from, away, un-,
quite"
apocrine, apogee, apostasy
aqu-
water
Latin
aqua
aquamarine, aquarium,
aqueduct, aquifer
ar-
plow, till
Latin
?r¨¡re
arable
ar-
be dry
Latin
¨¡r¨¥re "be dry or parched"
arid
arche-, archi-
ruler
Greek
?¦Ñ¦Ö? (arch¨¥) "rule" (in
compounds: ?¦Ñ¦Ö¦Å-, ?¦Ñ¦Ö¦É-)
archangel, archetype
archae-, arche-
ancient
Greek
?¦Ñ¦Ö¦Á?¦Ï? arkhaios "ancient" from archaeology or archeology,
arkh¨¥ "beginning"
archaic
arct-
Relating to the North Pole or the region near it;
relating to cold; used as the scientific name of
some bear species, e.g. Ursus arctos horribilis
Greek
?¦Ñ¦Ê¦Ó¦Ï? arktos "bear"
Arctic Ocean
argent-
silver
Latin
argentum
argent, Argentina
arist-
excellence
Greek
?¦Ñ¦Å¦Ó?, ?¦Ñ¦É¦Ò¦Ó¦Ï? aret¨¥, aristos
aristocracy
arthr-
joint
Greek
?¦Ñ¦È¦Ñ¦Ï¦Í (arthron)
arthritis, arthropod
astr-
star, star-shaped
Greek
?¦Ò¦Ó¦Ñ¦Ï¦Í (astron) "star"
asterisk, astrology,
astronomy, disaster
athl-
prize
Greek
?¦È¦Ë¦Ï? (athlos) "contest, feat"
athlete, pentathlon
audi-
hearing, listening, sound
Latin
audire "to hear"
audible, auditorium,
auditory
aug-, auct-
grow, increase
Latin
aug¨¥re, auctus "to increase"
augend, augmentation
aur-
relating to gold, or gold-colored
Latin
aurum "gold"
aureate, aureole
auri-
relating to the ear
Latin
auris "ear"
auricle
aut-, auto-
self; directed from within
Greek
¦Á?¦Ó?? (autos) "self", "same"
autograph, automobile,
autonomy
avi-
bird
Latin
avis
aviary, aviation
axi-
axis
Latin
axis
axisymmetry
axio-
merit
Greek
?¦Î¦É¦Ï? (axios) "worth"
axiology
List of Greek and Latin roots in English
3
B
Root
Meaning in English
Origin language
Etymology (root origin)
English examples
bac-
rod-shaped
Latin
from baculum "rod"
bacilla, bacteria
bar-
weight, pressure
Greek
¦Â?¦Ñ¦Ï? (baros)
barograph, barometer
basi-
at the bottom
Greek
from ¦Â¦Á?¦Í¦Ø, I walk, march, ¦Â?¦Ò¦É? basic, basis
"step"
bathy-,
batho-
deep, depth
Greek
¦Â¦Á¦È?? (bath¨²s, bath?s)
batholith, bathyscaphe
be-, beat-
bless
Latin
beare, beatus
beatification
bell-
war
Latin
bellum, belli
antebellum, bellicose, belligerent
ben-
good, well
Latin
bene (adverb)
benefit, benignity
bi-
two
Latin
bis, "twice"; bini, "in twos"
binary, binoculars, bigamy, biscotti
bib-
drink
Latin
bibere, bibitus
imbibe
bibl-
book
Greek
¦Â¦É¦Â¦Ë?¦Ï¦Í (bibl¨ªon) "book"
bible, bibliography
bio-
life
Greek
¦Â?¦Ï? (b¨ªos) "life"
biography, biology, biologist, biosphere,
bioluminescent
blenn-
slime
Greek
¦Â¦Ë?¦Í¦Í¦Ï? (blennos)
blennophobia, blennosperma
blast-
germ, embryo, bud, cell with
nucleus
Greek
¦Â¦Ë¦Á¦Ò¦Ó¦Á?¦Í¦Ø (blastain¨), "I put
forth shoots"
blastula, fibroblast, osteoblast, sideroblast
bon-
good
Latin
bonus
bonify, bonitary
bor-
north
Greek / Latin
(boreas)
Greek ¦Â¦Ï¦Ñ¦Ñ?? (borras) "the north borealis
wind"
botan-
plant
Greek
¦Â¦Ï¦Ó?¦Í¦Ç, ¦Â?¦Ó¦Á¦Í¦Ï¦Í (botan¨¥,
