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Quizzes > English & Grammar

Greek Root Words Quiz: Phono, Graph, and Paleo

Quick, free quiz to test graph root words and more. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Joanna WaldmanUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
paper art letters forming Greek roots phono graph hemi on golden yellow background for a root words quiz

This Greek root words quiz helps you spot and explain phono, graph, and paleo in everyday words. Practice meanings, build vocabulary, and get instant results as you answer. For more review, try our greek and latin roots quiz, keep going with root word practice, or test yourself with identify the root word.

What is the meaning of the Greek root "phono"?
Light
Sound
Color
Voice
The Greek root phono comes from ???? (ph?n?) meaning 'sound'. It is used in words like phonograph and phonetics to indicate a relationship to sound. Despite similar roots relating to voice, phono specifically denotes sound. .
What does the Greek root "graph" mean?
Draw
Read
Write
Speak
The root graph is from Greek ????? (graph?), meaning 'to write'. It appears in words like autobiography, pictograph, and graphology. Though graph can imply drawing in pictograph, its core meaning is writing. .
What does the Greek root "hemi" mean?
Quarter
Half
Whole
Double
Hemi comes from the Greek ???- (h?mi-), meaning 'half'. It is seen in words like hemisphere and hemicycle, each denoting a half of something. It should not be confused with demi or semi, which also mean 'half' but from different origins. .
What does the Greek root "bio" mean?
Life
Earth
Knowledge
Time
The root bio comes from the Greek ???? (bios), meaning 'life'. It is used in biology, biography, and antibiotic. The root always relates to life or living organisms. .
What does the Greek root "geo" mean?
Air
Fire
Water
Earth
Geo stems from the Greek ?? (g?), meaning 'earth'. It appears in geology, geography, and geothermal. This root consistently relates to the planet's surface or land. .
What does the Greek root "tele" mean?
Far
Small
Large
Near
Tele comes from the Greek ???? (t?le), meaning 'far off'. It is part of words like telephone, television, and telepathy. This root indicates distance or remote operation. .
What does the Greek root "micro" mean?
Middle
Large
Small
Heavy
Micro derives from the Greek ?????? (mikros), meaning 'small'. It is found in microscope, microchip, and microbiology. Micro always indicates something tiny or on a small scale. .
What does the Greek root "macro" mean?
Short
Large
Small
Long
Macro comes from the Greek ?????? (makros), meaning 'long' or 'large'. It appears in macroscopic, macroeconomics, and macronutrient. The root always signifies something large scale. .
What does phonetics study?
Speech sounds
Letter arrangement
Sentence structure
Word meanings
Phonetics is the branch of linguistics that examines the sounds of human speech. The root phono means 'sound', while -etics relates to study. Phonology, in contrast, deals with the systematic organization of sounds in languages. .
What is graphology the study of?
Biographies
Graphs
Geography
Handwriting
Graphology comes from graphos ('writing') and -logy ('study of'), and focuses on handwriting analysis. Although often linked to personality assessment, its scientific validity is debated. The root graph indicates writing rather than graphs or geography. .
What does the term hemisphere refer to?
Two spheres
Quarter of a sphere
Half of a sphere
Entire sphere
Hemisphere combines hemi ('half') and sphere ('ball') to mean half of a sphere, like Earth's Northern Hemisphere. It should not be confused with a quarter sphere or multiple spheres. .
What does a telephone do?
Records visual images
Transmits speech over distance
Converts text to electricity
Measures atmospheric pressure
Telephone derives from tele ('far') and phone ('voice/sound'), and its purpose is to transmit voice signals over long distances. It does not record images or measure pressure. .
What is the primary function of a microphone?
Convert sound into electrical signals
Amplify light waves
Store digital data
Measure air temperature
Microphone combines micro ('small') and phone ('sound') to mean a device that converts sound into electrical signals. It does not amplify light or measure temperature. .
What does the suffix "-ology" mean?
Sound of
Writing of
Study of
Law of
The suffix -ology comes from the Greek -logia, meaning 'the study of'. It appears in biology, geology, and psychology. It does not mean writing or law, which are -graphy and -nomy respectively. .
What does photograph literally mean?
Sound record
Image creation
Color writing
Light drawing
Photograph comes from photo ('light') and graph ('writing/drawing'), literally meaning 'drawing with light'. It describes the process of capturing images on light-sensitive surfaces. .
What does the Greek root "chrono" mean?
Work
Time
Life
Space
Chrono derives from the Greek ?????? (chronos), meaning 'time'. It appears in words like chronology, chronic, and chronometer. Although it resembles other roots, it specifically relates to time. .
What does the Greek root "biblio" mean in bibliography?
Chapter
Book
Writing
List
Biblio comes from the Greek ??????? (biblion), meaning 'book'. In bibliography it refers to a list of books or writings. It is not related to lists or chapters themselves. .
In the word "cacophony", what does the root "caco" mean?
Harmony
Echo
Bad
Loud
Caco comes from the Greek ????? (kakos), meaning 'bad'. In cacophony, which refers to unpleasant sounds, caco indicates something negative or bad. .
In the term "polyglot", what does "poly" mean?
Many
Native
One
Foreign
Poly comes from the Greek ????? (polys), meaning 'many' or 'much'. A polyglot speaks many languages. It does not mean one or foreign specifically. .
What does the Greek root "cycle" mean in hemicycle?
Half
Angle
Circle
Line
Cycle comes from ?????? (kyklos), meaning 'circle' or 'wheel'. In hemicycle it indicates half of a circular structure. It does not mean half or angle on its own. .
What does "paleo" mean in paleography?
New
Old
Study
Writing
Paleo derives from the Greek ??????? (palaios), meaning 'old' or 'ancient'. Paleography studies ancient writing. The root does not mean new or the act of writing. .
In "echocardiogram", what does "echo" mean?
Record
Sound
Heart
Measure
Echo comes from the Greek ??? (?kh?), meaning 'sound' or 'reverberation'. Echocardiogram uses echoes of sound waves to image the heart. It does not mean heart or record. .
In the word "chiropractor", which root refers to "hand"?
Practor
Acro
Therap
Chiro
Chiro comes from the Greek ???? (cheir), meaning 'hand'. Chiropractor combines chiro with praktikos ('to do'), referring to manual adjustment of the spine. This root is distinct from therap (treatment) or acro (high). .
In "topography", what does "topo" mean?
Place
Map
Height
Drawing
Topo derives from the Greek ????? (topos), meaning 'place'. Topography is the description of a place's physical features. It does not literally mean map or height, although maps show elevations. .
In "taxonomy", what does the root "nomos" mean?
Law
Order
Classification
Naming
Nomos comes from the Greek ????? (nomos), meaning 'law' or 'custom'. Taxonomy combines taxis ('arrangement') and nomos to mean the system of laws or principles for classifying organisms. It is not simply naming or ordering. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Greek root 'phono' -

