1 Find a part you know, e.g. bene- in benevolent. 2 Say what it means: good, well. 3 Rule out choices that don't fit, like anything negative. 4 Pick from what's left. If at least one choice is gone, the guess is worth taking. A root gives a clue about the meaning. Check that the meaning still makes sense in a sentence before choosing.
un-, in-, im-, il-, ir-, non-, a- not, without unkind, impossible, nonstop dis- apart, not disagree, disappear, dislike mis- wrongly, badly mistake, misspell, misbehave mal-, male- bad, badly, evil malfunction, malice de- down, away, undo descend, defrost, deflate
re- again, back rebuild, return, replay pre- before preview, prehistoric, preheat post- after postpone, postscript fore- before, in front forecast, foresee, forehead ex-, e- out, former exit, export, emerge in-, im- in, into inhale, import, invade inter- between, among interrupt, international, interact sub- under, below submarine, subway, subtitle super-, sur- over, above supervise, superior, surface trans- across, through transport, transfer, translate circum-, peri- around circumference, perimeter, periscope con-, com-, co- together, with connect, combine, cooperate ab- away from absent, abnormal ad- toward, to adapt, adhere, admit extra-, ultra- beyond extraordinary, ultraviolet
uni-, mono- one, single unicycle, uniform, monotone bi-, di- two bicycle, biweekly, dioxide tri- three triangle, tripod, triple quad-, tetra- four quadrant, quadruple, tetrahedron cent- hundred century, centimeter, percent multi-, poly- many multiply, multicolored, polygon semi-, hemi- half semicircle, semifinal, hemisphere omni- all omnivore, omnipresent mega-, macro- large, great megaphone, megabyte micro- small microscope, microwave, microbe equi- equal equidistant, equator, equivalent
anti-, contra-, counter- against antidote, contradict, counteract pro- forward, for progress, proceed, promote bene-, bon- good, well benefit, beneficial, bonus auto- self autograph, automatic, autobiography hyper- over, too much hyperactive, hypersensitive hypo- under, too little hypothermia, hypodermic tele- far telephone, telescope, television
port carry portable, transport, export ject throw reject, eject, project vert, vers turn reverse, convert, version tract pull, drag attract, tractor, subtract duc, duct lead conduct, produce, introduce mit, miss send transmit, dismiss, mission pel, puls push, drive expel, propel, impulse ced, cess go, yield proceed, exceed, access gress step, walk progress, aggressive ven, vent come prevent, invent, adventure fer carry, bring transfer, refer, offer cur, curr run current, occur, recur mov, mot move remove, motion, motor
spect see, look inspect, spectator, respect vis, vid see visible, vision, video aud hear audience, audible, audition phon sound telephone, microphone, symphony dict say, speak predict, dictionary, verdict scrib, script write describe, scribble, script voc, vok call, voice vocal, vocabulary, provoke log, logue word, speech dialogue, monologue, apology leg, lect read, choose, gather legible, select, collect
struct build construct, structure, instruct ten, tain hold contain, retain, tenant cap, capt, cept take, seize capture, accept, intercept pos, pon place, put position, deposit, opponent plic, ply fold, bend complicated, duplicate, reply tend, tens stretch extend, tension, pretend sta, stat stand stable, station, statue fact, fect, fic make, do factory, effect, artificial fin end, limit final, finish, define pend hang, weigh suspend, pendant, depend grad step gradual, graduate, grade loc place locate, local, location
cred believe credit, incredible, credible path feeling, suffering sympathy, empathy, pathetic psych mind psychology, psychologist sens, sent feel sensitive, sense, sentiment jud, jus law, right judge, justice, justify val strong, worth valid, value, evaluate ver truth verify, verdict liber free liberty, liberate vol wish, will voluntary, volunteer anim life, spirit animal, animate, unanimous
bio life biology, biography geo earth geography, geology hydr, aqua water hydrant, dehydrated, aquarium therm heat thermometer, thermos, thermal photo light photograph, photosynthesis chron time chronological, synchronize ped, pod foot pedal, pedestrian, tripod man, manu hand manual, manufacture, manuscript mort death mortal, immortal vor eat carnivore, herbivore, devour terr earth, land territory, terrain, terrarium astro, aster star astronaut, asteroid, astronomy viv, vit live survive, vivid, vital nov new novel, novice, renovate rupt break interrupt, erupt, rupture
-able, -ible able to be readable, flexible, visible -ful full of careful, thoughtful, graceful -less without careless, fearless, endless -ous, -ious full of, having dangerous, curious, famous -ness state of being kindness, darkness, sadness -ment act or result of agreement, movement, amazement -tion, -sion act or state of action, decision, explanation -ify, -ize to make simplify, magnify, modernize -er, -or, -ist one who teacher, actor, scientist -ic, -al relating to heroic, musical, natural -ive tending to active, creative, protective -ity state or quality equality, activity, electricity -ship, -hood, -dom state, condition, realm friendship, childhood, freedom -cide killing, killer insecticide, pesticide -ology study of biology, zoology, geology
All of these are also in one printable list with flashcards .
Rookling's word roots course teaches these in short groups, with drills, and missed parts come back in review. Synonym questions in practice include word-part questions too.