#  >> College Life >> Greek Life

What words have the greek root in them?

Many words in English contain Greek roots. It's impossible to list them all, but here are some examples categorized by the root and showing how the meaning is carried through:

Common Greek Roots and Examples:

* Geo (γη, gê): earth: geography, geology, geocentric, geometry (earth measurement)

* Graph (γράφω, grápho): write: biography, autograph, graphic, paragraph, graphite

* Tele (τηλε, tēlē): far, distant: telephone, television, telegram, telescope

* Photo (φῶς, phōs): light: photograph, photogenic, photosynthesis

* Hydro (ὕδωρ, hydōr): water: hydroelectricity, hydraulic, hydrophobia, hydrogen

* Bio (βίος, bios): life: biology, biography, biosphere, antibiotic

* Logos (λόγος, logos): word, reason, study: logic, biology, prologue, psychology

* Morph (μορφή, morphē): form, shape: morphology, amorphous, metamorphosis

* Path (πάθος, pathos): feeling, suffering: sympathy, apathy, pathology, pathetic

* Phile (φιλέω, philéō): love: philosophy, philanthropy, bibliophile

* Phobia (φόβος, phóbos): fear: claustrophobia, acrophobia, xenophobia

* Cracy (κράτος, krátos): power, rule: democracy, aristocracy, bureaucracy, theocracy

Less Common but Still Important Roots and Examples:

* Anthropos (ἄνθρωπος, ánthrōpos): human: anthropology, misanthrope, anthropoid

* Cosmos (κόσμος, kósmos): order, world: cosmology, microcosm, cosmopolitan

* Helios (ἥλιος, hḗlios): sun: heliocentric, helium

* Aster (ἀστήρ, astḗr): star: asteroid, astrophysics, astronaut

* Chronos (χρόνος, khrónos): time: chronology, anachronism, chronic

This is just a small sampling. Many words combine Greek roots with other roots (Latin, for example) or affixes to create complex meanings. Looking up words in an etymology dictionary will reveal their Greek (or other) origins and how the roots contribute to their current meaning.

EduJourney © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved