Vocabulary · 4 min read
Greek and Latin Roots
The STAAR Grade 8 RLA exam assesses your knowledge of Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Understanding these word parts allows you to decode unfamiliar vocabulary by breaking words into meaningful components.
Common Greek Roots
ast/aster (star)
astronomy (study of stars), asterisk (star-shaped symbol), asteroid (star-like object), astronaut (star sailor/space traveler), disaster (ill-starred event)
bio (life)
biology (study of life), biography (writing about a life), antibiotic (against life/bacteria), biodegradable (able to be broken down by living organisms)
chron (time)
chronological (in time order), chronicle (record of events over time), chronic (lasting a long time), synchronize (to occur at the same time)
geo (earth)
geography (study of the earth), geology (study of earth's structure), geometry (measurement of the earth), geothermal (earth heat)
graph/gram (write, written)
paragraph (written beside), autograph (self-written signature), biography (life writing), telegram (written from far away), diagram (written through/across)
log/logy (word, study)
biology (study of life), dialogue (words between people), monologue (one person speaking), apology (words away from offense), logic (study of reasoning)
path (feeling, suffering)
sympathy (feeling with), empathy (feeling in), apathy (without feeling), pathetic (arousing pity), pathology (study of disease/suffering)
phon (sound)
telephone (far sound), symphony (sounds together), phonics (study of sounds), microphone (small sound amplifier), cacophony (bad sounds)
photo (light)
photograph (light writing/image), photosynthesis (light putting together), photon (light particle), photogenic (producing good images in light)
scope (see, view)
telescope (see far), microscope (see small), horoscope (hour view), kaleidoscope (beautiful form view), periscope (see around)
therm (heat)
thermometer (heat measure), thermal (relating to heat), thermostat (heat standing/regulator), hypothermia (under heat/too cold)
Common Latin Roots
aud (hear)
audience (those who hear), auditorium (place for hearing), audio (relating to sound/hearing), audible (able to be heard), audition (a hearing/tryout)
bene (good, well)
benefit (good result), benevolent (wishing well), benediction (good words/blessing), beneficial (producing good)
dict (say, speak)
dictionary (book of words spoken), predict (say before), contradict (speak against), verdict (true saying), dictate (speak for others to write)
duc/duct (lead)
conduct (lead together), produce (lead forward), educate (lead out), introduce (lead into), deduce (lead down/conclude)
fac/fact/fect (make, do)
factory (place of making), manufacture (make by hand), effect (result of doing), perfect (thoroughly made), artifact (something made with skill)
ject (throw)
project (throw forward), reject (throw back), inject (throw in), eject (throw out), subject (throw under)
mand/mend (order, command)
command (order together), demand (order from), mandate (an order), recommend (order again/suggest), mandatory (required by order)
port (carry)
transport (carry across), import (carry in), export (carry out), portable (able to be carried), report (carry back)
scrib/script (write)
describe (write about), manuscript (written by hand), prescription (written before), inscription (written on), transcript (written across/copy)
spec/spect (look, see)
inspect (look into), spectator (one who looks), spectacle (something to see), perspective (looking through), suspect (look under)
struct (build)
construct (build together), structure (something built), instruct (build in/teach), destruct (build down/destroy), obstruct (build against/block)
vid/vis (see)
video (I see), visible (able to be seen), vision (the act of seeing), evidence (seen out of), invisible (not able to be seen)
Common Prefixes
anti- (against)
antibiotic, antisocial, antidote, antifreeze, antipathy
auto- (self)
automatic, autobiography, automobile, autonomy, autograph
bi- (two)
bicycle, bilingual, biannual, bisect, bipartisan
circum- (around)
circumference, circumstance, circumnavigate, circumvent
co-/com-/con- (together, with)
cooperate, combine, connect, community, companion
de- (down, away, reverse)
decrease, descend, depart, demolish, defrost
dis- (not, opposite)
disagree, disappear, disconnect, dishonest, disable
ex- (out, former)
exit, exhale, export, exclude, ex-president
il-/im-/in-/ir- (not)
illegal, impossible, inactive, irregular, immature
inter- (between, among)
international, interact, interrupt, interview, intermediate
mis- (wrong, badly)
mistake, misunderstand, misspell, mislead, misfortune
non- (not)
nonsense, nonprofit, nonfiction, nonviolent, nonstop
pre- (before)
preview, predict, prepare, prehistoric, precaution
re- (again, back)
return, review, replay, rewrite, rebuild
sub- (under, below)
submarine, subway, subtract, submerge, subordinate
trans- (across, beyond)
transport, transfer, translate, transform, transparent
un- (not, opposite)
unhappy, unable, unfair, unlock, undo
Common Suffixes
-able/-ible (capable of, worthy of)
readable, flexible, comfortable, visible, responsible
-ation/-tion/-ion (act, process, state)
education, celebration, creation, discussion, conclusion
-er/-or (one who)
teacher, actor, writer, director, inventor
-ful (full of)
helpful, beautiful, careful, powerful, thoughtful
-ish (resembling, like)
childish, foolish, reddish, selfish, stylish
-ist (one who practices)
artist, scientist, novelist, pianist, journalist
-less (without)
hopeless, careless, fearless, helpless, harmless
-ly (in the manner of)
quickly, carefully, honestly, happily, suddenly
-ment (state, act, result)
government, achievement, movement, excitement, improvement
-ness (state, quality)
kindness, happiness, darkness, awareness, loneliness
-ous/-ious/-eous (full of, having)
famous, curious, gorgeous, cautious, courageous
Strategies for Using Word Parts
When you encounter an unfamiliar word, look for recognizable word parts. Break the word into its prefix, root, and suffix components.
Worked Example
"The scientist studied the biodegradable materials."Breaking down "biodegradable": bio (life) + degrad (break down) + able (capable of) = capable of being broken down by living organisms.
Worked Example
"The manuscript was difficult to read because of the author's unusual handwriting."Breaking down "manuscript": manu (hand) + script (write) = written by hand.
Combine your knowledge of word parts with context clues for the most accurate understanding. Word parts give you a general direction, while context confirms the specific meaning.
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