Word Roots From Greek and Latin

Use common roots like tele, graph, port, and dict to figure out word meanings.

Many English words are built on roots that come from Greek and Latin. A root carries the core meaning, and knowing just a few unlocks dozens of words. 'Tele' (Greek) means far: a telescope sees far, and a telephone carries sound far. 'Graph' (Greek) means write or draw: an autograph is a person's own written name, and a paragraph is a piece of writing.

'Port' (Latin) means carry: portable means can be carried, and to import is to carry into a country. 'Dict' (Latin) means say: to predict is to say before it happens. Put them together: a 'telegraph' writes over a long distance. Roots let you make smart guesses about words you have never seen.

• 1Roots carry a word's core meaning.
• 2tele = far, graph = write, port = carry, dict = say.
• 3One root unlocks many words.