🌱 Word roots

487 roots, prefixes and suffixes.

• -able / -ible — able to be, capable of
• -age — collection, condition, or result of
• -al — relating to, characterized by
• -ance / -ence — state or quality of; act of
• -ant / -ent — one who; being, doing
• -arium / -orium — place for, container of
• -ary / -ory / -ery — relating to; a place or person connected with
• -ate — to make or act; having the quality of
• -cide — killer; act of killing
• -cle / -cule — small
• -cracy / -crat — rule by, government of
• -cy / -acy — state, quality, office
• -dom — state, realm, condition
• -ectomy — surgical removal
• -ee — person who receives an action
• -er / -or — one who does; agent
• -escent — becoming, beginning to be
• -esque — in the style of, resembling
• -ess — female (agent)
• -ette — small, little; female
• -ful — full of, characterized by
• -fy / -ify — to make, cause to become
• -graphy / -graph / -gram — writing, recording, description
• -hood — state, condition, group
• -ian / -an — person connected with; relating to
• -ic / -ical — relating to, characteristic of
• -ics — science, art, or field of study
• -ile / -il — able to, relating to, suited to
• -ine — of or like; relating to
• -ish — of the nature of; somewhat
• -ism — doctrine, practice, condition
• -ist — one who practices or believes
• -itis — inflammation of
• -itude / -tude — state or quality of
• -ity — state or quality of
• -ive — tending to, having the nature of
• -ize / -ise — to make, treat as, become
• -less — without, lacking
• -let — small version
• -ling — small, young; one connected with
• -logy / -logue — study of; speech, writing
• -ly — in the manner of; every
• -ment — result, means, or act of
• -meter / -metry — measure, instrument for measuring
• -mony — result, condition, or thing
• -ness — state or quality of
• -oid — resembling, shaped like
• -ology — science or study of
• -ose — full of, inclined to
• -osis — process, condition (often abnormal)
• -ous — full of, having
• -phile / -philia — lover of; fondness for
• -phobia / -phobe — fear or dislike of
• -scope / -scopy — instrument for viewing; viewing
• -ship — state, skill, relation, rank
• -some — characterized by, tending to
• -tion / -sion — act, state, or result of
• -ure — act, process, or result of
• -vore / -vorous — eating, feeding on
• -ward / -wards — in the direction of
• -wise — in the manner of; in the direction of
• -y — full of, characterized by
• a- / an- — without, not
• ab- / abs- / a- — away, from, off
• acr / acer — sharp, bitter
• ad- / ac- / ap- / at- — to, toward, near
• aer — air
• ag / act / ig — to do, to drive, to act
• agon — contest, struggle
• agr — field
• ali — another, other
• alter / ali — other (of two); other
• am — to love; friend
• ambi- — both, around, on both sides
• ambul — to walk
• amphi- — both, on both sides, around
• ana- / an- — up, back, again, throughout
• anim — mind, spirit; breath, life
• ann — year
• ante- — before, in front of
• anthrop — human being
• anti- / ant- — against, opposite, instead of
• apo- — away from, off, from
• arbitr — judge, decision
• arch — to rule, to be first; beginning
• archi- / arch- — chief, principal, first
• arm — weapons; to arm
• astr / aster — star
• aud — to hear
• auto — self, same
• be- — around, thoroughly; to make
• bell — war
• bene- — well, good
• bi- — two, twice
• bio — life
• brev — short
• cand — to glow; shining white
• cant — to sing
• cap / capit — head
• cap / cept / ceiv / cip — to take, to seize
• carn — flesh, meat
• cast — pure, chaste
• cata- / cat- / cath- — down, against, thoroughly
• cav — hollow
• ced / cess / ceed — to go, to yield
• cent — hundred
• cern / cret — to sift, separate, decide
• cert — sure, decided
• chlor — pale green, greenish-yellow
• chrom — color
• chron — time
• cid / cis — to cut, kill
• circ — ring, circle
• circum- / circu- — around, about
• cit — to summon, rouse, call
• civ — citizen
• clam / claim — to cry out, shout
• clar — clear, bright
• clin — to lean, bend
• clud / clus / claus — to shut, close
• cogn / gno — to know, become acquainted
• com- / con- / co- — with, together; intensifier
• contra- / counter- — against, opposite
• cord — heart
• corp — body
• cosm — order, world, universe
• crat / cracy — power, rule
• cred — to believe, trust
• cresc / cre / cru — to grow
• crim — accusation, offense
• cry / cryo — cold, frost
• crypt — hidden
• cult / col — to till, to cultivate, to inhabit
• cumul — heap, pile
• cur — care, concern
• cur / curs / cour — to run
• cycl — circle, wheel
• cyt — hollow vessel, cell
• damn / demn — loss, harm; to condemn
• de- — down, away, off; undoing
