English vocabulary has been greatly influenced by Latin, and many of the words we use today have Latin roots. Understanding these Latin roots can help improve our vocabulary and comprehension of the English language.
In this article, we have compiled a list of 77 common Latin roots and their English derivatives, providing a useful resource for anyone looking to expand their knowledge of English vocabulary.
| Latin Root | Original Latin Word | Meaning | English Words Derived from the Root |
|---|---|---|---|
| nav | navis | ship | naval, navy, navigation |
| nat | natus | born | natal, native, natality |
| fili | filius | son | filial, affiliation |
| frat | frater | brother | fraternal, fraternity |
| lum | lumen | light | illuminate, luminescent, luminary |
| arbor | arbor | tree | arborescence, arboretum, arboreal |
| stella | stella | star | stellar, constellation |
| magn | magnus | great | magnificent, magnanimous, magnify |
| mat | mater | mother | maternal, maternity |
| lun | luna | moon | lunar, lunatic |
| fort | fortis | strong, powerful | fortify, fortitude, fortress, effort |
| lac | lac | milk | lactate, lactose |
| lingu | lingua | language | linguistics, bilingual, multilingual |
| annu | annus | year | anniversary, annual, annuity, perennial |
| audi | audiō | to hear | audience, auditory, audible, audition |
| don | donare | to give | donation, donor, condone |
| aqua | aqua | water | aquarium, aqueduct, aquatic |
| vac | vacare | to be empty | vacant, vacuum, evacuate, vacation |
| doc | docere | to teach | doctrine, doctorate, document |
| liber | liber | free | liberty, liberalism |
| pater | pater | father | paternal, paternity, patriarch |
| fem | femina | woman | female, feminine, feminist |
| viv | vivere | to live | vivid, survive, vivacious |
| aev/ev | aevum | age, era | medieval, primeval, longevity |
| anim | anima | soul | animal, animosity, animation |
| cept | capere | to take, to seize | accept, conception, perception, reception |
| cred | credere | to trust, to believe | incredible, credulous, accreditation, credentials, discredit |
| cur | cura | care, concern | curator, curative, curious |
| dic | dicere | to say, to speak | dictionary, diction, edict, predict |
| duc | ducere | to lead | deduce, produce, reduce |
| empt | emere | to buy, to purchase | redemption, exempt, preempt |
| fac | facere | to make, to do | benefactor, satisfaction, and artifact |
| fer | ferre | to carry, to bear | conference, prefer, fertile |
| fic | facere | to make, to do | magnificent, deficient, sacrifice |
| fin | finis | end, limit | final, definition, fine |
| flu | fluere | to flow | influence, fluid, fluency |
| gress | gressus | to join, to connect | progress, congress, digress, transgress |
| hal | halare | to breathe | inhale, exhale, exhalant |
| insul | insula | island | insular, insulation |
| jac | jaceo | to lie | adjacent, circumjacent |
| ject | jacere | to throw | eject, project |
| junct | iungō | to join | junction, conjunction, subjunctive |
| jur | ius | law | jury, abjure, conjure |
| lect | legere | to choose, to gather | collection, intellect, election |
| man | manus | hand | manicure, manuscript, manipulate |
| memor | memor | to remember | commemorate, memoir |
| merge | mergere | to plunge, to dip | emerge |
| Latin Root | Original Latin Word | Meaning | English Words Derived from the Root |
|---|---|---|---|
| miser | miser | unhappy, wretched | commiseration, misery, miserable |
| mit | mittere | to send | admit, submit, emit, permit |
| mod | modus | measure, method | immodest, mode, model |
| pass | passus | a step, a pace | passage, compass |
| pend | pendere | to hang down | append, depend, pendant, suspense |
| ple | plere | to fill | deplete, complete, supplementary |
| plic | plicare | to fold | replicate, application, complicated |
| port | portare | to carry | portable, porter, transportation, report |
| posit | ponere | to put | opposite, position, deposit |
| rect | regere | to direct | correct, director, rectangle |
| regul | regula | rule | regular, regulation |
| sacr | sacrare | to consecrate, to swear | to consecrate, sacred, sacrifice |
| sequ | sequere | to follow | subsequent, sequence, sequel |
| sole | solere | accustomed, in the habit of | insolence, insolent, obsolete |
| somn | somnus | sleep | insomnia, somnolent, somnambulist |
| son | sonus | noise, sound | unison, sonic, consonant |
| spect | spectare | to look at | spectator, spectacular |
| sper | sperare | to hope | desperate, prosper |
| stru | struere | to build, to construct | constructive, instruct, structural |
| ten | tenere | to hold | tenant, maintenance, tenor, sustenance, tenure |
| terr | terra | earth, land | extra-terrestrial, terracotta, subterranean |
| tract | tractare | to draw, to pull | attract, detract, tractable |
| und | unda | wave | abound, surround, abundance |
| us | usus | use | abuse, usurpation, peruse |
| vag | vagare | to wander | extravagant, vagabond, vague |
| val | valere | to have strength | ambivalence, validate, invalid, value |
| verb | verbum | word | verb, verbose |
| vers | versus | turn | adverse, conversation, anniversary |
| vid | videre | to see | evidence, video |
| vil | vilis | cheap, vile | revile, vilify |
| vor | vorare | to devour | carnivore, omnivore, voracious |
| vot | votum | to promise, to vow | devoted, vote, votary |
Understanding Latin roots is essential for improving one's English vocabulary. This list of 77 Latin roots commonly used in English can serve as a helpful reference for learners and educators alike.
By recognizing the roots and their meanings, one can decipher the meanings of unfamiliar words and expand one’s language skills. Learning the etymology of English words can also provide a fascinating insight into the history of the language and its evolution over time.
To learn more about etymology, check out our guides to Latin prefixes & Latin suffixes.