Are you looking for a handy way to expand your vocabulary and understanding of the English language? Our list of Latin root words is a perfect starting point.
Latin root words are everywhere in the English language. While English is not a Romantic language, like languages such as French, Italian, or Spanish, which were descended directly from Vulgar Latin, we can’t underestimate its influence on the development of modern-day English.
Almost half of the English words in a dictionary today are derived from Latin. This shared ancestor is why you might understand some Spanish words, like “delicioso” or “diario” even if you’ve never studied the language before.
After all, as Walt Whitman once said: “Viewed freely, the English language is the accretion and growth of every dialect, race, and range of time, and is both the free and compacted composition of all.”
To help you understand where many common English words come from, we’ve compiled a list of Latin root words with example sentences. We’ve also shared strategies for understanding and remembering these words so you can expand your vocabulary. For more, check out our list of root words which includes vocabulary descended from Old English and Greek.
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Latin Root Words Explained
Root words are a type of morpheme that can be used to create new words by adding a prefix or suffix. Think of them as the building blocks for our vocabulary. For example, when you add the suffix “less” to the word “use” it becomes “useless.” The meaning of these small words often comes from Latin but you will find some derived from Greek.
One of the main reasons it’s important to understand Latin root words is because it expands your vocabulary. Once you become familiar with the roots, can easily unpick unfamiliar words in a book. Take the word “terra” for example, if you already know it means “earth” then you can surmise what words like extraterrestrial mean.
Common Latin Root Words and Their Meanings
Many root words are bound morphemes, meaning they cannot be used as a standalone word. However, this isn’t a hard rule as you will also come across free morphenes.
Let’s look at the root word “honor.” It makes perfect sense as a word by itself but becomes “honorary” when we add a suffix. “Ary,” however, is a bound morpheme because it isn’t a word by itself.
Below are some commonly used Latin root words and words derived from them:
- Aqua (Water) – Aquarium, Aquamarine, Aquadrome
- Bi (Two) – Bilingual, Bicycle, Bisexual
- Circ (Round) – Cicle, Circus, Circumference
- Fin (End) – Final, Finite, Finale
- Mal (Bad) – Malignant, Malnourished, Malice
Application of Latin Root Words in Vocabulary Building
As mentioned earlier, once you become familiar with root words, you almost immediately expand your vocabulary as you can typically figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words based on the context and the prefix or suffix used. For example, if you know “mal” means bad and “nourished” pertains to food, you will understand that “malnourished” refers to poor nutrition.
Since Latin roots are particularly common in medical, legal, and scientific jargon, even native English speakers who find their vocabulary confusing can benefit from learning them.
One of the reasons for the prevalence of this ancient dialect is that Latin was historically the common language used in the scientific and medical fields in the Middle Ages as most educated people across Europe understood it. Although English is currently the dominant language, 98% of medical terms used by English speakers today are derived from Latin and Greek.
Plus, the modern legal system is a descendant of the judicial process in Ancient Rome, where Latin was spoken. The language has endured out of tradition.
The best way to learn root words is to take it one at a time. Learn the meaning of one root and then make a list of as many words as possible that share a root. Then, compose several sentences using each word in the correct context. Once you’re familiar with the root and the common words it forms, move on to the next one.
