Etymology Index

Master the building blocks of language. Understanding these roots will help you decode the spelling of thousands of complex words.

Greek Roots

Greek Origin

acr

height, tip

Examples

acralacrogeriaacropachyacrostic

Greek Origin

aer

air

Examples

aerobicsaeroceleaerophilatelic

Greek Origin

allo

other

Examples

parallaxallochroousallonym

Greek Origin

ana

up, back

Examples

anabathmoianabolicanachronismanaglyphy

Greek Origin

apo

away from, off, separate

Examples

apocryphalapologyapophyge

Greek Origin

cata

down, against

Examples

catachresiscatadromouscatalepsy

Greek Origin

chrom

color

Examples

monochromeachromatic

Greek Origin

derm

skin

Examples

epidermisechinoderm

Greek Origin

dia/di

through, across, apart

Examples

diacriticdiademdialect

Greek Origin

dys

bad, abnormal

Examples

dysgraphiadyspepticdysphasia

Greek Origin

epi

upon, on, over

Examples

epideicticepidermisepidural

Greek Origin

eu

good

Examples

eucalyptuseucrasiaeudiometer

Greek Origin

glyph

carve

Examples

anaglyphyxyloglyphy

Greek Origin

gnos

knowledge

Examples

telegnosisanosognosiaagnostic

Greek Origin

graph

write

Examples

demographicsdysgraphiahagiographer

Latin Roots

Latin Origin

ante

before

Examples

anteantenatus

Latin Origin

anti

against, opposite

Examples

antipathyantiquarianantithesis

Latin Origin

cumb

to lie down

Examples

recumbentsuccumb

Latin Origin

contra

against

Examples

contrappostocontradictory

Latin Origin

dis

apart, not

Examples

discombobulatediscountenancediscreetly

Latin Origin

duc

to lead

Examples

inducementtransducer

Latin Origin

flor

flower, bloom

Examples

floribundafloruit

Latin Origin

loq

to speak

Examples

grandiloquencesomniloquyloquitur

Latin Origin

man

hand

Examples

manaclemanuscript

Latin Origin

mater/matr

mother

Examples

maternityalma mater

Latin Origin

noct

night

Examples

nocturnalnoctambulist

Latin Origin

omni

all

Examples

omnilegentomniscient

Latin Origin

ped

foot

Examples

pinnipedanomaliped