Unlocking Thousands of Words Through Etymology
Grades 5-6Over 60% of English words come from Greek and Latin roots. When you learn these roots, you can figure out the meaning of words you've never seen before!
Word Parts:
Greek: graphein
"to write" or "something written"
A biography is a written account of someone's life!
1. Match the word part to its meaning:
| ___ auto- | A. life |
| ___ bio- | B. far, distant |
| ___ photo- | C. self |
| ___ tele- | D. light |
2. What does each word literally mean?
autograph = + write = _______________
photograph = + write = _______________
telegram = + write = _______________
3. Use "biography" in a sentence about a Bible character:
Latin: scribere
"to write"
In biblical times, scribes (Hebrew: soferim) were scholars who carefully copied the Torah by hand. They counted every letter to ensure accuracy!
"The law of Yahuah is perfect, converting the soul." - Psalm 19:7
To describe is to write down about something!
1. Fill in the root SCRIB or SCRIPT:
The ______ture is the written Word of Yahuah.
A ______e copies documents by hand.
Can you de______e what you see?
The manu______t was very old.
2. What prefix means...
before: (as in prescribe)
down/about: (as in describe)
into: (as in inscribe)
3. Why were scribes important in preserving Scripture?
Greek: logos
"word, speech, reason, study"
Theology is the study of Elohim and His ways!
1. Match the -ology to what it studies:
| ___ biology | A. the earth |
| ___ theology | B. ancient things |
| ___ geology | C. living things |
| ___ archaeology | D. Elohim |
2. Create new -ology words:
Study of stars (astro) =
Study of animals (zoo) =
Study of weather (meteor) =
3. Why is "Logos" (Word) used to describe Yahusha in John 1:1?
Greek: chronos
"time"
The books of 1 & 2 Chronicles are named from this root! They chronicle (record) the history of Israel from Adam to the return from Babylon.
Hebrew name: Divrei HaYamim (Words of the Days)
To synchronize is to make things happen at the same time!
1. Fill in CHRON words:
The Bible events are listed in __________________ order.
A __________________ illness lasts a long time.
Let's __________________ our watches to the same time.
1 & 2 __________________ record Israel's history.
2. What do these prefixes mean?
syn- (synchronize):
ana- (anachronism):
3. Put these Bible events in chronological order (1-4):
___ The Flood
___ Creation
___ Exodus from Egypt
___ Abraham's call
Latin: vertere
"to turn"
To convert is to turn completely - to change from one thing to another!
1. Match the prefix to its meaning:
| ___ con- (convert) | A. away from |
| ___ re- (reverse) | B. apart, aside |
| ___ di- (divert) | C. back |
| ___ a- (avert) | D. completely, together |
2. Fill in the VERT/VERS word:
Paul was _______________ed on the road to Damascus. (turned completely)
Yahuah created the entire _______________e. (all of creation)
Read the next _______________ in your Bible. (line of poetry)
3. How does repentance relate to "turning"?
Latin: dicere
"to say, speak"
To predict is to say something before it happens - like prophecy!
1. What do these prefixes mean?
pre- (predict):
contra- (contradict):
bene- (benediction):
ver- (verdict):
2. Fill in DICT words:
Look up words in the _______________.
The prophets _______________ed the Messiah's coming.
The priest gave a _______________ion (blessing).
3. How did prophets "predict" (speak before) about Yahusha?
Latin: spectare
"to look, see, watch"
To inspect is to look INTO something carefully!
1. Match the SPECT word to its meaning:
| ___ inspect | A. to honor, look up to |
| ___ respect | B. look into carefully |
| ___ expect | C. one who watches |
| ___ spectator | D. look forward to |
2. Fill in SPECT words:
We should _______________ our parents. (honor, look up to)
I _______________ Yahusha to return soon. (look forward to)
Let me _______________ your work. (look into)
3. What does it mean that Yahuah "inspects" our hearts?
| Root | Origin | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRAPH/GRAM | Greek | write | biography |
| SCRIB/SCRIPT | Latin | write | Scripture |
| LOG/-OLOGY | Greek | word, study | theology |
| CHRON | Greek | time | chronicle |
| VERT/VERS | Latin | turn | convert |
| DICT | Latin | say, speak | predict |
| SPECT | Latin | look, see | inspect |
1. Identify the root and meaning:
chronological: root = _____________, meaning = _____________
description: root = _____________, meaning = _____________
spectator: root = _____________, meaning = _____________
convert: root = _____________, meaning = _____________
dictionary: root = _____________, meaning = _____________
2. Which root would help you understand these words?
autograph → root:
biology → root:
reverse → root:
manuscript → root:
3. Write a paragraph using at least 5 vocabulary words from this workbook:
Matching: C, A, D, B
Word meanings: self + write, light + write, far + write
Fill in: Scripture, scribe, describe, manuscript
Prefixes: pre- (before), de- (down/about), in- (into)
Matching: C, D, A, B
New words: astrology, zoology, meteorology
Fill in: chronological, chronic, synchronize, Chronicles
Prefixes: syn- (together), ana- (against/back)
Order: 2, 1, 4, 3 (Creation, Flood, Abraham, Exodus)
Matching: D, C, B, A
Fill in: converted, universe, verse
Prefixes: pre- (before), contra- (against), bene- (good), ver- (true)
Fill in: dictionary, predicted, benediction
Matching: B, A, D, C
Fill in: respect, expect, inspect
Roots: chron (time), scrib (write), spect (look), vert (turn), dict (say)
Word roots: graph, log/ology, vert, scrib