What is a Root Word?
Root words are the foundation upon which many words are built. They form the core part of a word and often give it its basic meaning. Understanding the root word is key to understanding the entire word- and understanding how to use the word in speech or writing. In this article, we’ll explore the concept of a root word in more detail to help better understand how to use them.
Definition of a Root Word
A root word is a basic form of a word from which other words are derived. They are derived from the Greek and Latin languages, and usually carry a basic meaning which can be modified by attaching prefixes and suffixes. Root words are also known as base or stem words, and are the units that make up compound words, as well as phrases.
Examples of Root Words
Understanding root words is essential to becoming a competent speaker and reader of English. Here are some examples of root words and the meaning that forms their basis:
• Acre – unit of land
• Adapt – to change
• Bio – life
• Calcul – to use mathematics
• Form – to shape
• Mal – bad
• Path – journey
• Process – going through a series of steps
• Talk – to communicate
Prefixes and Suffixes
As mentioned earlier, understanding how to use root words requires understanding prefixes and suffixes. Prefixes are added to the start of a root word, and suffixes are added to the end. This can change the meaning and form of the root word. For example:
• The prefix “un-” added to the root word “happy” gives us “unhappy”
• The suffix “-s” added to the root word “happen” gives us “happens”
Knowing the meaning of a root word and then understanding how to add prefixes and suffixes can help you better figure out a word’s meaning when you encounter it in reading or writing.
Benefits of Understanding Root Words
Whether you are a learner of English as a second language, or simply someone wanting to increase their language skills, understanding how to use root words is essential. Here are some of the benefits it can offer:
• Comprehension – being familiar with root words and understanding how to use them helps with understanding the meaning of unfamiliar words
• Better Communication – being able to accurately use root words to communicate helps to build confidence and improves the chances of being understood
• Overall language development – understanding root words helps with improving overall language skills such as reading and writing, as well as aiding speaking fluency and accuracy
In conclusion, understanding root words is key to mastering the use and understanding of words. Having a good grasp of root words and understanding how to add prefixes and suffixes can help a great deal with building language skills and improving communication.