Latin Roots and Derivatives

These Latin roots are linked to English derivatives, vocabulary activities, online quizzes, and more.

Pronunciation is provided on many pages, with more sound files to come.

New root words are added weekly. The goal of this website is to provide accurate and useful lists of English derivatives based on the Latin language.

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Latin Roots:

a-, ab-, abs- = away from, from

ago, agere, egi, actus = to do, drive, conduct

amicus, amica, amicum = friendly

anima, -ae; animus, -i = soul, life force; mind, intellect

arbor, arboris = tree

caedo, caedere, cecidi, caesum = to slaughter, kill, cut down

caput, capitis = head

caveat emptor = let the buyer beware!

circum = around

civis, civis = citizen

cor, cordis = heart

corpus, corporis = body

credo, credere, credidi, creditum = to believe, trust

culpa, culpae = guilt, fault, blame

cum-, com-, co-, col- = with, together

dignus, digna, dignum = worthy

doceo, docere, docui, doctus = to teach

donum, doni = gift

duco, ducere, duxi, ductus = to lead

figo, figere, fixi, fixus = to pierce; to fasten; to establish

gradior, gradi, gressus sum = to step

haereo, haerere, haesi, haesum = to cling, stick

hio, hiare, hiavi, hiatus = to yawn, to gape

humus, humi = ground

ignis, ignis = fire

insula, insulae = island

integer, integra, integrum = whole, entire

laguna, lagunae = little lake, pond

laudo, laudare, laudavi, laudatus = to praise

loquor, loqui, locutus sum = to speak

lux, lucis = light

manus, manus = hand

nasus, nasi = nose

oculus, oculi = eye

os, oris = mouth

pectus, pectoris = chest

pecunia, pecuniae = wealth, money

penis, penis = tail

placenta, placentae = cake, loaf

pono, ponere, posui, positus = to put, place

pugno, pugnare, pugnavi, pugnatum = to fight

sedeo, sedere, sedi, sessum = to sit

semen, seminis = seed

terra, terrae = land

tessera, tesserae = tile, token

testis, testis = witness

traho, trahere, traxi, tractus = to drag

vagina, vaginae = sheath, scabbard

voco, vocare, vocavi, vocatus = to call

votum, voti = vow, prayer

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