What is a Root Word?

Think of root words like skeletons. They provide an essential structure that other words can be created around. Root words are morphemes, small meaningful language units. They carry the words' most basic meaning and form the foundation upon which other words can be built. Affixes, a single letter or group of letters, can be added to the beginning of root words (prefix) or the end of root words (suffix) to form new words. For example, the word “disagreement” is made up of these different parts: “dis” is a prefix, “agree” is the root word, and “ment” is a suffix. 

These new words can have a different meaning or grammatical function, but do in some way relate to the meaning of the original root word. For instance, the root word “act” means “to do.” Combined with prefixes and suffixes it can form words like “react” or “action.” While these words differ in meaning and part of speech, their shared root “act” connects them to the concept of “doing something” and makes them all a part of the same word family. 

Understanding root words and affixes helps students work out the meaning of unfamiliar words because it provides them with the tools they need to break down words into their component parts. This article will provide a comprehensive guide for teaching and understanding root words, where many of our root words come from, and the role of prefixes and suffixes in word construction. 

Decoding the Root Word

A root word is the basic element of a word. It has no affixes (prefixes or suffixes) and cannot be broken down into a smaller word with meaning. Root words can function in two ways: They can stand alone as independent words, or they may be bound morphemes, meaning they need affixes to create a complete word. 

For example “just” is a root word that, alone, has meaning (fair or right), but the root word “dict” (related saying or speaking) needs affixes to make it into a word (e.g. “ion” to become “diction”). Understanding how to decode root can help students develop in several important ways:

• Vocabulary Expansion: When students can break down words into their core components (root words and affixes) they can work out the meaning of unfamiliar words and expand their vocabulary more efficiently. For example, knowing the root "bio" means life and the suffix “-logy” means “the study of” can help students understand that the word “biology” means “the study of life” without having to look up the word in a dictionary.
• Spelling Accuracy: Understanding word parts helps students identify word patterns and common word structures, which can help improve spelling accuracy.
• Reading Comprehension: Complex texts are easier to understand when students don’t have to look up every unfamiliar word. When they can infer the word’s meaning, they can more easily and effectively connect ideas.
• Writing Skills: Understanding how words are built allows students to express themselves more precisely when writing. It also allows them to explore different word combinations and can lead to more confident, effective, and sophisticated writing.
• Confidence: Ultimately, a strong foundation in root words helps students become more confident, proficient readers, and more sophisticated writers. 

A Deep Dive Into Latin Roots

English borrows many of its root words from other languages. Though English is a Germanic language, many words share Latin origins. While sometimes the spelling or grammar of the original Latin word has changed, the Latin root is still recognizable. Here are some common Latin root words, their meanings, and examples of words that contain them:

The list of Latin root words presented here is just a starting point. There are hundreds more, demonstrating the profound impact Latin has had on the English language.

Exploring Greek Roots

Greek, like Latin, has also had a significant influence on the English language. Many of English’s scientific and technical terms trace their origins back to Greek roots. Here are some common Greek root words, their meanings, and examples of words they form:

Again, this is a small portion of a much larger list of Greek root words. Latin and Greek are not the only languages English borrows root words from—some come from other languages like French, Algonquian, and Polynesian. Greek and Latin are, however, some of the most recognizable and common sources of root words, and therefore are a good place to start when teaching the topic to students. 

The Difference Between Root Words and Base Words

Root words and base words can be the same things, and while they are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference between the two. A base word is the simplest form of a word that can stand alone, or be combined with affixes to create a new word. A root word is the core of a word that carries the basic meaning, but it doesn’t have to stand alone as its own word.

For example, “meter” (which means “measure”) is a base word. It is a full word with meaning by itself. While it doesn’t need prefixes and suffixes to make it whole, they can be added to this base word to create new words like “thermometer,” “perimeter,” or “speedometer.” However, the root word “aud” (which means “to hear”) is not a standalone word in English. It can be made into a word with meaning when affixes are added—like in the words “audible” and “audience.”

The Function of Prefixes in Word Formation

A prefix is a collection of letters that are added to the beginning of root or base words. This collection of letters has meaning and is used to modify what the root or base word means.  Prefixes can indicate negation, direction, time, or other concepts. For example, the word “legal” means “required or permissible by law.” When the prefix “il-” is added to it the new word “illegal” comes to mean “not permissible by law.” Here are some examples of common English prefixes:

When students recognize and learn the meaning of different prefixes, it helps them break down unfamiliar words, and decipher their meaning, usage, and connotation. 

The Role of Suffixes in Word Construction

A suffix is a collection of letters that are added to the end of root or base words. Like prefixes, a suffix is also a word part that has meaning. However, suffixes may not only change the word's meaning but they can also change the word's grammatical function. Suffixes can create nouns, adjectives, adverbs, or verbs. For example, the suffix "-ness" turns the adjective "happy" into the noun "happiness." Some common English suffixes include:

Suffixes, like prefixes, are essential tools for vocabulary expansion and word building, and can further help students break down unfamiliar words to unlock their meaning. For example, if students understand the root word “port” means “to carry” and that the suffix “-able” means capable of, they can infer that “portable” means “able to be carried.” 

Practicing Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes

It’s important to offer students plenty of opportunities to practice identifying root words, base words, prefixes, and suffixes. Explicit instruction is a great way to offer a structured approach that allows students to practice, build confidence, demonstrate understanding, and reinforce learning. Here are some helpful exercises that students can do to help them master this topic: 

• Word Dissection: Provide complex words and ask students to break them down into their component parts (root, prefix, suffix). Reading programs, like REWARDS^®, provide students with strategies for how to break words into their parts. 
• Word Puzzle: Provide a list of root words and affixes and their meanings. Then, ask students to create new words and define what they mean.
• Word Sorts: Students categorize words based on shared root words, prefixes, or suffixes.
• Word Meaning: Give students a list of words with prefixes and suffixes. They define the words based on their knowledge of these components.
• Word Families: Students create a visual representation of word relationships based on shared roots or affixes.
• Error Correction: Provide sentences with words that have incorrect prefixes or suffixes. Students identify and correct the errors.

Mastering Root Words with Voyager Sopris Learning Solutions

To support educators in root word instruction, Voyager Sopris Learning® offers a range of evidence-backed reading solutions including REWARDS and LANGUAGE! Live. 

LANGUAGE! Live is an intensive literacy intervention for students in grades 5–12. Through a blended approach of teacher-guided and online independent instruction, students learn to master root words, prefixes, suffixes, and more. 

REWARDS is a series of short-term reading and writing intervention solutions designed for struggling learners in grades 4–12 that helps students read and understand multisyllabic words by breaking them into parts, increasing vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.

Teaching Root Words Effectively

Understanding root words, base words, prefixes, and suffixes is essential for vocabulary growth and English proficiency. When students can break down words into their component parts, they can unlock the meanings of unfamiliar words, expand their vocabulary, and develop a strong foundation in word structure and meaning. 

Incorporating consistent practice and solutions such as those offered by Voyager Sopris Learning accelerates students toward success. While these concepts might initially seem difficult for many students, explicit and systematic instruction, and plenty of practice can help build a strong foundation in word analysis and language use. Ultimately, teaching root words empowers students to become effective communicators and boosts their confidence to tackle even more complex topics later.