EtymonGreek roots

The root index

1,662 Greek roots

626 of them turn up in more than one English word. Learn a root once and you have quietly learned a dozen words.

1,662 roots

lógosstudy, account

γράφειν39

grápheinto write

sýntogether, with

parábeside, alongside

-îtisinflammation of

diáthrough, across

mónossingle, alone

-logíastudy of

phōnḗvoice, sound

eîdosform, shape

ísosequal, same

antíagainst, opposite

hodósway, road

krátospower, rule

morphḗform, shape

páthosfeeling, suffering

phílosloving, dear

σφαῖρα19

sphaîraball, sphere

grámmaletter, thing written

metáafter, beyond

-genḗsproducing, born of

nómoslaw, custom

psychḗsoul, mind

σαῦρος15

σκοπεῖν15

skopeînto look at, examine

dys-bad, difficult

ἤλεκτρον14

ḗlektronamber

kýkloscircle, wheel

hypérover, beyond

próbefore, in front of

tónospitch, tension

βάλλειν12

bálleinto throw

graphḗwriting

oxýssharp, acid

phóbosfear, panic

ἄνθρωπος11

ánthrōposhuman being

archḗrule, command

ἄστρον11

dérmaskin, hide

δύναμις11

dýnamispower, force

kósmosorder, world

maníamadness, frenzy

póliscity, city-state

thermóshot, warm

âthloncontest, prize

dêmosthe people

gōníaangle, corner

gráphōI write

týposimpression, stamp

-ítēsconnected with (mineral suffix)

