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Quizzes > English & Grammar

Etymology Test: 20 Questions on Word Origins and Roots

Quick, free etymology quiz with instant results and study links.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Curtis FehrUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 9
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Colorful paper art promoting Word Origins Quest trivia for high school students.

This etymology test helps you practice word origins and roots in 20 quick questions. See your score right away, then explore more with etymology trivia questions, a greek and latin roots quiz, and a word roots quiz to build your English Language Arts skills and deepen your understanding of how words are formed.

Which Greek roots combine to form the word 'telephone'?
micro (small) and scope (see)
tele (far) and phone (sound)
tele (distance) and graph (write)
auto (self) and phone (sound)
The word 'telephone' originates from the Greek 'tele', meaning 'far' or 'distance', combined with 'phone', meaning 'sound' or 'voice'. This combination highlights its function of transmitting sound over long distances.
Which prefix means 'against', as used in words like 'antibiotic'?
inter-
anti-
pre-
pro-
The prefix 'anti-' comes from Greek and means 'against' or 'opposite'. It is commonly used in words like 'antibiotic' to indicate opposition or counteraction.
Which Greek root is found in words related to the study of the Earth, such as 'geology'?
bio
geo
astro
hydro
The root 'geo' originates from the Greek word for 'Earth'. It is used in terms like 'geology', which is the study of the Earth's physical structure and substance.
From which Latin root is the meaning 'to write' derived, as seen in words like 'manuscript'?
script
port
vid
tract
The Latin root 'script' comes from 'scribere', which means 'to write'. This root is evident in a variety of writing-related words, including 'manuscript' and 'inscription'.
Which two Greek roots combine to form the word 'biology'?
auto (self) and logy (study)
bio (life) and graph (write)
geo (earth) and logy (study)
bio (life) and logy (study)
The term 'biology' is derived from the Greek 'bios' meaning 'life' and 'logos' meaning 'study'. This directly translates to the study of living organisms, explaining the subject matter of the field.
What does the Greek root 'chrono' refer to in words like 'chronology'?
music
time
space
color
The Greek root 'chrono' means 'time', which is a fundamental concept in words like 'chronology'. Recognizing this root helps in understanding time-related terminology.
The word 'aquatic' is derived from which Latin root?
aqua
arbor
animus
aurum
The Latin root 'aqua' means 'water', forming the basis of words such as 'aquatic'. This helps in linking the vocabulary to its literal meaning pertaining to water.
Which prefix, of Greek origin used in 'hemisphere', means 'half'?
mono-
semi-
hemi-
poly-
The prefix 'hemi-' is of Greek origin and means 'half', as seen in the term 'hemisphere'. This understanding aids in recognizing parts of words that indicate division into halves.
In the word 'magnify', what is the Latin root 'magnus' associated with?
great
bright
heavy
small
The root 'magnus' means 'great' in Latin, which is the basis for the word 'magnify'. This illustrates how word parts can convey an idea of size or greatness.
Which word is formed by combining the Greek roots 'psyche' and 'logos'?
psychology
geology
sociology
biology
The term 'psychology' is derived from 'psyche' meaning 'mind' and 'logos' meaning 'study', thereby designating it as the study of the mind. Understanding these roots helps clarify the subject's focus.
What does the suffix '-ology' denote in scientific terminologies?
study of
creation of
measurement of
fear of
The suffix '-ology' comes from the Greek word 'logos', meaning study, and is used to indicate the field of study of a subject. This suffix is common in scientific disciplines.
Identify the Latin root meaning 'speak' found in words like 'dictate' and 'dictionary'.
sens
voc
scrib
dict
The Latin root 'dict' means 'speak' or 'say', which is clearly seen in words such as 'dictate' and 'dictionary'. This knowledge assists in deciphering related vocabulary based on speaking or stating.
In the word 'malfunction', what does the prefix 'mal-' signify?
large
bad
quick
good
The prefix 'mal-' originates from Latin and means 'bad' or 'poor', which in 'malfunction' implies a failure in working properly. Recognizing such prefixes helps in understanding the negative connotation of words.
The word 'astronomy' is built from Greek roots. What do 'astron' and 'nomos' mean?
'sky' and 'study'
'star' and 'law'
'sun' and 'measurement'
'planet' and 'order'
In 'astronomy', the root 'astron' means 'star' and 'nomos' means 'law' or 'order'. This reflects the discipline's study of the laws governing celestial bodies.
From which Latin root does the term 'century' originate, and what does it mean?
centum, meaning one hundred
centi, meaning a hundredth
mille, meaning thousand
decem, meaning ten
The word 'century' comes from the Latin 'centum', meaning one hundred. This etymology is directly reflected in the numerical value represented by a century.
The word 'companion' is derived from the Latin components 'com-' and 'panis'. What does this original construction indicate?
Someone who sells bread
Someone who eats bread alone
Someone who writes bread
Someone with whom you share bread
The Latin prefix 'com-' means 'with' and 'panis' means 'bread'. Historically, 'companion' referred to someone with whom you shared your bread, symbolizing friendship and camaraderie.
The term 'decimate' originally referred to the execution of every tenth soldier. Which Latin root is this concept based on?
decem
deci-
duo-
deca-
The Latin root 'decem' means 'ten', and is the basis for the word 'decimate'. Historically, 'decimate' described the practice of killing one in every ten soldiers as a punishment.
The word 'algebra' originates from the Arabic term 'al-jabr'. What is the original meaning of 'al-jabr'?
Reunion of broken parts
Measure of land
The path of computation
The art of numbers
'Al-jabr' translates to 'reunion of broken parts', referring to the process of restoring and balancing equations. This idea is central to the discipline of algebra.
Which word is a blend of Greek and Latin roots, with 'tele-' meaning 'far' and 'vision' derived from Latin, meaning 'sight'?
telephone
television
microscope
graphology
The word 'television' is constructed from the Greek prefix 'tele-', meaning 'far', and the Latin-derived 'vision', meaning 'sight'. This etymology reflects its purpose of transmitting images over distances.
The suffix '-phobia' is used to denote an irrational fear. From which Greek word is it derived, and what does that word mean?
pnoia, meaning breath
philia, meaning love
phobos, meaning fear
nomos, meaning law
The suffix '-phobia' comes from the Greek word 'phobos', which means fear. This background explains why words ending in '-phobia' are used to describe irrational fears or aversions.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify the origins and key components of a variety of English words.
  2. Analyze how word roots contribute to overall vocabulary meaning.
  3. Apply etymological principles to deduce the meanings of unfamiliar words.
  4. Evaluate linguistic connections between related words based on their historical development.
  5. Create explanations that articulate the influence of word origins on modern usage.

