Root Words

 

The root is the main part of a word that carries its core meaning. They often cannot stand alone and need prefixes (added to the beginning) or suffixes (added to the end) to form complete words. 

Did You Know: Most of our root words in English came from the Greek and Latin languages.

 

Circle the Root Words

Instructions: Look at each group of words. Find and circle the root word in each set.

1. Jumping, Jumper, Jump

2. Reading, Reader, Read

3. Happily, Happy, Happiness

4. Running, Run, Runner

5. Singer, Singing, Sing

6. Helpful, Help, Helpless

7. Writing, Written, Write

8. Cleaner, Cleaning, Clean

9. Playful, Playing, Play

10. Teacher, Teach, Teaching

 

Create new words by adding prefixes & suffixes to root words

All the words below are roots; find a prefix (at the beginning) or a suffix (at the end) to create new words.

Prefixes: 

Adding Meaning at the Beginning

It is called a prefix, which is a type of affix placed at the beginning of a word. Here are some examples:

Example:

Root word: Happy

• • With Prefix: Unhappy

  • With Suffix: Happiness

Suffixes: 

Adding Meaning at the End

This type of affix is added at the end of words, like a finishing touch. Here are some examples:

 

Now Try These:

1. Kind → ________ (Add a prefix)

2. Play → ________ (Add a suffix)

3. Clean → ________ (Add a prefix)

4. Teach → ________ (Add a suffix)

5. Like → ________ (Add a prefix)

6. Move → ________ (Add a suffix)

7. Correct → ________ (Add a prefix)

8. Help → ________ (Add a suffix)

9. Write → ________ (Add a prefix)

10. Use → ________ (Add a suffix)

 

Common Latin Root Words and Their Meanings

1. Patho - (Greek origin, but commonly used in Latin-based vocabulary)

   • Empathy – The ability to understand and share the feelings of others.

   • Sympathy – Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else’s misfortune.

   • Neuropathy – Disease or dysfunction of the nerves.

   • Pathology – The study of diseases.

   • Psychopath – A person suffering from a severe mental disorder that affects behavior.

   • Sociopath – A person with a personality disorder marked by antisocial behavior.

• Meaning: Pain, suffering, or disease.

• Look for: path-, pathy-

2. Tenere - (Latin: "tenere" = to hold, keep, stretch)

   • Tenacity – The quality of being persistent and determined.

   • Contend – To compete or struggle against something.

   • Intend – To have a purpose or plan in mind.

   • Tenure – The period during which someone holds a position.

   • Retain – To keep possession of something.

   • Sustain – To support or uphold over time.

   • Detain – To hold back or keep someone in custody.

• Meaning: To hold, maintain, or stretch.

• Look for: ten-, tain-, tin-

3. Poly - (Greek origin, but used in Latin vocabulary)

   • Polymer – A substance made of many similar units bonded together.

   • Polygon – A shape with multiple sides.

   • Deplete – To use up resources, making them scarce.

   • Accomplish – To complete or fulfill something.

   • Plethora – An abundance or excess of something.

   • Supplement – Something added to complete or enhance.

   • Implement – To put something into action or apply.

   • Replication – The process of copying or duplicating.

• Meaning: Many, multiple, or to fill.

• Look for: pli-, ple-, poly-, plen-

Real-Life Examples

1. Aqua: An aquarium is a tank full of water for fish and other water animals.
   Root word: Aquarium

2. Bene: A benefactor is someone who does a benefit to someone else, generally with money for a good cause.
   Root word: Benefactor

3. Mal: Malfunction is when something is not working correctly, like a broken toy
   Root word: Malfunction

    

Practice Questions

1. What is the root word of happily?

2. Find the root word in player.

3. Add un- to the word kind. What new word do you get?

4. Add -ing to the word jump.

 

Fun Facts

Things You Have Learned!

• Root words are the key foundational elements of language..

• Identifying roots helps with strong vocabulary and understanding.

• English is a borrowing language: Most modern-day words can be traced back to Latin or Greek origins with prefixes and suffixes, which make them easier to understand when you break them down.