Understanding root words

Words did not spring out of nowhere – the language we use has developed throughout history and the words you use come from many different places around the world.

With a little knowledge you can work out the meaning of words you have never seen before. All you need to do is identify the parts of the word.

Key learning points

• Find out what a root word is and how to identify the parts of a word.
• Work out the meaning of new vocabulary using the building blocks of words.
• See how root words can help your spelling.

What is a root word?

Just like shoots and leaves grow from the root of a plant, a root word is a word from which other words can grow.

To use another analogy, a root word is one of the building blocks that make up a word. Its basic meaning is the same no matter where you find it.

Sometimes the root can be used on its own as a word in itself, for example: meter, legal, act, norm.

Building on a root word

A root word can be built upon, and bits added to make a new word.

Usually, we make these new words by adding a prefix or suffix to the root.

A prefix goes before the root; a suffix goes after.

Have a look at the table below. The root words ‘act’ and ‘norm’ can be used on their own. But look what happens when you add a prefix or suffix.

Morphology

The suffix ‘ology’ means the study of something. ‘Morph’ means shape. Morphology, therefore, is the study of the shape of things. In linguistics, morphology is the study of the shape of words.

Using morphology can help you to work out the meaning of vocabulary that's new to you.

Common prefixes and suffixes

The prefix will always be at the front of the word and gives you a clue about the meaning of a word.

• In- or un- or ir- means ‘not’ – used in inactive, insensitive, unpopular, irregular
• Mal- means ‘ill or bad’ – used in maladjusted, malevolent
• Re- means ‘against or back’ – used in revise, reconsider
• Inter- means ‘between’ – used in international, intervene
• Omni- means ‘all’ – used in omniscient, omnipresent
• Dis- means ‘badly or not’ – used in disappointed, dismay, disengaged
• Syn- or sym- or com- or con- all mean ‘together’ – used in symbolism, synergy, symbiotic, complete, control

The suffix will always be at the end of the word.

• -able, -ible means ‘can be done’ – used in comfortable
• -ion, -tion means an act or process – used in occasion, attraction
• -ty means a state of – used in infinity, unity
• -ous, -eous, -ious means possessing the qualities of – used in piteous, joyous, vicious

Here are some examples of root words that can unlock some tricky vocabulary.

• Patho- means pain or to suffer. This is seen in words such as empathy, sympathy, neuropathy. Look for: path-, pathy-
• Tenere- means to hold or stretch. This is seen in words such as tenacity, contend, intend, tenure. Look for: ten-, tain-
• Poly- means to fill, be numerous. This is seen in words such as polymer, polygon, deplete, accomplish. Look for: pli-, ple-, poly-

-Ance or -ence?

The suffix -ence or -ance or -ent indicates a state of being, for example conscience.

• To work out which one to use, listen to the last sound of the root word.
• If it is ‘t’, ‘k’, or ‘g’ (all hard sounds) then it’s usually spelled -ance for example elegance, instance.
• When the last sound of the root word is ‘s’ or ‘sh’ then it’s usually spelled -ence for example patience, efficient, proficiency.

-Ible or -able?

• -ible usually comes at the end of an unfinished root word for example audible, eligible, edible:
  • aud – ible
  • elig – ible
  • poss – ible
  • aud, elig, and poss are not complete words
• -able usually comes at the end of a complete root word for example payable, readable, adaptable:
  • read – able
  • pay – able
  • adapt – able
  • read, pay and adapt are all complete words