Root Words Quiz

Can you name the Root Words?

created by bhuebsch

Enter an answer (last names acceptable) in the box below
Correctly named answers will show up below
Answers do not have to be guessed in order
Below are 29 root words. Provide the meaning of each root. This was developed to help middle school student learn the meanings of these morphemes.
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Root	Meaning	Example
aero		aerobics, aerodynamic
aqua		aquarium
biblio		bibliography
bio		biology
chron		chronology, chronic, chronicle
dem		deomocracy
geo		geology, geography
graph		autograph, graphic, pictograph
ist		tourist
hemi		hemisphere, hemiplegic
meter		thermometer, metric
micro		microscope, microphone
migr		migrate, migration
mim		mimic, mime, mimesis
mort		mortician, mortald, mortuary

Root	Meaning	Example
phon		telephone, phonograph, microphone
photo		photography, photosynthesis
ess		tigress, princess, actress
ism		optimism, patriotism, terrorism
scrib/script		scribble, manuscript
tele		telescope, television, telephone
test		testify, testimony, pretest
a/an		atypical, anaerobic, amoral
be		befriend, benumb, besiege
mid		midlife, midnight, midtown
post
semi		semicircle, semiconscious, semisweet
super		superhuman, superscript, superior
ant/ent

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There are 18 comments for this game.
(Warning: comments may contain spoilers)

Root Words Quiz

by bhuebsch

Created Jan 12, 2010 in Language
Game Plays 4,777

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	szporkel:	Jan 13th, 2010 at 04:16 GMT		5 points
	This is a fun quiz but I don't think it's quite accurate. A lot of these aren't "root words" at all, but morphemes- pieces of language that can change the part of speech or the function of a word. Also, testis is a root meaning witness rather than prove. I also think you should accept "rock" for geo.

	tiger:	Jan 13th, 2010 at 22:19 GMT		-2 points
	i did this in sixth grade at my old school! i knew this would come in handy someday. thank you mr. richards

	lirazel:	Jan 14th, 2010 at 01:01 GMT		1 point
	BookS? Really? Refusing to accept book? Lovely.

	ddt:	Jan 14th, 2010 at 15:22 GMT		0 points
	If it's about root words, you should cite the original Greek/Latin words which are used, i.e., aer, biblios, gea, graphos, etc. And you included several things that are not roots, but rather prefixes (e.g. be-) or suffixes (e.g. -ist, -ant).

	googlebird:	Feb 9th, 2010 at 00:24 GMT		1 point
	The suffix "ism" does not mean "forms a noun". It can mean a belief or a doctrine. You may want to accept more answers for "super". (over, bigger, faster etc.) A "person/one who" should also work for the "ant/ent" clue.

	rlnintendo:	Feb 17th, 2010 at 20:27 GMT		-1 points
	I made a game pretty similar to this, I know I shouldn't be advertising my own quiz, but I just felt like saying... http://www.sporcle.com/games/rlnintendo/greekroot_pre_suf

	shanekelby:	Feb 17th, 2010 at 21:34 GMT		2 points
	You spelled democracy wrong.

	joeyostrander:	Feb 17th, 2010 at 21:54 GMT		1 point
	ignores many relevant synonyms.

	jeter4982:	Feb 17th, 2010 at 21:57 GMT		4 points
	need to add more alternate answers and synonyms

	emanuel:	Feb 17th, 2010 at 23:58 GMT		1 point
	move should be accepted for "mim"

	Fidelio:	Feb 18th, 2010 at 00:09 GMT		4 points
	There were a number of these I knew that I nonetheless didn't get credit for. At the very least you should accept "move" in addition to "movement," and "distance" in addition to "far away."

	nowachi:	Feb 19th, 2010 at 21:59 GMT		1 point
	need to put "-"'s for suffixes.. like -ess, -ist, etc.

	bimmy2468:	Feb 22nd, 2011 at 18:46 GMT		1 point
	ism can also mean "the belief of"

	imclala:	Feb 22nd, 2011 at 19:43 GMT		3 points
	Having "write" as an acceptable answer to two different words is pointless. You're giving an answer away and creating a false statistic. I tried "move" for migr- and it was not accepted. I also tried "over" for super.

	tjperiwinkle:	Feb 23rd, 2012 at 21:32 GMT		1 point
	Please separate between roots, prefixes and suffixes. Example: "graph" vs. "hemi-" vs. "-ism".

	chriskotx:	Feb 24th, 2012 at 01:13 GMT		1 point
	I tried "believer" for "ist" and "belief" for "ism". Please accept those.

	ThatDamnCat:	Feb 2nd, 2013 at 12:15 GMT		0 points
	was totally barking up the wrong tree thinking "testicals, testosterone" etc : /

	MooseWolf:	Feb 28th, 2013 at 21:28 GMT		0 points
	Stop complaining about this quiz, it was made to be used as an in-class activity at my school and was NOT intended for people to cry about possible mistakes in the development of this quiz. SO STOP CRYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!