Name
Block _____
GREEK AND LATIN ROOTS, PREFIXES, and SUFFIXES

This assignment is designed to help you learn the language of science, so
we’ll start with something familiar to everyone -- human biology.

We will refer to terms and their prefixes and suffixes throughout the
semester.
Instructions: For each root in the list below, find a word that incorporates the root. The
word does not have to be a medical or technical term. However, be sure that the word you
choose includes the appropriate root with its given meaning, rather than just having the
same letters without the correct meaning. For example, the word “apple” begins with the
letter “a”, but it is not an appropriate word to illustrate use of the first root in the list, “a”
meaning “without”, whereas “atheist” would. To verify that a particular root is
appropriately used in the word, look up the word in a dictionary or glossary or Google it.
ROOT
MEANING OF
ROOT
1
A-, AN-
not, without
2
AB-
away
3
ANTI-
against
4
ARTHR-
joint
5
BI-, DI-
two, double
6
BIO-
life
7
-BLAST
early stage, precursor
8
CARDIA-, CARDIO-
heart
9
CHOLO-
colored
10
CO-, COM-, CON-
with, together
11
CONTRA-
against
12
CUT-
skin
13
-CYST
bladder, hollow
14
-CYTE
cell
15
DERM-
skin
16
DIA-, DI-
through, across
17
DORS-
back
Modified from Ms. K. Riedell http://kr021.k12.sd.us/
WORD(S) CONTAINING
ROOT
Name
Block _____
ROOT
MEANING OF
ROOT
18
EC-, EX-
out of, out from
19
-ECTOMY
excision of
20
-EMIA
of blood, in blood
21
EN-, END-, ENDO-
within
EPI-
on, upon, over
23
EXTRA -
outside of, beyond
24
FOLI-
leaf
25
-GEO
land, earth
26
GASTR-
stomach
27
-GENESIS
origination or development of
28
GLYC-, GLYCO-
sweet
29
-GRAM, -GRAPH
record, write
30
HEM-, HEMA-, HEMO-
blood
31
HEMI-, SEMI-
half
32
HETERO-
different
33
HOMO-, HOMEO-
same, similar
34
HYDR-
water
35
HYPER-
above, over, excessive
36
HYPO-
below, under, deficient
37
HYBERN-
winter
38
INTER-
between
39
INTRA-
within
40
ISO-
equal
41
-ITIS
inflammation
42
LEUC-, LEUK-
white
43
-LYSIS
loosening, dissolving, separating
44
MACRO-
large
22
Modified from Ms. K. Riedell http://kr021.k12.sd.us/
WORD(S) CONTAINING
ROOT
Name
Block _____
ROOT
MEANING OF
ROOT
45
MARG-
border, edge
46
METR, METER
measure
47
MICR-
small
48
MONO-
one, single
49
MYO-
muscle
50
NEO-
new
51
NEUR-
nerve
52
-OLOGY
study of
53
-OMA
tumor, swelling
54
OS-, OSTEO-
bone
55
-OSIS
abnormal condition
56
-OSTOMY
formation of an artificial opening
57
-OTOMY
incision into
58
PARA-
beside, near
59
PER-
through
60
PERI-
around
61
PHOT-
light
62
POLY-
many
63
POST-
in back of, after
64
PRE-
in front of, before
65
RETRO-
behind, to come before
66
SUB-
below, beneath
67
SUPER-, SUPRA-
above, beyond
68
THERM-
heat
69
TOX-
poison
70
TRANS-
across, by way of
Modified from Ms. K. Riedell http://kr021.k12.sd.us/
WORD(S) CONTAINING
ROOT
Name
Block _____
WRITING EXERCISE ON ROOTS, PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES
Instructions: Using the list “Prefixes, Suffixes, and Stems”, give a definition of each word
below. Do not look the words up in a dictionary or textbook—use the root words!!! Seriously—
you will thank me next May 8th 
1. microscope -
__________________________________________________________
2. chromosome -
__________________________________________________________
3. hydrolysis -
__________________________________________________________
4. synthesis -
__________________________________________________________
5. hypodermic -
__________________________________________________________
6. neurology -
__________________________________________________________
7. cytoplasm-
__________________________________________________________
8. endothermic -
__________________________________________________________
9. hydrophilic -
__________________________________________________________
10. lysosome -
__________________________________________________________
11. photosynthesis -
__________________________________________________________
12. antidiuretic -
__________________________________________________________
13. polymerase -
_______________________________________________________
14. monomer -
__________________________________________________________
15. epigenetics -
__________________________________________________________
16. hydrophobic -
__________________________________________________________
17. chromosome -
______________________________________________________
18. biogenesis -
__________________________________________________________
19. prokaryote -
__________________________________________________________
20. phagocyte -
______________________________________________________
Modified from Ms. K. Riedell http://kr021.k12.sd.us/