botanon)
botany
bov-
cow, ox
Latin
bos, bovis
bovine
brachi-
arm
Greek
¦Â¦Ñ¦Á¦Ö?¦Ø¦Í (brakh¨ª¨n)
brachial artery, brachiosaurus
brachy-
short
Greek
¦Â¦Ñ¦Á¦Ö?? (brakh¨²s, brakh?s)
brachydactyly
brady-
slow
Greek
¦Â¦Ñ¦Á¦Ä?? (brad¨²s, brad?s)
bradycardia
branchi-
gill
Greek
¦Â¦Ñ?¦Ã¦Ö¦É¦Ï¦Í (br¨¢gkhion, br¨¢nkhion)
branchiopod, nudibranch
brev(i)-
brief, short (time)
Latin
brevis, breviare
abbreviation, brevity
briz-
nod, slumber
Greek
¦Â¦Ñ?¦Æ¦Ø (briz¨)
brom-
oats
Greek
¦Â¦Ñ?¦Ì¦Ï?, ¦Â¦Ñ?¦Ì¦Ç (br¨®mos, br¨®me)
"oats"
Bromus ramosus
brom-
stench
Greek
¦Â¦Ñ?¦Ì¦Ï? (br¨®mos) "stench,
clangor"
bromide
bronch-
windpipe
Greek
¦Â¦Ñ?¦Ã¦Ö¦Ï? (br¨®gkhos, br¨®nkhos)
bronchitis, bronchus, bronchiole
bront-
thunder
Greek
¦Â¦Ñ¦Ï¦Í¦Ó? (bront¨¥)
Brontosaurus
bucc-
cheek, mouth, cavity
Latin
bucca
buccal, buccinator muscle
bulb-
bulbous
Latin
bulbus
bulbous, bulbule
bull-
bubble, flask
Latin
bulla, "bubble"
ebullient, ebullism
burs-
pouch, purse
Latin
bursa
bursa, bursar, bursary, disburse
List of Greek and Latin roots in English
4
C
Root
Meaning in English
Origin
language
Etymology (root origin)
English examples
cac-
bad
Greek
¦Ê¦Á¦Ê?? (kakos)
cacophony
cad-, -cid-, cas-
fall
Latin
cadere, casus
accident, cadence, case
caed-, -cid-, caes-, cut
-cis-
Latin
caedere, caesus
caesura, incisor
calc-
stone
Latin and
Greek
from Latin calx "lime", and from Greek
¦Ö?¦Ë¦É¦Î (khalix) "pebble" "limestone"
calcite, calcium, calculus
call-, calli-
beautiful
Greek
from Greek ¦Ê?¦Ë¦Ë¦Ï? kallos "beauty"
calligraphy
calor-
heat
Latin
calor "heat"
calorie
calyp-
cover
Greek
¦Ê¦Á¦Ë?¦Ð¦Ó¦Å¦É¦Í (kaluptein)
apocalypse
camer-
vault
Latin
camera
bicameral, camera
camp-
field
Latin
campus "field", "level ground"
champion, campaign
can-
dog
Latin
canis
canine, Canis Major
can-, -cin-, cant-
sing
Latin
canere
cantata, canto, cantor
cand-
glowing, iridescent
Latin
candere "to be white or glisten"
candela, candid, candle, candor,
incandescent, incendiary, incense
cap-, -cip-, capt-,
-cept-
hold, take
Latin
capere, captus "take or hold" (vowel
changes from a to i in compounds)
capture, captive, conception, recipient
capit-, -cipit-
head
Latin
caput, capitis "head"
capital, decapitation, precipitation
capr-
goat
Latin
caper, capri
Capricorn, caprine
caps-
box, case
Latin
capsa
capsule
carbo-
coal
Latin
carbo, carbonis
carbon
carcer-
jail
Latin
carcer, carcerare
incarceration
carcin-
cancer (disease)
Latin from
Greek
Latin from Greek ¦Ê¦Á¦Ñ¦Ê?¦Í¦Ï? (karkinos)
"crab"
carcinogenic, carcinoma
cardi-
relating to the heart
Greek
¦Ê¦Á¦Ñ¦Ä¦É? kardia "heart"
cardiograph, cardiology
cardin-
hinge
Latin
cardo, cardinis
cardinal
carn-
flesh
Latin
caro, carnis
carnal, carnival, carnivore
carp-
relating to fruit
Greek
¦Ê¦Á¦Ñ¦Ð?? (karpos) "fruit"
carpology
carp-
relating to the wrist
Greek
