Latin & Greek Roots

Did you know that over 60% of English words come from Latin and Greek? In this lesson, you will learn about roots — the building blocks hidden inside words. Once you learn to spot these roots, you will be able to work out the meaning of words you have never seen before. This is an incredibly powerful skill for the 11+ exam.

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What Is a Root?

A root (sometimes called a root word or word root) is the core part of a word that carries the main meaning. Unlike a prefix (added to the beginning) or a suffix (added to the end), the root sits in the middle and gives the word its essential meaning.

Example: The Latin root scrib/script means "to write."

• describe — to write down what something is like
• script — written text
• inscription — writing carved into stone or metal
• prescribe — to write a medical instruction beforehand
• subscribe — to write your name under (sign up for)

If you know that scrib/script = write, you can work out the meaning of all these words!

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Common Latin Roots