List of Latin Root Words Printable
List of Latin Root Words and Example Sentences
| Act (To do) – Actor | Lun (Moon) – Lunar |
| Aud (Hear) – Audio | Maj (Greater) – Majesty |
| Ambi (Both) – Ambidextrous | Mal (Bad) – Dismal |
| Annu (Year) – Anniversary | Mar (Sea) – Submarine |
| Bell (War) – Rebellion | Mir (Wonder) – Miraculous |
| Bene (Good) – Beneficial | Narr (Tell) – Narrator |
| Brev (Short) – Brevity | Noc (Harm) – Innocent |
| Cand (Glow) – Candle | Noct (Night) – Nocturnal |
| Contra (Against) – Contradict | Nov (New) – Innovative |
| Cred (Believe) – Credentials | Omni (All) – Omnipresent |
| Deb (Owe) – Debt | Opt (Choose) – Option |
| Decor (Ornament) – Decorations | Pac (Peace) – Pacifist |
| Dem (Harm, Loss) – Condemn | Par (Equal) – Compare |
| Dict (Say) – Predict | Pisc (Fish) – Pisces |
| Ed (Eat) – Inedible | Priv (Separated, Restricted) – Privacy |
| Equ (Equal) – Equality | Quad (Four) – Quadruple |
| Err (To stray) – Error | Qui (Rest) – Quit |
| Fall (Trick) – Fallacious | Quot (How many) – Quota |
| Fend (Strike) – Defend | Ras (Scrape, Scratch) – Rash |
| Fid (Trust) – Confidential | Resid (Left behind) – Residue |
| Germ (Sprout) – Germinate | Rid (Laugh at) – Ridicule |
| Glaci (Ice) – Glacier | Rod (Gnaw) – Corrode |
| Glob (Sphere) – Globe | Salv (Save) – Salvage |
| Gust (Taste) – Disgusting | San (Healthy) – Unsanitary |
| Hab (Have) – Habit | Sculp (Carve) – Sculpture |
| Honor (Esteem) – Honorary | Tang (Touch) – Tangible |
| Hort (Garden) – Horticulture | Temp (Time) – Temporary |
| Hum (Ground, Low) – Humiliate | Test (Witness) –Testify |
| Ign (Fire) – Ignited | Tot (All) – Total |
| Itiner (Journey) – Itinerary | Umbra (Shade) – Umbrella |
| Ject (Throw) – Trajectory | Urb (City) – Suburbs |
| Juven (Young) – Rejuvenated | Vac (Empty) – Evacuate |
| Labor (Work) – Collaborate | Val (Worth) – Evaluate |
| Legal (Law) – Illegal | Vap (Steam) – Evaporate |
| Loc (Place) – Location | Vit (Life) – Vitamin |
Below is a list of common Latin root words, their meanings, and an example sentence. Most of them are bound morphemes, but there are exceptions. Try to think of other words that share these roots.
- Act (To do) – Actor
The actor gave a convincing performance in the play.
- Aud (Hear) – Audio
I need new headphones, the audio quality in mine is terrible.
- Ambi (Both) – Ambidextrous
Timmy is ambidextrous, he can write with his left and right hands.
- Annu (Year) – Anniversary
We’re going out to dinner to celebrate our anniversary.
- Bell (War) – Rebellion
The rebellion broke out after decades of harsh rule.
- Bene (Good) – Beneficial
Staying active is beneficial for heart health.
- Brev (Short) – Brevity
For the sake of brevity, I will not repeat myself, so pay attention.
- Cand (Glow) – Candle
A candle-lit dinner is so romantic.
- Contra (Against) – Contradict
He always contradicts everything I say.
- Cred (Believe) – Credentials
You have more than enough credentials to get the job.
- Deb (Owe) – Debt
I need to earn more money to pay off my debt.
- Decor (Ornament) – Decorations
It’s October, it’s too early to put up the Christmas decorations.
- Dem (Harm, Loss) – Condemn
We strongly condemn the vandalism.
- Dict (Say) – Predict
You can’t predict the future.
- Ed (Eat) – Inedible
This undercooked chicken is inedible.
- Equ (Equal) – Equality
We support equality for all.
- Err (To stray) – Error
The mistake was caused by human error.
- Fall (Trick) – Fallacious
His argument is fallacious.
- Fend (Strike) – Defend
You have every right to defend yourself from attack.
- Fid (Trust) – Confidential
Everything you tell me is confidential.
- Germ (Sprout) – Germinate
Seeds need the perfect conditions to germinate.
- Glaci (Ice) – Glacier
The glacier is beginning to melt.
- Glob (Sphere) – Globe
Can you point to your country on a globe?
- Gust (Taste) – Disgusting
The food was disgusting.