amphíon both sides

génosbirth, stock

hédraseat, base

κέντρον9

kéntronsharp point, centre

kýtoshollow vessel

orthósstraight, correct

stásisa standing

dóxaopinion, belief

drómosrunning, course

hýlēmatter, wood

lýsisa loosening

στερεός8

stereóssolid, firm

tropḗa turning

-ōsiscondition, process

bállōto throw

chordḗgut, string

gastḗrbelly, stomach

hapsísarch, loop

khártēssheet of papyrus

léxisword, speech

mérospart, share

neûronsinew, nerve

oîkoshouse, household

tomḗa cutting

trophḗnourishment, food

zôionliving creature, animal

-ismóspractice, habit

ákrostopmost, at the tip

ἄγγελος6

ángelosmessenger

archi-chief, first

chorósdance, band of singers

δένδρον6

éndonwithin, inside

gnôsisknowledge

hieróssacred, holy

mégasgreat, large

néosnew, young

ópsissight, view

pétrarock, stone

φαίνειν6

phaíneinto show, appear

πλανήτης6

planḗtēswanderer

pterónwing, feather

téchnēcraft, skill

thésisa placing

thymósfeeling, spirit

-ōmagrowth, tumour

αἴσθησις5

aísthēsisperception, sensation

aithḗrupper air, blazing sky

ánthosflower, bloom

arkhósleader, commander

βαίνειν5

baíneinto walk, to go

chlōróspale green, yellow-green

δάκτυλος5

dáktylosfinger, toe

eikṓnimage, likeness

ektomḗa cutting out

éthnosnation, people

ἁρμονία5

harmoníajoining, fitting together

héterosother, different

hístēmito make stand, set up

hóloswhole, entire

idéaform, appearance

ischíonhip joint, hip socket

Χριστός5

Khristósanointed one

κίνησις5

kínēsismovement

kitháralyre-like instrument

kýanosdark blue

κυβερνήτης5

kybernḗtēssteersman, helmsman

légeinto pick out, recount

Μαγνησία5

MagnēsíaMagnesia, a district

makróslong, large

mēkhanḗdevice, contrivance

mélasblack, dark

mŷsmuscle, mouse

olígosfew, little

ὄργανον5

órganoninstrument, tool

phérōto carry, bear

φῶς, φωτός5

phôs, phōtóslight

phrḗndiaphragm, midriff, mind

skēnḗtent, stage building

τείνειν5

teíneinto stretch

θεραπεία5

therapeíaattendance, cure

ἀγωνιστής4

agōnistḗscontestant, actor

ἀλέξειν4

aléxeinto ward off, defend

állosother, different

árcheinto rule

ἄριστος4

áristosbest, noblest

χόνδρος4

chóndroscartilage, grain

drâmadeed, action, play

ἐρυθρός4

hálssalt, the sea

kólonlarge intestine

krýosicy cold, frost

κρυπτός4

kryptóshidden, concealed

laliátalk, chatter

λαμβάνειν4

lambáneinto seize, take hold

lýōto loosen, release

mélossong, tune

μέταλλον4

métallonmine, quarry

mîmosimitator, actor

mýkēsfungus, mushroom

mŷthosspeech, tale

pálinagain, back

φαντασία4

phantasíaappearance, imagination

phéreinto bear, carry

philíaaffection, fondness

platýsbroad, flat

prâxisaction, doing

σεισμός4

seismósshaking, earthquake

στέλλειν4

stélleinto send, dispatch

στρατός4

stratósarmy, encamped host

strophḗa turning

táxisarrangement, ordering

télosend, purpose

τέμνειν4

θάνατος4

thḗkēcase, store

thḗrwild beast

θρόμβος4

thrómboslump, clot, curd

Titána Titan, elder god

tróposturn, direction

xénosstranger, guest

zêlosardour, rivalry, envy

-ídēsdescendant of

-oeidḗshaving the form of

agōgósleader, guide

agoráassembly, gathering place

Αἰκατερίνη3

AikaterínēCatherine, sense unknown

ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός3

anḗr, andrósman

ἀρχαῖος3

arkhaîosancient, from the beginning

ἀρτηρία3

artēríaduct, windpipe

aspísasp; round shield

βαλλίζειν3

ballízeinto dance, to jump about

βάρβαρος3

bárbarosforeign, non-Greek-speaking

básisa step; a pedestal

βήρυλλος3

bḗryllosberyl, sea-green gem

botánēpasture, herb

βρόγχος3

brónchoswindpipe, throat

daímōndivine power, spirit

δίπλωμα3

díplōmafolded paper

διπλόος3

diplóosdouble, twofold

εἴδωλον3

eídōlonimage, phantom

ēkhṓecho, sound

élaionolive oil

ἔντερον3

énteronintestine, gut

ἐπιστήμη3

epistḗmēknowledge, understanding

érōsdesire, passionate love

gámosmarriage, wedding

γένεσις3

génesisorigin, coming into being

glôssatongue, language

gonḗbirth, begetting

gýpsoschalk, gypsum

gŷrosring, circle

hḗrōshero, demigod

histósloom, web, tissue

hómoioslike, similar

hṓrahour, season, right time

hóramasight, view

hórosboundary, limit

καθαρός3

katharósclean, pure

kêtossea monster, whale

kínēmamovement, motion

kléosfame, glory

κοτυληδών3

kotylēdṓncup-shaped hollow

kréasflesh, meat

krýptēhidden vault, covered way

kýstisbladder, pouch

λείπειν3

leípeinto leave, be lacking

lêmmapremise, proposition

lḗthēforgetfulness

leukóswhite, bright

líposfat, grease

lobósearlobe, pod

μαγνῆτις λίθος3

magnêtis líthosstone of Magnesia

mastósbreast, nipple

μουσική3

mousikḗart of the Muses

nárkēnumbness, torpor

nekróscorpse, dead body

néktardrink of the gods

nítronnatron, soda

οἰκονομία3

oikonomíahousehold management

Ὀλυμπία3

OlympíaOlympia, site of the games

ónbeing, that which is

ónyxclaw, fingernail

OrpheúsOrpheus, the singer

ὄστρακον3

óstrakonshell, potsherd

Οὐρανός3

Ouranóssky, heaven

παῖς, παιδός3

paîs, paidóschild, boy

παλαιός3

palaiósancient, old

πάπυρος3

pápyrospapyrus plant

paûsisa stopping, ceasing

πέλαγος3

pélagosopen sea

phaínōto bring to light, shine

φάντασμα3

phántasmaapparition, appearance

phásisappearance, rising of a star

πίπτειν3

pípteinto fall

πλαγκτός3

planktóswandering, drifting

plásmasomething moulded

PlátōnPlato, Athenian philosopher

πλοῦτος3

ploûtoswealth, riches

pōleînto sell

pórospassage, ford

prâgmadeed, thing done

πρεσβύτερος3

presbýteroselder, older man

prósto, toward

rhythmósmeasured flow

scholḗleisure

skhêmaform, figure, shape

skopóswatcher, lookout

σοφιστής3

sophistḗsexpert, teacher of wisdom

statósstanding, held fixed

stíchosrow, line of verse

tachýsswift, rapid

téktōncarpenter, builder

τερέβινθος3

terébinthosterebinth tree

θέατρον3

théatronviewing place

timḗhonour, price, worth

títhēmito put, place

τοξικόν3

toxikónarrow poison

zýmēleaven, ferment

-ēmaresult of the action

-graphíawriting, description

-kólosdocked, cut short

-troninstrument for

agṓncontest, gathering

ἀγορεύειν2

agoreúeinto speak in public

agrósfield, farmland

aiṓnage, lifetime

αἰσθητικός2

aisthētikósof sense perception

ákanthaspine, thorn

ἀκουστικός2

akoustikósable to be heard

ἀλλήλων2

allḗlōnof one another

álphafirst Greek letter

ἀμυγδάλη2

amygdálēalmond

ἀνάλυσις2

análysisa loosening apart

ánthraxcoal, charcoal

Showing the 400 most productive. Narrow the search to see the rest.