Did you know that 60% of English vocabulary comes from Latin? Most Latin students will know that Latin evolved into the Romance languages, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian, so how is it related to English? The answer is the Norman invasion: in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, aka, William the Conqueror, defeated England, leading to several centuries of French influence on the development of the English language.
Other sources of Latin influence on English come from Roman Monks, who brought Christianity to England, as well as scientific and legal terminology.
Please note that this list is a sample of common Latin roots, and far from comprehensive. You can always google more roots and add them to your list.
| Latin root | Basic meaning | Example words |
| -dict- | to say | ✯contradict, dictate, dictator, diction, predictable✯✯ |
| -duc- | to lead, bring, take | deduce, produce, reduce |
| -gress- | to walk | digress, progress, transgress |
| -ject- | to throw | eject, inject, interject, project, reject, subject |
| -pel- | to drive | compel, dispel, impel, repel, repellent |
| -pend- | to hang | append, depend, impend, pendant, pendulum |
| -port- | to carry | deport, export, import, report, support, transport |
| -scrib-, -script- | to write | describe, description, prescribe, prescription, subscribe, subscription, transcribe, transcription, scribble, script |
| -tract- | to pull, drag, draw | attract, contract, detract, extract, protract, retract, traction |
| -vert- | to turn | divert, invert, revert |
✯ All syllables in turquoise are common Latin prefixes that will be explained in the following chart. Notice the syllables in bold show repetition of these prefixes.
✯✯ All syllables in green are common Latin suffixes that will be explained in the last chart. Notice the syllables in bold show repetition of these suffixes.
COMMON LATIN PREFIXES✯
| Prefix | Basic meaning | Example words |
| ad-, at | to, toward | advise, adventure, attract, attempt |
| co-, com- | together | co-author, co-edit, combine, compare |
| contra- | against | contradict, contraband, contravene |
| de-, di- | away, off; generally indicates reversal or removal in English | deactivate, defrost, decompress, digress |
| dis- | not, not any | disbelief, discomfort, discredit, disrepair, disrespect |
| ex-, e- | from, away from | extract, evict, eject |
| in- | not | inadvisable, indiscreet, inoperable, inauspicious |
| inter- | between, among | international, intertwine, intercellular, interject |
| non- | not | nonessential, nonviolence, nonstop |
| post- | after | postdate, postwar, postpone |
| pre- | before | preconceive, preexist, premeditate, predispose |
| re- | again; back, backward | rearrange, rebuild, recall, rerun, rewrite |
| sub-. sup- | under | submarine, subway, substandard, support, supposition |
| trans- | across, beyond, through | transatlantic, transpolar, transport, |
Please note that this list is a sample of common Latin prefixes, and far from comprehensive. Feel free to google more roots and add them to your list.
Did you know that the word prefix is itself a combination of a Latin prefix and Latin root? We have already seen pre- in the chart above. The basic meaning of the root -fix- means to fasten. So prefix literally means, “fastened before!”
COMMON LATIN SUFFIXES✯
| Latin suffix | Basic meaning | Example words |
| -able, -ible | capable of,able to be | likable, flexible, irrevocable✯✯ |
| -ant,-ent | denotes a person doing a verb | consultant, assistant, student |
| -fy, -ify | to make or cause to become | purify, clarify, humidify, flasify |
| -tion.-sion | forms abstract nouns✯✯✯ from verbs | creation, civilization, information, inclusion, admission |
| -ment | forms nouns from verbs | entertainment, amazement, statement |
| -tor | forms agent nouns✯✯✯✯ from verbs | narrator, senator, orator dictator |
| -ty, -ity | forms nouns from adjectives | subtlety, certainty, loyalty; electricity, similarity, technicality |
You can always google more suffixes, (sometimes also known as affixes), to add to this sample list.
✯Just like the word prefix, the English word suffix, is, ironically, a Latin prefix, sub- together with the same -fix- root. So suffix literally means “fastened under/behind!” The b in sub, changes to f, because it’s easier to say. Try saying each, subfix vs. suffix, to see for yourself.
✯✯ The word irrevocable is actually a combination of two Latin prefixes, a Latin root, and a Latin suffix! We have already seen in- and re- in the prefix chart and -able in the suffix chart. The root -voc- means “to call.” The n from in– changes to r because it is easier to say. Try saying inre vs. irre to see for yourself. Now, put together the meanings of the prefixes, root and suffix and see if you can decode the meaning of irrevocable.
✯✯✯An abstract noun, is an idea or concept that cannot be touched. For example, a desk is a noun you can touch, but civilization is an idea/concept that you can’t.
✯✯✯✯An agent noun names a person who does the action of the changed verb. Most agent nouns ending in -tor are exactly the same in Latin and English!
Use these fun Latin root trees to combine a Latin root with prefixes and suffixes. See how many words you can create.
If you are feeling adventurous, use the blank Latin root tree and choose one of the roots listed in the charts above along with your own prefixes and suffixes.
Have fun while expanding your vocabulary!
BONAM FORTUNAM! GOOD LUCK1