The English language is a versatile and rich tapestry that combines influences from many different languages. As these influences leave their mark on English, it gets fuller and more interesting, giving us new vocabulary to describe different things and express different emotions.
In this article, we'll be looking specifically at words that are derived from Greek, focusing particularly on Greek roots, suffixes, and prefixes.
Fig. 1 - A lot of the English language has been influenced by Greek.
Before we dive in, let's look at some quick definitions:
Root, Prefix, and Suffix Definitions
What does each of these terms mean? Before we explore the specific ways in which Greek roots, suffixes, and prefixes have influenced the English language, we must first understand what these terms refer to.
Root word
A root word is the unaltered, basic form of a word before it has any suffixes or prefixes attached to it that change its meaning.
'Fox,' 'Jump,' and 'Face' are some examples of root words.
Suffix
A suffix is a morpheme (a small piece of language that cannot be broken down any further) that is added to the end of a root word. Suffixes add to or change the meaning of the root word.
'-es', '-ing', and '-ation' are some examples of suffixes ('Boxes', 'Fishing', 'Aggravation').
Prefix
A prefix is a type of morpheme added to the beginning of a root word. Prefixes also add to or change the meaning of the root word.
'-un', '-hyper', and '-in' are some examples of prefixes ('Unrealistic', 'Hyperactive', 'Insecure').
Top Tip: If you're finding it tricky to tell if something is a suffix or a prefix, think about the word 'prefix' itself. It begins with '-pre', which means 'before.' For example, if you go out for a meal that has been 'prepaid,' this means the meal was paid for before you ate it.
Greek Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes Examples
Now that we've got our definitions down, we can move on to looking at some examples of Greek words, suffixes, and prefixes that have been assimilated into the English language.
Greek Roots Examples
Fig. 2 - Many scientific terms come from Greek.
Greek Suffixes Examples
'-ism' meaning 'the act or state of'
'-graph' meaning 'a written or drawn representation'
'-logy' meaning 'the study, theory, or science of something'
Greek Prefixes Examples
Greek Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes Words
In the above section, we can see examples of each of the three parts of a word: the root, the prefix, and the suffix. But how do these parts work together to form new words?
Here are some examples using our Greek roots from the above section:
- Greek root 'anthrop' + Greek suffix '-ology' = 'anthropology', which in English refers to the study of humans.
- Greek root 'bio' + 'Greek suffix '-ology' = 'biology', which in English is the study of living things or the study of life.
- Greek prefix 'mono' + Greek root 'chrome' = 'monochrome', which in English refers to when something is only one color.
- Greek root 'auto' + Old French root 'mobile' = 'automobile', which in English means 'self-moving' and refers to a car.
Here are some examples using our Greek suffixes:
- English root 'capital' + Greek suffix '-ism' = 'capitalism', which in English refers to the economic system used by most countries in the world.
- Greek root 'seismos' + Greek suffix '-graph' = 'seismograph', which in English is a method of measuring and recording earthquakes.
- Greek root 'physic' + Greek suffix '-ology' = 'physiology', which in English is the study of the functions of living things.
Here are some examples using our Greek prefixes:
- Greek prefix 'anti' + English root 'histamine' = 'antihistamine', which in English refers to a medicine used to relieve allergy symptoms.
- Greek prefix 'pan' + Latin root 'cardiacus' = 'pancardiac', which in English refers to something involving the heart organ.
- Greek prefix 'micro' + Greek root 'scope' = 'microscope', which in English refers to an optical instrument used for observing minuscule objects.
Greek Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes Review
As you can see in the examples used above, Greek roots, suffixes, and prefixes can be combined with roots, suffixes, and prefixes from different languages to create the English words we use today. Most of the words in the examples above are derived completely from Greek, or a combination of Greek and Latin/ French.
Why, then, does English have so many words comprised of Greek roots, suffixes, and prefixes mixed with other languages?
Greek Influence on the English Language
Much of the influence of Greek on English is rooted in the Renaissance, when European society (including England) placed a great deal of significance on Ancient Greek literature and drama, and Greek philosophy.
What was the Renaissance?
A period of cultural, economic, and political upheaval after the Middle Ages, between the 14th and 17th centuries.
Ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle were held in high esteem during the Renaissance, and many ancient Greek philosophies made their way into English law.
Plato believed that the rule of law is better than that of the individual, meaning that all members of society should abide by set laws, regardless of their hierarchical position in society. Due to the existence of laws, people cannot act in a way unregulated by consequences, and the existence of these consequences forms the basis of justice and judgment.
The law is not the only aspect of modern society influenced by Ancient Greece. Works of Ancient Greek literature and drama, such as Homer's The Odyssey and Sophocles' Oedipus, are still widely revered and studied today, despite being written and published over 2000 years ago.
Some literature-based words that came from Greek include: 'irony,' 'climax,' and 'protagonist.'
Ancient Greek disciplines such as medicine, mathematics, and astrology have also contributed significantly to modern English by introducing new concepts and language to modern times.
Words such as 'clinic,' 'pi,' and 'galaxy' all come from Greek.
Fig. 3 - Many facets of Ancient Greek society have influenced our language today.
Greek Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes List
Although we've already looked at a few brief examples for context, you might like to see a broader range of Greek roots, suffixes, and prefixes that have been adopted by the English language.
These tables should give you a wider overview:
| Greek Roots | Meaning | Examples |
| anthrop | human | anthropology, philanthropy |
| bio | life | bioluminescence, biofuel |
| path | feeling | sympathy, psychopath |
| ped | child | pediatrician, pedagogy, |
| dem | people | demographic, endemic |
| Greek Prefixes | Meaning | Examples |
| geo | Earth | geography, geologist |
| macro | large | macro lens, macroscopy |
| neo | new | neologism, neonatal |
| therm | heat | thermometer, thermostat |
| a | without, not | atypical, amoral |
| Greek Suffixes | Meaning | Examples |
| ist | relating to | cyclist, sexist |
| meter | measure | barometer, spedometer |
| gram | a written or drawn record | telegram, mammogram |
| phobe | one with an intense fear | arachnophobe, hydrophobe |
| oid | resembling, similar to | humanoid, cuboid |
Greek Roots, Suffixes, and Prefixes - Key Takeaways
- Many English words are derived from Greek and can be formed from Greek roots, suffixes, and prefixes mixed with roots, prefixes, and suffixes of other languages.
- A root is the basic form of a word, a prefix is a morpheme that is added to the beginning of a root word, and a suffix is a morpheme that is added to the end of a root word.
- Prefixes and suffixes alter or add to the meaning of a root word.
- Ancient Greek philosophy, culture, and science heavily influenced modern English as English borrowed many words from these Ancient Greek practices.
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