¦Ê¦Á¦Ñ¦Ð?? (karpos) "wrist"
carpal, carpal tunnel syndrome
cast-
pure
Latin
from Latin castus "chaste"
caste, castigate, castrate
cata-, cat-
down
Greek
from Greek ¦Ê¦Á¦Ó? (kat¨¢) "down"
catabolic, catalyst, catastrophe,
catatonia, cathode, cation
caten-
chain
Latin
catena
catenary, concatenation
cathar-
pure
Greek
¦Ê¦Á¦È¦Á¦Ñ?? (katharos)
catharsis
caud-
tail
Latin
cauda
caudal
caus-, -cus-
cause or motive
Latin
causa
causative
cav-
hollow
Latin
cavus "hollow"
cave, cavity, excavation
ced-, cess-
go
Latin
cedere, cessus
procession, recede, secede
List of Greek and Latin roots in English
5
celer-
quick
Latin
celer, celerare
acceleration, celerity
cen-
new
Greek
¦Ê¦Á¦É¦Í?? (kainos)
Cenozoic
cen-
empty
Greek
¦Ê¦Å¦Í?? (kenos)
cenotaph
Latin
censere "to estimate"
census
censcent-
hundred
Latin
centum
cent, centennial, centurion
centen-
hundred each
Latin
centeni
centenary
centesim-
hundredth
Latin
centesimus
centesimal, centesimation
centr-
center
Greek
¦Ê?¦Í¦Ó¦Ñ¦Ï¦Í (k¨¦ntron) "needle", "spur"
eccentric
cephal-
head
Greek
¦Ê¦Å¦Õ¦Á¦Ë? (kephale)
cephalic, cephalopod, encephalogram
ceram-
clay
Greek
¦Ê?¦Ñ¦Á¦Ì¦Ï? (keramos)
ceramic
cerat-
horn
Greek
¦Ê?¦Ñ¦Á?, ¦Ê?¦Ñ¦Á¦Ó¦Ï? (keras, keratos) "horn"
keratin
cern-
sift
Latin
cernere
discern, secern
cervic-
relating to the neck,
relating to the cervix
Latin
cervix, cervicis "neck"
cervix, cervical
ceter-
other
Latin
ceterus
et cetera
chir-
of the hand or hands
Greek
¦Ö¦Å?¦Ñ (kheir) "hand"
chiral, chiropractic, chiroptera
chelon-
relating to a turtle
Greek
¦Ö¦Å¦Ë?¦Í¦Ç (khel¨ne) "tortoise"
chelonia
chlor-
green
Greek
¦Ö¦Ë¦Ø¦Ñ?? (khl¨ros) "green"
chlorine, chlorophyll, chloroplast
chore-
relating to dance
Greek
¦Ö¦Ï¦Ñ¦Å?¦Á khoreia "dancing in unison" from
¦Ö¦Ï¦Ñ?? khoros "chorus"
choreography
chord-
cord
Latin and
Greek
chorda "rope" from ¦Ö¦Ï¦Ñ¦Ä? (chord¨¥)
chordata
chrom-
color
Greek
¦Ö¦Ñ?¦Ì¦Á (chr¨ma) "color"
chromium, chromosome, monochrome
chron-
time
Greek
¦Ö¦Ñ?¦Í¦Ï? (chronos)
chronic, chronology, chronometer
chrys-
gold
Greek
¦Ö¦Ñ¦Ô¦Ò?? (khrusos) "gold"
chrysolite
cili-
eyelash
Latin
cilium
cilia, supercilious
cine-
motion
Greek
¦Ê¦É¦Í?¦Ø (kine¨)
cinema
ciner-
ash
Latin
cinis, cineris
incineration
cing-, cinct-
gird
Latin
cingere, cinctus
succinct
circ-
circle
Latin
circus
circus
circum-
around
Latin
circum
circumcise, circumference,
circumlocution, circumnavigate
cirr-
orange
Greek
¦Ê¦É¦Ñ¦Ñ?? (kirros)
cirrhosis
cirr-
curl, tentacle
Latin
cirrus
cirrus
civ-
citizen
Latin
civis
civility
clad-
branch
Greek
¦Ê¦Ë?¦Ä¦Ï? (klados)
clade
clar-
clear
Latin
clarus, clarare
clarity, declaration
clast-
broken
Greek
¦Ê¦Ë¦Á¦Ò¦Ó?? (klastos)
iconoclast, osteoclast
claud-, -clud-,
claus-, -clus-
close
Latin
claudere, clausus
clause, exclusion, include
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