• dec- / deca- / deci- — ten
• decor — grace, propriety; to be fitting
• dem — people, district
• dent / dont — tooth
• di / diur / jour — day
• dia- / di- — through, across, apart
• dict / dic — to say, to speak
• digit — finger, toe
• dign — worthy
• dis- / dif- — apart, away; not
• doc — to teach
• dog / dok — to seem, think; opinion
• dom / domin — house; master
• don / dat / dit — to give
• dox — opinion, belief, glory
• du- / duo- / dou- — two
• dub — doubtful, hesitating
• duc / duct — to lead, to draw along
• dyn / dynam — power, strength
• dys- — bad, difficult, abnormal
• eco — house, household, habitat
• endo- — within, inside
• epi- — upon, over, in addition
• equ — horse
• equ / iqu — equal, level, fair
• err — to wander, go astray
• esthe — sensation, perception
• eth — character, custom
• ethn — people, nation
• eu- — good, well
• ex- / e- / ef- — out, out of, from; former
• exo- — outside, outer
• extra- / extro- — outside, beyond
• fa / fab / fess — to speak; story
• fac / fact / fect / fic — to make, to do
• fall / fals / fail — to deceive
• femin — woman
• fend — to strike, ward off
• fer — to carry, to bear
• fict / fig — to shape, form, feign
• fid / fide — to trust; faith
• fili — son, daughter
• fin — end, boundary, limit
• firm — strong, steady
• flect / flex — to bend
• flor — flower
• flu / flux — to flow
• for- — completely; wrongly, away
• fore- — before, in front
• form — shape, form
• fort — strong
• frag / fract / fring — to break
• frat / fratr — brother
• frig — cold
• fug — to flee
• fund — bottom, foundation
• fus / fund / found — to pour
• gam — marriage
• gastr — stomach, belly
• gen / gener — birth, kind, race
• gen / gon — birth, race, kind, origin
• geo — earth, land
• ger / gest — to carry, bear, do
• glot — tongue, language
• gnos — knowledge; to know
• gon — angle, corner
• grad / gress — to step, to walk; a step
• graph / gram — to write, to draw; writing
• grat — pleasing, thankful
• grav — heavy, serious
• greg — flock, herd
• gust — to taste
• gyn — woman
• hab / hib — to have, to hold
• hepta- / hept- — seven
• her / hes — to stick, to cling
• herb — plant, grass
• hetero — other, different
• hexa- / hex- — six
• hist — inquiry, knowledge from inquiry
• homo — same, common
• host / hosp — guest, host, stranger
• hum — earth, ground; low, humble
• human — of man; human, kind
• hydr / hydro — water
• hyper- — over, beyond, excessive
• hypo- / hyp- — under, below, slightly
• ident — the same
• ign — fire
• imag — likeness, picture
• imper / emper — to command
• in- / en- / em- — in, into, on, toward
• in- / im- / il- / ir- — not, without
• insul — island
• inter- — between, among, mutually
• intra- / intro- — within, inside
• ir — anger
• iso — equal
• ject / jac — to throw
• jud / jur / jus — law, right; judge
• junct / jug / join — to join, yoke
• kilo- — thousand
• kine — to move; movement
• lab — toil, work
• lat — carried, borne
• later — side
• lav / lut / lu — to wash
• lax — loose, slack
• lect / leg — to gather, choose, read
• leg — to send as envoy; to bequeath
• leg / lex — law
• lev — light (weight); to raise
• lex — word, speech; word-book
• liber — free
• lig — to bind, tie
• lingu — tongue, language
• liter — letter
• lith — stone
• loc — place
• log / logue — word, speech, reason; study of
• long — long
• loqu / locut — to speak
• luc — light
• lud — to play
• ly — loosening, breaking down
• macro — long, large
• magn / maj / max — great, large
• mal- / male- — bad, badly, ill
• man / manu — hand
• mand — to order, entrust
• mania — madness, frenzy
• mar — sea
• mater / matr — mother
• medi — middle
• mega — great, large
• mem — mindful; to remember
• ment — mind
• mer — to earn, deserve
• merc — goods; to trade
• merg / mers — to dip, plunge
• meta- / met- — after, beyond, change, among
• metr / meter — measure
• micro — small
• migr — to move, wander
• mil — soldier
• mill — thousand
• min — smaller; to lessen
• mir — to wonder at
• mis — to hate
• mis- — wrongly, badly
• misc — to mix
• mit / miss — to send, to let go
• mod — measure, manner
• mon — to warn, advise, remind
• mono- / mon- — one, single, alone
• mord — to bite
• morph — form, shape
• mort — death; to die
• mov / mot / mob — to move
• mult / multi — many, much
• multi- — many, much
• mut — to change
• narr — to tell, relate
• nat / nasc / gnat — to be born
• nav — ship
• nect / nex — to bind, tie
• neg — to deny, say no
• neur — nerve, sinew
• noc / nox — to harm
• nom — law, custom; to manage
• nomin / nom — name
• non- — not
• norm — rule, standard
• not — to know; known
• nov — new
• nunci — to announce; messenger
• nutri / nour — to feed, nourish
