Word Origins and Etymology
Year 5 students explore the origins of English words through Latin, Greek, and Old English roots, prefixes, and suffixes to build vocabulary and spelling knowledge.
What You Need to Know
Key Concept Diagram
Many English words come from Latin and Greek roots, e.g. "bio" (Greek: life) in biology and biography
Knowing a root word helps you work out the meaning of unfamiliar words
Prefixes change the meaning of a word, e.g. un- (not), re- (again), pre- (before)
Suffixes change the function of a word, e.g. -tion (noun), -ful (adjective), -ly (adverb)
Key Vocabulary
Etymology
The study of the origin and history of words
Root word
The base word from which other words are formed by adding prefixes or suffixes
Prefix
A group of letters added to the beginning of a word that changes its meaning
Suffix
A group of letters added to the end of a word that changes its meaning or grammatical role
Knowledge Check
Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.
Question 1
The root "aqua" comes from Latin meaning water. Which word does NOT contain this root?
Question 2
What does the prefix "bi-" mean in words like "bicycle" and "bilingual"?
Question 3
The suffix "-less" means "without." Which word means "without hope"?
Key Concepts Summary
- ●Many English words come from Latin and Greek roots, e.g. "bio" (Greek: life) in biology and biography
- ●Knowing a root word helps you work out the meaning of unfamiliar words
- ●Prefixes change the meaning of a word, e.g. un- (not), re- (again), pre- (before)
- ●Suffixes change the function of a word, e.g. -tion (noun), -ful (adjective), -ly (adverb)