Match words with Greek and Latin roots to their meanings

Key Notes :

Introduction to Greek and Latin Roots

Many words we use every day come from Greek and Latin! These languages are like the ancestors of English. By learning common Greek and Latin roots, you can decode the meanings of many new and unfamiliar words.

A root is the basic part of a word that carries its main meaning. Prefixes and suffixes can be added to roots to change their meaning, but the root stays the same!

How to Match Words with Roots to Meanings

Follow these steps to match words with Greek or Latin roots to their meanings:

1. Identify the root: Look for the familiar root within the word.
2. Recall the root’s meaning: Remember what the root means.
3. Consider the context: Think about how the root’s meaning fits within the sentence or passage.
4. Match the word to the definition: Choose the definition that best incorporates the root’s meaning.

Common Roots and Examples

Root:bio Meaning: life

Examples: Biology: The study of life. Biography: A written account of a person’s life. Antibiotic: A medicine that fights against life-threatening bacteria.

Root: chrono Meaning: time

Examples: Chronological: Arranged in order of time. Chronometer: An instrument for measuring time. Synchronize: To occur at the same time

Root:graph Meaning: write

Examples: Graph: A visual representation of data (written with lines or bars). Autograph: A person’s signature (written by themselves). Paragraph: A section of writing.

Root: meter Meaning: measure

Examples: Thermometer: An instrument to measure temperature. Kilometer: A unit to measure distance (1000 meters). Symmetry: Having balanced proportions (measurable balance).

Practice Exercises

Match the following words with their meanings. Use your knowledge of the roots ‘bio’, ‘chrono’, ‘graph’, and ‘meter’ to help you!

Words:

1. Biography
2. Chronology
3. Telegraph
4. Geometry
5. Microbe

Meanings:

A. The branch of mathematics concerned with the properties and relations of points, lines, surfaces, solids, and higher dimensional analogs.
B. A tiny living thing.
C. A sequence of events in the order they occurred.
D. A written account of someone’s life.
E. An outdated system of sending coded messages by wire.

Answer Key:

1. D
2. C
3. E
4. A
5. B

Next Steps

Keep practicing with new words! Look for roots in your reading. The more you practice, the easier it will become to understand new words. Try finding other Greek and Latin roots and their meanings to expand your vocabulary!

let’s practice!