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
(?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 acupuncture, acute, "to sharpen", from acus "needle" 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
(ar) "air"
aeronautics, aerosol
aesthet-
feeling, sensation
Greek
aisthtikos "of sense perception" from (aisthanesthai) "to perceive"
aesthetics, anaesthetic
agr-
field
Greek
(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 amre "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
(amphi) "on both sides"
amphibian, amphibolic, amphoterism
ampl-
ample, abundant, bountiful
Latin
amplus
amplification
an-, a-
not, without
Greek
Greek -/- "not"
anhydrous, atypical
ana-, an-
again, against, back, up
Greek
(ana) "again", "against"
anabaptist, anaphylaxis, anion, anode
andr-
male, masculine
Greek
andros
androgen, android
List of Greek and Latin roots in English
2
anemanimann-, -enn-
wind breath year, yearly
Greek Latin Latin
ant-, anti-
against, opposed to, preventive
Greek
ante-, anti-
before, in front of, prior to
Latin
anthanthrop-
flower human
Greek Greek
ap-, apo-
away from, separate, at the farthest point
Greek
aqu-
water
Latin
arararche-, archi-
plow, till be dry ruler
Latin Latin Greek
archae-, arche- ancient
Greek
arct-
argentaristarthrastr-
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
silver
Latin
excellence
Greek
joint
Greek
star, star-shaped
Greek
athlaudi-
prize hearing, listening, sound
Greek Latin
aug-, auctaurauriaut-, auto-
grow, increase relating to gold, or gold-colored relating to the ear self; directed from within
Latin Latin Latin Greek
aviaxiaxio-
bird axis merit
Latin Latin Greek
anemos
anemometer
anima "breath"
animal, animation
annus "year"
anniversary, annual, biannual, millennium
anti "against"
antagonist, antibiotic, antipodes
ante "before", "against"
antebellum, antediluvian, anticipate, antiquarian
(anthos) "flower"
anther, anthology
(anthropos) "man"
anthropology, anthropomorphic
(apo) "from, away, un-, quite"
apocrine, apogee, apostasy
aqua
aquamarine, aquarium, aqueduct, aquifer
rre
arable
rre "be dry or parched"
arid
(arch) "rule" (in compounds: -, -)
archangel, archetype
arkhaios "ancient" from archaeology or archeology,
arkh "beginning"
archaic
arktos "bear"
Arctic Ocean
argentum , aret, aristos (arthron) (astron) "star"
(athlos) "contest, feat" audire "to hear"
augre, auctus "to increase" aurum "gold" auris "ear" (autos) "self", "same"
avis axis (axios) "worth"
argent, Argentina aristocracy arthritis, arthropod asterisk, astrology, astronomy, disaster athlete, pentathlon audible, auditorium, auditory augend, augmentation aureate, aureole auricle autograph, automobile, autonomy aviary, aviation axisymmetry axiology
List of Greek and Latin roots in English
3
B
Root bacbarbasi-
bathy-, bathobe-, beatbellbenbibibbiblbio-
blennblast-
bonbor-
botan-
bovbrachibrachybradybranchibrev(i)brizbrom-
brom-
bronchbrontbuccbulbbullburs-
Meaning in English rod-shaped weight, pressure at the bottom
deep, depth
Origin language
Etymology (root origin)
English examples
Latin
from baculum "rod"
bacilla, bacteria
Greek
(baros)
barograph, barometer
Greek
from , I walk, march, basic, basis "step"
Greek
(bath?s, bath?s)
batholith, bathyscaphe
bless war good, well two drink book life
Latin Latin Latin Latin Latin Greek Greek
slime
Greek
germ, embryo, bud, cell with Greek nucleus
good
Latin
north
Greek / Latin (boreas)
plant
Greek
cow, ox arm short slow gill brief, short (time) nod, slumber oats
Latin Greek Greek Greek Greek Latin Greek Greek
stench
Greek
windpipe thunder cheek, mouth, cavity bulbous bubble, flask pouch, purse
Greek Greek Latin Latin Latin Latin
beare, beatus
beatification
bellum, belli
antebellum, bellicose, belligerent
bene (adverb)
benefit, benignity
bis, "twice"; bini, "in twos"
binary, binoculars, bigamy, biscotti
bibere, bibitus
imbibe
(bibl?on) "book"
bible, bibliography
(b?os) "life"
biography, biology, biologist, biosphere, bioluminescent
(blennos)
blennophobia, blennosperma
(blastain), "I put forth shoots"
blastula, fibroblast, osteoblast, sideroblast
bonus
bonify, bonitary
Greek (borras) "the north borealis wind"
, (botan, botanon)
botany
bos, bovis
bovine
(brakh?n)
brachial artery, brachiosaurus
(brakh?s, brakh?s)
brachydactyly
(brad?s, brad?s)
bradycardia
(br?gkhion, br?nkhion) branchiopod, nudibranch
brevis, breviare
abbreviation, brevity
(briz)