Etymology Quiz Practice Test Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand Etymology - Etymology is the detective work of language, tracing word origins and watching meanings twist over centuries. It's like being a word archaeologist, uncovering the hidden stories behind everyday terms!
  2. Use Greek & Latin Roots - Many English words derive from Greek and Latin roots, giving you powerful clues to new vocabulary. Spotting familiar roots can turn a giant word into bite‑sized, understandable pieces!
  3. Master Prefixes & Suffixes - Learn common prefixes (like "un-" and "pre-") and suffixes (like "-able" and "-tion") to decode complex words quickly. Once you know these building blocks, mysteries like "impossible" or "celebration" lose all their power!
  4. Explore Borrowings - Discover how English borrows words from languages like French ("ballet") and Italian ("piano"). This cultural word exchange adds flavor to your vocabulary and shows how languages grow together!
  5. Track Semantic Shifts - Words can change meaning over time - "nice" used to mean "foolish" and now means "pleasant." Recognizing these shifts helps you unlock meaning in older texts and enriches your understanding of modern usage!
  6. Improve Spelling with Origins - Knowing roots like "tele-" (meaning "far") helps you spell words such as "telephone" and "television" with confidence. Turning spelling into a root‑recognition game makes learning fun and memorable!
  7. Break Down Word Parts - Practice analyzing prefixes, roots, and suffixes to infer the meaning of new words. This strategy turbocharges your vocab‑building toolkit and transforms you into a word wizard!
  8. Create Word Webs - Engage in creative activities like making word webs to visualize connections between words and their roots. This bright, visual method cements your learning and sparks curiosity!
  9. Spot Blends & Portmanteaus - Recognize words formed by blending two terms, like "brunch" (breakfast + lunch), to see how new words are born. It's like catching a linguistic mashup in action!
  10. Boost Comprehension & Writing - Studying etymology enhances your vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing skills by revealing the history and connections between words. Armed with this knowledge, you'll tackle any text with confidence!
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