Common greek roots

English

Definition

Word parts originating from ancient Greek that form the basis of many English words, especially in science, medicine, math, and philosophy. Knowing Greek roots helps students decode unfamiliar words by recognizing meaningful parts within them.

Examples

  • 'bio' (life) → biology, biography, antibiotic
  • 'graph' (write) → autograph, paragraph, graphic
  • 'phon' (sound) → telephone, symphony, phonics

Related Terms

Common latin roots Word parts strategy Root word families Unknown word analysis

Study This Concept

Practice common Greek roots with free review games in these units:

Vocabulary Unit 2: Greek and Latin Roots