• nym — name
• ob- / oc- / of- / op- — against, toward, in the way
• oct- / octo- — eight
• omni- — all, every
• oper — work
• ordin / ord — order, row
• ori — to rise, arise
• ortho — straight, correct
• out- — outside, beyond, more than
• ov — egg
• over- — above, excessively
• par — to prepare, to make ready
• para- / par- — beside, beyond, alongside
• part — part, share, piece
• pass — step, pace
• pat / pass — to suffer, to endure
• pater — father
• path / pathy — feeling, suffering, disease
• ped — child
• pel — to drive, push
• pend / pens — to hang; to weigh
• penta- / pent- — five
• per- — through, thoroughly, completely
• peri / exper — to try, test
• peri- — around, near
• pet — to seek, aim at, ask
• phan / phen / fan — to show, appear
• phil — loving, dear; to love
• phon — sound, voice
• phot — light
• phren — mind, diaphragm
• phys — nature
• plac — to please
• plan — flat, level, clear
• plen / ple / plet — to fill; full
• plic / plex / ply — to fold, weave
• plor — to cry out, weep
• polit / polis — city, citizen
• poly — many, much
• popul / pub — people
• port — to carry
• pos / pon / posit — to put, to place
• post- — after, behind
• pot — powerful; to be able
• pre- — before, in front
• prec — to pray, beg
• prehend / prehens / pris — to seize, grasp
• press / prem — to press
• pret — price, value
• prim — first
• pro- — forward, forth; in favor of; on behalf of
• prob / prov — to test, approve; good
• propri — one's own
• prot / proto — first
• prox / prop — near
• psych — soul, mind, breath
• pugn — to fight; fist
• pun — penalty, punishment
• pung — to prick, point
• put — to think, reckon; to prune
• pyr — fire
• quadr- / quadri- — four
• qui / quie — rest, quiet
• quint- / quinque- — five
• quir / quis / quest / quer — to seek, to ask
• quot — how many; which in order
• radi — ray, spoke
• radic — root
• rap / rept — to seize, snatch
• rat — to reckon, think; reason
• re- — back, again
• reg / rect / rig — to rule; straight, right
• retro- — backward, behind
• rex — king
• rot — wheel
• rud — rough, untrained
• rupt — to break, burst
• sacr — holy, set apart as sacred
• sal / sult / sil — to leap, jump
• san — healthy, sound
• sat — enough
• scend / scan — to climb
• sci — to know
• scop — to look at, examine
• scrib / script — to write
• se- — apart, aside, away
• sec / sect — to cut
• sed / sid / sess — to sit; to settle
• semi- — half, partly
• semin — seed
• sen — old man; old
• sent / sens — to feel, to perceive
• sept- — seven
• sequ — to follow
• serv — to keep, save; slave
• sever — strict, serious
• sex- / sexa- — six
• sign — mark, sign
• simil / sembl / simul — like, similar
• sist / stit — to stand firm, to cause to stand
• sol — alone, only
• solv / solut — to loosen, to release
• son — sound
• spect / spec / spic / spis — to look, to watch
• sper — hope
• spher — ball, globe
• spir — to breathe
• splend — to shine, gleam
• sta / stat / stit — to stand
• string / strict / strain — to draw tight, to bind
• struct — to build, to pile up
• sub- / sup- / suf- / sug- — under, below; secondary; secretly
• sum / sumpt — to take, assume
• super- / sur- — above, over, beyond
• surg — to rise
• syn- / sym- / syl- — together, with
• tact / tax — arrangement, order
• tang — to touch
• techn — art, skill, craft
• teg / tect — to cover
• tele — far, at a distance
• temp — time
• tempt / tent — to try, test, feel out
• ten / tain / tin — to hold, to keep
• tend / tens / tent — to stretch, to extend
• tenu — thin, slender
• term — end, limit
• terr — to frighten
• test — witness; to bear witness
• tetra- — four
• text / tex — to weave
• the / theo — god
• the / thes — to put, place; a placing
• therap — healing, service, treatment
• therm — heat, hot
• tom / -tomy — to cut; a cut
• tort — to twist
• tract / trah — to pull, to drag
• trans- / tra- — across, through, beyond
• tri- — three
• tribut — to assign, grant, pay
• trit / tri — to rub, wear down
• trop — a turn, direction
• trud — to thrust, push
• turb — crowd, commotion; to disturb
• ultim — last, farthest
• ultra- — beyond, extremely
• un- — not; opposite of
• und — wave; to flow, overflow
• under- — below, insufficient
• uni- — one, single
• urb — city
• ut — to use
• vac — to be empty
• vag — to wander
• val / vail — to be strong, to be worth
• vari — different, varied
• vent / ven — to come
• ver — true
• verb — word
• vert / vers — to turn
• vest — clothing; to clothe
• vid / vis — to see
• vinc — to conquer, to win
• vir — man (male adult)
• viv / vit / vita — to live; life
• voc — to call; voice
• vol — to wish, want
• volv — to roll, to turn
• with- — against, away, back