| Memorizing the definitions of the most common | | | | Following are the roots, meanings, origins, and |
| Greek and Latin prefixes, roots, and suffixes will | | | | example words. The roots are not in order of |
| exponentially expand your reading vocabulary. | | | | frequency. |
| Academic reading, especially in the social sciences | | | | 1. struct-build,form-Latin-instruct |
| and natural sciences are filled with words with | | | | 2. aud-hear-Latin-auditorium |
| Greek and Latin word parts. The verbal section of | | | | 3. mis-send-Latin-mission |
| the SAT I is largely comprised of academic words | | | | 4. astro-star-Greek-astrology |
| having these word parts. Knowing even one word | | | | 5. ped-foot-Latin-pedal |
| part of an unknown word greatly enhances the | | | | 6. bio-life-Greek-biology |
| reader's ability to accurately and efficiently use | | | | 7. phon-sound-Greek-telephone |
| surrounding context clues to figure out the | | | | 8. dict-say-Latin-predict |
| meanings of these words. You will also increase | | | | 9. port-carry-Latin-import |
| your spoken and written proficiency by using | | | | 10. geo-earth-Greek-geography |
| Greek and Latin prefixes, roots, and suffixes. But, | | | | 11. scrib-write-Latin-scribble |
| outside of becoming fluent in Greek and Latin, | | | | 12. meter-measure-Greek-thermometer |
| which Greek and Latin word parts have the | | | | 13. scrip-write-Latin-scripture |
| highest frequency? | | | | 14. min-little-small-Latin-minimum |
| Most Commonly-Used Prefixes | | | | 15. spect-see-Latin-inspect |
| This list, compiled by White, Sowell, and | | | | 16. mit-send-Latin-transmit |
| Yanagihara (The Reading Teacher, 42, p. 306), has | | | | Adapted from Stahl, S.A. and Shiel, T.G., Reading |
| the twenty most frequently-used prefixes. In fact | | | | and Writing Quarterly: Overcoming Learning |
| these largely Greek and Latin prefixes make up | | | | Disabilities, 8, 223-241 |
| 97% of all prefixed words. Prefixes listed are in | | | | Fifteen Power Greek and Latin Words |
| frequency order. | | | | These fifteen words have prefixes or roots that |
| 1. un-not | | | | are part of over 15,000 words. That is as many |
| 2. re-again | | | | words as most student dictionaries! Memorize |
| 3. in, im, il, ir-not | | | | these words and the meanings of their prefixes |
| 4. dis-away from | | | | and roots and you have significantly improved |
| 5. en, em-in | | | | your vocabulary. |
| 6. non-not | | | | 1. inaudible (not, hear) |
| 7. in, im-in | | | | 2. dismiss (away from, send) |
| 8. over-above | | | | 3. transport (across, carry) |
| 9. mis-not | | | | 4. unsubscribe (not, under, write) |
| 10. sub-under | | | | 5. predict (before, say) |
| 11. pre-before | | | | 6. remit (again, send) |
| 12. inter-between | | | | 7. encounter (in, against) |
| 13. fore-in front | | | | 8. offer (against, carry) |
| 14.de-apart from | | | | 9. inspect (in, see) |
| 15. trans-across | | | | 10. epilogue (upon, word) |
| 16. super-above | | | | 11. antigen (against, people) |
| 17. semi-half | | | | 12. empathy (in, feeling) |
| 18. anti -against | | | | 13. intermediate (between, middle) |
| 19. mid-middle | | | | 14. destruction (apart from, build) |
| 20. under-too little | | | | 15. |
| Frequently-Used Greek and Latin Roots | | | | |