Greek and Latin Roots Chart
Greek and Latin roots. A root carries the main meaning of a word. Know the root, and you can often figure out a word you have never seen.
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How to do it
- Read each root and what it means.
- Read the example words.
- Find the root in each word.
Teaching tip
Keep the chart nearby while your student works on the other pages. This sheet is aligned with Common Core L.4.4b.
About this chart
Ten Greek roots and ten Latin roots, each with its meaning and three example words, like port (carry) in portable, transport and export.
What kids practice
A root is the part of a word that carries its main meaning. Many longer English words are built on Greek and Latin roots, like port (carry) in transport and portable, or spect (look) in inspect and spectator. Knowing a handful of roots helps a reader figure out words they have never seen before.
Watch for
- Thinking every word with the same letters shares a root. A root needs to carry its meaning, so check that the word makes sense.
- Guessing from the root alone. Check that the meaning fits the sentence too.
- Stopping at the root. The prefix and suffix change the meaning too, like in export and import.
It's free to print, as many copies as you need. See the full greek and latin roots guide for 4th grade.
More sheets in this set
2. Root Meaning MatchRoots in one column and their meanings in the other, to match by letter. Fewer, Standard or More give 6, 8 or 10 roots. Includes an answer key.
3. Build a WordClues like "to break out" to build into words like erupt from a box of roots, prefixes and suffixes. Fewer, Standard or More give 6, 8 or 9 words. Includes an answer key.
4. Root SortA word box to sort into columns by root. Fewer, Standard or More give 3, 4 or 5 roots. Includes an answer key.
5. Which Root?Sentences with a long word missing its root, like "Workers will con___ a new school," with three roots to choose from. Fewer, Standard or More give 6, 8 or 10 sentences. Includes an answer key.
6. Guess the MeaningHarder words like auditorium, rupture and biography in real sentences, with a root clue to figure out each meaning. Fewer, Standard or More give 3, 4 or 5 words. Includes an answer key.
7. Root Word WebA root in the middle with six lines for words that use it, and a line for a sentence. Fewer, Standard or More give 1, 2 or 3 webs.
8. Color by RootA hidden picture made of words like export, erupt, inspect and tractor, colored by their Latin root. Includes an answer key.