Use the meanings of words as clues to the meanings of Greek and Latin roots

Key Notes :

Understanding Roots:

We’ll learn how to use the meanings of words we already know to figure out the meanings of Greek and Latin roots. These roots are like building blocks that make up tons of words. Once you know a root, you can understand many new words!

What are Roots?

Think of roots like the trunk of a tree. The trunk is the main part, and the branches and leaves grow from it. Word roots are the main part of a word, and prefixes and suffixes can be added to them.

Greek and Latin – Why are they Important?

Many words in English come from Greek and Latin. Learning about these roots will help you understand and remember new vocabulary more easily! You’ll be amazed at how many words share the same root.

Using Context Clues!

Sometimes, the sentence a word is in can give you clues about its meaning. This is called using context clues. We can use these clues, along with our knowledge of roots, to unlock even more words!

Let’s Explore Some Roots!

Root:Photo(Greek) Meaning: Light

Words: Photograph: A picture made using light. Photosynthesis: The process plants use to make food using light. Photocopy: A copy of a document made using light. Clue: Think about what all these words have in common. They all have something to do with light!

Root: Tele(Greek) Meaning: Far, distant

Words: Telephone: A device to talk to someone far away. Television: A device to see images from far away. Teleport: To move instantly over a long distance (like in science fiction!). Clue: These words all have something to do with distance!

Root: Spect(Latin) Meaning: To see, look at

Words: Spectacles: Eyeglasses (to help you see). Spectator: Someone who watches an event. Inspect: To look at something carefully. Clue: Think about what all these words have in common. They all involve seeing or looking!

Root:Port(Latin) Meaning: To carry

Words: Transport: To carry something from one place to another. Portable: Able to be easily carried. Export: To carry goods out of a country. Clue: These words all have something to do with carrying something somewhere!

Putting it All Together!

When you see a new word, try to break it down! Look for familiar roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Use context clues from the sentence. Even if you don’t know the exact meaning, you can often get a good idea of what the word means.

For example, let’s say you see the word “televise.” You know tele means ‘far’ and you might guess that ‘-vise’ has something to do with showing (like vision). So, you might guess that ‘televise’ means to show something far away on television. Pretty cool, right?

• Practice, practice, practice! The more you work with roots, the easier it will become.
• Keep a root journal: Write down new roots you learn and words that use them.
• Read, read, read! Pay attention to the words you read and try to break them down.
• Have fun! Learning about roots can be like solving a puzzle.

let’s practice!