B. Foundations of Language · Handwriting, Spelling and Sentences

Greek and Latin Roots in Big Words

B2.1 B2.2 A3.1About 40 minutes

Learning goals

I can tell the meaning of common Greek and Latin roots, like tele, graph, port and spect.
I can use roots to figure out and spell science, math and social studies words.
I can use Greek spelling clues: ph says /f/, ch can say /k/, and y can say /i/.
I can explain the difference between metre and meter in Canadian spelling.

Words to know

root
A word part, often from Greek or Latin, that carries meaning. Many roots can't stand alone as words.

Greek
The language of Greece. English borrowed many science words from ancient Greek.

Latin
The language of ancient Rome. Many English words come from Latin.

word family
A group of words that share a base or root, like port, transport, portable, export.

Words with a history

Long ago, English borrowed thousands of words from two old languages: Greek and Latin. Many of these words are built from small parts called roots.

A root is like a base, but it often can't stand alone as a word. Scope means look at, and tele means far. Put them together and you get telescope: a tool to look at far things!

Once you know a few roots, you can unlock hundreds of words, especially in science, math and social studies.

Two words from one root. tele + scope = telescope (look at far things). micro + scope = microscope (look at small things).

Greek root	Meaning	Examples
tele	far	telephone, telescope, television
micro	small	microscope, microphone
scope	look at	telescope, microscope, periscope
phon	sound	telephone, microphone, phonics
graph	write, draw	autograph, paragraph, photograph, graph
photo	light	photograph, photo
auto	self	autograph, automatic
bio	life	biology, biography
geo	earth	geography, geology
therm	heat	thermometer, thermos
meter / metre	measure	thermometer, kilometre, centimetre

Greek roots

Latin root	Meaning	Examples
port	carry	transport, portable, export, import
spect	look	inspect, spectator, respect
struct	build	construct, structure, construction
rupt	break	erupt, interrupt
dict	say	dictionary, predict
aud	hear	audience, audio, audible
vis / vid	see	vision, visible, video
aqua	water	aquarium, aquatic

Latin roots

A root web for the Latin root port (carry). Every word on the web has something to do with carrying.

Worked example

Let's unlock "spectator"

What is a spectator at a hockey game?

Find the root: spect means look.
The ending -or means a person who. (-ator is like creator.)
Put it together: a person who looks or watches.
Check in the sentence: a person watching the game from the stands. Yes!

A spectator is a person who watches an event.

Greek spelling clues

Words from Greek often have special spellings:

ph says /f/: phone, photo, graph, alphabet, sphere.
ch can say /k/: school, chorus, character, stomach.
y in the middle can say /i/ or /ih/: gym, symbol, system, rhythm.

If a science word has an /f/ sound and f looks wrong, try ph. If you hear /k/ in a Greek word, try ch.

metre or meter?

In Canada, we use two spellings:

metre for a unit of length: metre, kilometre, centimetre, millimetre.
meter for a tool that measures: thermometer, speedometer, parking meter.

Both come from the same Greek root that means measure.

Worked example

Let's figure out "audible" and spell it

The whisper was barely audible. What does audible mean?

Find the root: aud means hear (like audience, the people who hear a show).
The suffix -ible means can be (it's a cousin of -able).
Together: can be heard.
Check: The whisper could barely be heard. Makes sense!

audible means able to be heard. Spell it by its parts: aud + ible.

Roots in your other subjects

Science: a thermometer measures heat. A microscope helps us look at tiny things. Biology is the study of living things.
Math: a kilometre is 1000 metres. A graph is a drawing that shows data.
Social studies: geography is the study of the Earth and its places. Trucks, trains and ships transport goods across Canada.

When you meet a long word in any subject, look for a root you know!

Just for fun

aqua means water and aud means hear. So a group of fish listening to a concert would be an aqua-audience. (That's not a real word... but it should be!)

Hands-on activity

Root word web

You need: a large sheet of paper and markers.

Choose one root from the charts, like port, spect, graph or vis.
Write it in a circle in the middle of the page with its meaning.
Draw lines out like a spider web. At the end of each line, write a word with that root. Use the charts, a dictionary, or ask family members for ideas. Try for 6 or more words.
Under each word, write what it means, using the root's meaning to help.
Look through a science or social studies book (or a newspaper). Add any new words you find with your root.
Explain your web to someone at home. Can they guess any of the meanings before you tell them?

Your turn

What does microscope mean?

What does telephone mean, using its roots?

What is an autograph?

What does portable mean?

A volcano erupts. What do you think erupt means? (e- means out.)

Why is phone spelled with ph?

Spell the unit: We hiked 3 ______. (1000 metres each)

More practice: warm-up

What does tele mean?

What does graph mean?

What does aqua mean?

What does port mean?

What does aud mean?

More practice: on your own

What does predict mean? (pre- means before.)

What does a thermometer do? Explain using its roots.

What is a biography?

Name two words with the root struct and tell what they mean.

Which is correct in Canada: a parking metre or a parking meter? Explain.

Challenge

What does inaudible mean? Use all three parts.

What is an autobiography? Use all three roots.

List four words from the vis / vid family and give each meaning.

Check your understanding

Quiz

What does the root spect mean?

A telescope is used to...

Which word means can be carried?

In Greek words, ph usually says...

Which is the correct Canadian spelling for a unit of length?

What does interrupt mean? (inter = between, rupt = break)

For parents and teachers

Big idea: B2.1 asks children to use the meanings of morphemes to read and spell; B2.2 (vocabulary) asks them to understand and use new words in various contexts, including other subject areas. Greek and Latin roots are the key to science, math and social studies vocabulary. This lesson also touches A3.1 (connecting language skills to other subjects).

How to help at home:

When your child brings home a science or social studies word, look for a root together.
Play "root detective": name a root (port) and take turns thinking of words with it.
Notice ph, ch and y spellings in Greek words on signs and labels.

Common difficulties:

Over-applying roots. Not every group of letters is a root: the aud in the name Audrey has nothing to do with hearing. Always check that the meaning fits the sentence.
metre/meter confusion. Many US-made apps use meter for units; in Canadian spelling, units are metre.
Children don't need to memorize long lists. Two or three roots a week, used often, is plenty.