Download Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes

Root Words, Prefixes,
and Suffixes
What are they?
Why are we studying root
words, prefixes, and suffixes?

The English language didn’t happen
overnight. Over many years new words have
been created and added by taking from other
languages such as Greek and Latin.

You can greatly expand your vocabulary by
learning just a few of these Greek and Latin
root words, prefixes, and suffixes.
Root Words

A root word is the most basic form of a word
that is able to convey a particular description,
thought or meaning.
(http://www.prefixsuffix.com/rootwords.php?n
avblks=1011000)

Examples: aqua in aquarium, geo in
geography, micro microvolt
Prefixes

A prefix is a grouping of letters that comes
before a word or stem of a word.

Examples: at- in attend, bene- in benefit, and
semi- in semifinal
Suffixes

A suffix is a group of letters that attaches to
the end of a word or stem of a word.

Examples: -ant in fragrant, -ess in goddess, ism in formalism