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

Root	Meaning	Example Word	Clue from Word
aqua	water	aquarium	A place with water and fish
bio	life	biology	The study of life
photo	light	photograph	A picture made using light
tele	far	telephone	A device to hear sound from far away
graph	write	autograph	A person’s own handwriting
geo	earth	geography	The study of Earth’s features
therm	heat	thermometer	Measures temperature
aud	hear	audible	Something you can hear
port	carry	transport	To carry across places
scrib	write	describe	To write or say what something looks like
dict	speak	predict	To say what might happen
vis	see	invisible	Cannot be seen
bene	good	benefit	A good result or reward
chrono	time	chronological	In time order
rupt	break	erupt	To break out suddenly
meter	measure	centimeter	A measurement unit
man	hand	manual	Done by hand
phon	sound	symphony	Many sounds together
struct	build	construct	To build something
vid	see	video	Something you watch
astro	star	astronaut	A person who travels among stars
form	shape	reform	To shape again or change
ject	throw	reject	To throw away
mater	mother	maternal	Related to a mother
mort	death	mortal	Can die
multi	many	multicolor	Having many colors
ped	foot	pedal	A lever pushed by foot
scope	see	telescope	A tool to see faraway things
tract	pull, drag	tractor	A machine that pulls
spec	look	inspect	To look at closely
log	word, study	dialog	A conversation using words
cred	believe	incredible	Hard to believe
cycle	circle	bicycle	Has two wheels (circles)
dem	people	democracy	Government by the people
hydro	water	hydrate	Add water to something
path	feeling	sympathy	Feeling sad for someone
phil	love	philosophy	Love of wisdom
terra	earth	terrain	A type of land or earth surface
vid/vis	see	vision	Ability to see
voc	voice	vocal	Using the voice
semi	half	semicircle	Half a circle
cent	hundred	century	One hundred years
uni	one	unicorn	One-horned creature
tri	three	triangle	A shape with three sides
quad	four	quadrilateral	A shape with four sides
oct	eight	octopus	Sea creature with eight arms
sub	under	subway	Underground train
auto	self	autograph	Writing one’s own name
anti	against	antibiotic	Fights against bacteria
circ	around	circle	Round shape
mal	bad	malnutrition	Bad or poor nutrition
lum	light	illuminate	To light up
mis	wrong	misunderstand	To get something wrong
nav	ship	navy	Group of warships
form	shape	deform	To spoil the shape
rupt	break	rupture	A break or tear
tempo	time	temporary	Lasts for a short time
vid	see	evident	Easy to see
voc	call, voice	vocation	A calling or job
lun	moon	lunar	Related to the moon
fin	end	finish	To bring to an end
cap	head	captain	Leader, head of a group
corp	body	corporation	A business body
fract	break	fracture	A broken bone
liber	free	liberty	Freedom
med	middle	medium	In the middle
max	greatest	maximum	The greatest amount
min	small	minimum	The smallest amount
opt	best	optimal	Best or ideal condition
pel	drive	propel	To drive forward
rect	straight	correct	To make straight or right
scrib/script	write	manuscript	A written document
sect	cut	dissect	To cut apart
sens	feel	sensitive	Easily feels things
spir	breathe	inspire	To breathe into or motivate
tact	touch	contact	To touch or connect
ten	hold	contain	To hold something inside
urb	city	urban	Related to a city
ven	come	adventure	A journey one comes into
vid/vis	see	supervise	To oversee
voc/vok	call	evoke	To call forth
vol	will	volunteer	One who offers by own will
ann/enn	year	annual	Happens once a year
biblio	book	bibliography	List of books
cide	kill	pesticide	A substance that kills pests
clud	close	include	To close in or add
dom	home	domestic	Related to the home
duc	lead	conduct	To lead or guide
fer	carry	transfer	To carry across
flect	bend	reflect	To bend light back
grad	step	graduate	To move up a step
jur	law	jury	A group deciding by law
lumen	light	luminous	Full of light
magn	great	magnificent	Very great or grand
mut	change	mutate	To change
omni	all	omnivore	Eats all kinds of food
pac	peace	pacify	To make peaceful
quer	ask	question	To ask something