, (br?mos, br?me) Bromus ramosus "oats"
(br?mos) "stench, clangor"
bromide
(br?gkhos, br?nkhos) bronchitis, bronchus, bronchiole
(bront)
Brontosaurus
bucca
buccal, buccinator muscle
bulbus
bulbous, bulbule
bulla, "bubble"
ebullient, ebullism
bursa
bursa, bursar, bursary, disburse
List of Greek and Latin roots in English
4
C
Root
Meaning in English
cac-
bad
cad-, -cid-, cas- fall
caed-, -cid-, caes-, cut -cis-
calc-
stone
call-, calli-
beautiful
calor-
heat
calyp-
cover
camer-
vault
camp-
field
can-
dog
can-, -cin-, cant- sing
cand-
glowing, iridescent
cap-, -cip-, capt-, hold, take -cept-
capit-, -cipit-
head
capr-
goat
caps-
box, case
carbo-
coal
carcer-
jail
carcin-
cancer (disease)
cardicardincarncarpcarpcastcata-, cat-
relating to the heart hinge flesh relating to fruit relating to the wrist pure down
catencatharcaudcaus-, -cuscavced-, cess-
chain pure tail cause or motive hollow go
Origin language
Etymology (root origin)
Greek
(kakos)
Latin
cadere, casus
Latin
caedere, caesus
Latin and Greek Greek Latin Greek Latin Latin Latin Latin Latin
from Latin calx "lime", and from Greek (khalix) "pebble" "limestone" from Greek kallos "beauty" calor "heat" (kaluptein) camera campus "field", "level ground" canis canere candere "to be white or glisten"
Latin
Latin Latin Latin Latin Latin Latin from Greek Greek Latin Latin Greek Greek Latin Greek
capere, captus "take or hold" (vowel changes from a to i in compounds) caput, capitis "head" caper, capri capsa carbo, carbonis carcer, carcerare Latin from Greek (karkinos) "crab" kardia "heart" cardo, cardinis caro, carnis (karpos) "fruit" (karpos) "wrist" from Latin castus "chaste" from Greek (kat?) "down"
Latin Greek Latin Latin Latin Latin
catena (katharos) cauda causa cavus "hollow" cedere, cessus
English examples
cacophony accident, cadence, case caesura, incisor
calcite, calcium, calculus
calligraphy calorie apocalypse bicameral, camera champion, campaign canine, Canis Major cantata, canto, cantor candela, candid, candle, candor, incandescent, incendiary, incense capture, captive, conception, recipient
capital, decapitation, precipitation Capricorn, caprine capsule carbon incarceration carcinogenic, carcinoma
cardiograph, cardiology cardinal carnal, carnival, carnivore carpology carpal, carpal tunnel syndrome caste, castigate, castrate catabolic, catalyst, catastrophe, catatonia, cathode, cation catenary, concatenation catharsis caudal causative cave, cavity, excavation procession, recede, secede
List of Greek and Latin roots in English
5
celercencencenscentcentencentesimcentrcephalceramceratcerncervic-
ceterchirchelonchlorchore-
quick new empty
hundred hundred each hundredth center head clay horn sift relating to the neck, relating to the cervix other of the hand or hands relating to a turtle green relating to dance
chord-
cord
chromchronchryscilicinecinercing-, cinctcirccircum-
color time gold eyelash motion ash gird circle around
cirrcirrcivcladclarclastclaud-, -clud-, claus-, -clus-
orange curl, tentacle citizen branch clear broken close
Latin Greek Greek Latin Latin Latin Latin Greek Greek Greek Greek Latin Latin
celer, celerare (kainos) (kenos) censere "to estimate" centum centeni centesimus (k?ntron) "needle", "spur" (kephale) (keramos) , (keras, keratos) "horn" cernere cervix, cervicis "neck"
acceleration, celerity Cenozoic cenotaph census cent, centennial, centurion centenary centesimal, centesimation eccentric cephalic, cephalopod, encephalogram ceramic keratin discern, secern cervix, cervical
Latin Greek Greek Greek Greek
Latin and Greek Greek Greek Greek Latin Greek Latin Latin Latin Latin
Greek Latin Latin Greek Latin Greek Latin
ceterus
et cetera
(kheir) "hand"
chiral, chiropractic, chiroptera
(khelne) "tortoise"
chelonia
(khlros) "green"
chlorine, chlorophyll, chloroplast
khoreia "dancing in unison" from choreography khoros "chorus"
chorda "rope" from (chord)
chordata
(chrma) "color" (chronos) (khrusos) "gold" cilium (kine) cinis, cineris cingere, cinctus circus circum
(kirros) cirrus civis (klados) clarus, clarare (klastos) claudere, clausus
chromium, chromosome, monochrome chronic, chronology, chronometer chrysolite cilia, supercilious cinema incineration succinct circus circumcise, circumference, circumlocution, circumnavigate cirrhosis cirrus civility clade clarity, declaration iconoclast, osteoclast clause, exclusion, include
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