Greek and Latin Word Roots

The seed inside a word

Every word has a main part that holds its meaning. We call this part the root. 🌱 It is like a seed: many words can grow from it!

Long ago, two old languages called Greek and Latin gave English thousands of roots. Once you know a few, you can unlock big words!

aqua = water 💧

The root aqua means water.

• aquarium — a glass home for water animals 🐠
• aquatic — living in water
• aquamarine — a blue-green water colour

bio = life 🌱

The root bio means life.

• biology — the study of life
• biography — the story of someone's life 📖

photo = light 💡

The root photo means light.

• photograph — a picture made with light 📷
• photosynthesis — how plants use light to make food 🌿

tele = far away 📡

The root tele means far away.

• telephone — sound from far away 📞
• telescope — see things far away 🔭
• television — see pictures from far away 📺

geo = earth 🌍

The root geo means earth.

• geography — writing about the earth
• geology — the study of rocks and the earth 🪨

A root table

Root	Meaning	Example
aqua	water 💧	aquarium
bio	life 🌱	biology
photo	light 💡	photograph
tele	far away 📡	telephone
geo	earth 🌍	geography

Try it

Use the roots to guess the meaning:

1. A telescope helps you see things that are... (far away 🔭)
2. A photograph is a picture made with... (light 📷)
3. An aquatic animal lives in... (water 🐠)

Amazing!

Now you carry a tiny key from long ago. Spot a root inside a big word, and you can guess what it means!

Next, try Prefixes and Suffixes and Compound Words.