- Hab (Have) – Habit
Biting your nails is a nasty habit.
- Honor (Esteem) – Honorary
He received an honorary doctorate for his achievements.
- Hort (Garden) – Horticulture
If you want to work in horticulture you can’t be afraid of getting your hands dirty.
- Hum (Ground, Low) – Humiliate
How could you humiliate me in front of everyone we know?
- Ign (Fire) – Ignited
The trip to the museum ignited an interest in history in Marcus.
- Itiner (Journey) – Itinerary
Go to bed early, we have a packed itinerary tomorrow.
- Ject (Throw) – Trajectory
The scientists are monitoring the trajectory of the meteor.
- Juven (Young) – Rejuvenated
I felt rejuvenated after spending my weekend at the spa.
- Labor (Work) – Collaborate
Group projects teach you how to collaborate with others.
- Legal (Law) – Illegal
It’s illegal to drive under the influence.
- Loc (Place) – Location
The job is on-site at our London location.
- Lun (Moon) – Lunar
We couldn’t see the lunar eclipse due to the cloud cover.
- Maj (Greater) – Majesty
Please bow, for His Majesty, the King.
- Mal (Bad) – Dismal
The weather is dismal.
- Mar (Sea) – Submarine
You can see all kinds of fish on the submarine voyage.
- Mir (Wonder) – Miraculous
The fireworks display was miraculous.
- Narr (Tell) – Narrator
The protagonist was an unreliable narrator.
- Noc (Harm) – Innocent
He was found innocent of all charges.
- Noct (Night) – Nocturnal
Bats are nocturnal.
- Nov (New) – Innovative
She came up with an innovative solution to our problem.
- Omni (All) – Omnipresent
These days, social media is omnipresent.
- Opt (Choose) – Option
Quitting is not an option.
- Pac (Peace) – Pacifist
He’s a pacifist, he won’t fight back.
- Par (Equal) – Compare
It’s not fair to compare siblings.
- Pisc (Fish) – Pisces
His Zodiac sign is Aries, he was born too late in March to be a Pisces.
- Priv (Separated, Restricted) – Privacy
Reading my diary is a huge invasion of privacy.
- Quad (Four) – Quadruple
The new attraction has quadrupled visitors at the zoo.
- Qui (Rest) – Quit
There’s no shame in having to quit something if it makes you unhappy.
- Quot (How many) – Quota
If you keep slacking off, you’ll miss your quota.
- Ras (Scrape, Scratch) – Rash
Scratching your rash will make it worse.
- Resid (Left behind) – Residue
The snail left a sticky residue on the plants.
- Rid (Laugh at) – Ridicule
After the blunder, the celebrity became an object of ridicule.
- Rod (Gnaw) – Corrode
The ocean will eventually corrode the cliffs away.
- Salv (Save) – Salvage
There was nothing we could salvage after the house fire.
- San (Healthy) – Unsanitary
The restaurant was closed down because of unsanitary conditions.
- Sculp (Carve) – Sculpture
The new sculpture at the museum is so life-like.
- Tang (Touch) – Tangible
There is no tangible evidence of foul play.
- Temp (Time) – Temporary
She’s a student, she only has time for temporary work.
- Test (Witness) –Testify
The witness has been called to testify.
- Tot (All) – Total
Dinner cost $100 in total.
- Umbra (Shade) – Umbrella
Don’t forget to bring an umbrella, it’s going to rain today.
- Urb (City) – Suburbs
I prefer living in the suburbs, it’s much quieter than the city center.
- Vac (Empty) – Evacuate
Take note of the emergency exits, in case we need to evacuate.
- Val (Worth) – Evaluate
There’s too little information to properly evaluate the situation.
- Vap (Steam) – Evaporate
The puddle will evaporate when the sun comes out.
- Vit (Life) – Vitamin
Ensuring the correct vitamins are in your diet will help you stay healthy.
If you liked this post, you might also be interested in our list of random words. They work great if you want to spice up your prose.
