Greek Roots (A-L) Vocabulary

air

“aerial, aerobic, aerospace”

Origin: Greek `aer` meaning `air`

human

“anthropology, misanthrope, philanthropist”

Origin: Greek `anthropos` meaning `human being`

chief, ruler, first

“architect, monarch, anarchy”

Origin: Greek `arkhos` meaning `chief, ruler`

star

“asteroid, astronomy, disaster”

Origin: Greek `aster` meaning `star`

self

“automatic, automobile, autonomy”

Origin: Greek `autos` meaning `self`

life

“biology, biography, antibiotic”

Origin: Greek `bios` meaning `life`

time

“chronic, chronology, synchronize”

Origin: Greek `chronos` meaning `time`

universe, order

“cosmos, cosmopolitan, microcosm”

Origin: Greek `kosmos` meaning `order, universe`

rule, power

“democracy, aristocrat, bureaucracy”

Origin: Greek `kratos` meaning `power, rule`

circle, wheel

“cycle, bicycle, encyclopedia”

Origin: Greek `kyklos` meaning `circle, wheel`

people

“democracy, epidemic, demographic”

Origin: Greek `demos` meaning `people`

skin

“dermatology, epidermis, hypodermic”

Origin: Greek `derma` meaning `skin`

opinion, belief

“orthodox, paradox, heterodox”

Origin: Greek `doxa` meaning `opinion, glory`

power, force

“dynamic, dynasty, dynamite”

Origin: Greek `dynamis` meaning `power, force`

earth

“geography, geology, geometry”

Origin: Greek `ge` meaning `earth`

angle

“polygon, pentagon, diagonal”

Origin: Greek `gonia` meaning `angle`

to write, to draw

“graphic, telegram, photograph”

Origin: Greek `graphein` meaning `to write`

water

“hydrate, hydrogen, dehydrate”

Origin: Greek `hydor` meaning `water`

word, study, reason

“logic, biology, dialogue”

Origin: Greek `logos` meaning `word, reason, study`

to break down

“analysis, paralysis, catalyst”

Origin: Greek `lysis` meaning `loosening`