Foreign Languages: Latin Roots
Building vocabulary through Latin word parts
Foreign Languages: Latin Roots
Building vocabulary through Latin word parts
Foreign Languages - Grade 9-12
- 1
The Latin root port means carry. Explain how the words transport, portable, and import are connected to this root.
Look at the beginning or ending added to the root port.
Transport means to carry something across or from one place to another. Portable describes something that can be carried. Import means to carry goods into a country or place. - 2
The Latin root scrib or script means write. Choose the best meaning of manuscript: a speech given aloud, a handwritten or typed text, a person who studies stars, or a place for storing food. Explain your choice.
Manuscript means a handwritten or typed text because it contains the root script, which means write. - 3
The Latin root aud means hear or listen. Write a sentence using the word audible in a way that shows its meaning.
Think about whether a sound can be heard clearly.
A correct sentence should show that audible means able to be heard, such as, The speaker's voice was audible from the back of the auditorium. - 4
Match each Latin root to its meaning: vis, dict, terr, and bene. Meanings: say, see, earth, good. Then write one English word for each root.
Vis means see, as in visible. Dict means say, as in predict. Terr means earth, as in terrain. Bene means good, as in benefit. - 5
The Latin root struct means build. Explain the meaning of the word infrastructure using the root and any other word parts you recognize.
The prefix infra can mean below or underneath.
Infrastructure means the basic systems or structures built underneath or within a community, such as roads, bridges, pipes, and power lines. The root struct connects the word to building. - 6
The Latin root ject means throw. What do the words eject, reject, and project have in common? Explain how each word relates to throwing.
Eject means to throw out. Reject means to throw back or refuse. Project can mean to throw forward, such as projecting an image onto a screen or projecting an idea into the future. - 7
The Latin root rupt means break. Use this root to explain the meanings of interrupt and eruption.
Think of something that stops or breaks a continuous action.
Interrupt means to break into a conversation, action, or process. Eruption means a breaking out, such as lava or ash breaking out of a volcano. - 8
The Latin root cred means believe. Explain the difference between credible and incredulous.
Credible means believable or trustworthy. Incredulous means unwilling or unable to believe something, often because it seems surprising or unlikely. - 9
The Latin root mit or miss means send. Identify the Latin root in each word and explain the meaning: transmit, admission, and dismiss.
The root may appear as mit or miss depending on the word.
Transmit means to send across or pass along. Admission is the act of being sent or allowed into a place, school, or event. Dismiss means to send away. - 10
The Latin root vid or vis means see. A student says revision means to write something for the first time. Explain why this is incorrect using the root meaning.
This is incorrect because revision contains the root vis, meaning see. Revision means seeing something again and making changes, not writing it for the first time. - 11
The Latin roots bio and viv are related to life, but viv specifically comes from Latin and means live. Explain how vivid, survive, and revive connect to the Latin root viv.
Look for the idea of living, life, or renewed energy.
Vivid can describe something that seems full of life or very clear. Survive means to continue to live. Revive means to bring back to life or energy. - 12
The Latin root loc means place. Read this sentence: The teacher asked the students to relocate their desks for group work. What does relocate mean, and how does the root help you know?
Relocate means to move to a new place. The root loc means place, so relocate means to place again or move to another location. - 13
The Latin root manu means hand. Explain how manual, manufacture, and manuscript are connected to this root.
Manual can mean done by hand. Manufacture originally connects to making by hand, though it now often means making goods in factories. Manuscript connects to something written by hand or prepared as a written text. - 14
The Latin root fac or fact means make or do. Use the root to explain the meanings of factory, artifact, and benefactor.
The root may appear as fac, fact, or fect in related words.
A factory is a place where things are made. An artifact is an object made by a person, often from the past. A benefactor is a person who does good or provides help, often by giving money or support. - 15
Choose three of these Latin roots: port, scrib, aud, struct, ject, rupt, cred, loc, manu, fac. For each root, write its meaning and one English word that contains it. Then explain the word's meaning.
Answers will vary. A complete response should include three Latin roots, the correct meaning of each root, one English word containing each root, and a clear explanation of each word's meaning based on the root.