    Understand that phono means "sound" and pinpoint its use in words such as telephone and phonograph.

  2. Recognize Greek root for graph -

    Learn that graph means "write" or "record" and spot it in terms like autograph and graphic.

  3. Spot words with the hemi root -

    Recognize that hemi means "half" and find it in words such as hemisphere and hemicycle.

  4. Analyze word meanings using roots -

    Use knowledge of phono, graph, and hemi to deduce the meanings of unfamiliar words.

  5. Apply root knowledge to new terms -

    Confidently infer definitions by applying learned root meanings beyond the quiz context.

  6. Enhance vocabulary through root mastery -

    Strengthen overall word skills by integrating root analysis into daily language learning.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Decoding the root word "phono" -

    Phono originates from the Greek phŝnḗ meaning "sound," seen in words like telephone (sound at a distance) and phonetics (study of speech sounds). A good mnemonic is "phono=phone," reminding you that anything with phono involves sound waves. Reference: University of California Linguistics Department materials on Greek etymology.

  2. Understanding the greek root for graph -

    Graph comes from the Greek graphein, meaning "to write" or "to draw," and appears in words like autograph ("self-writing") and cartography ("map writing"). Remember "graph = write" by picturing a pen graphing on paper as you read the root. Source: Oxford Classical Dictionary, graphein entry.

  3. Exploring the root word hemi -

    Hemi is a Greek root meaning "half," found in hemisphere (half of a sphere) and hemiplegia (paralysis of one half of the body). Use the trick "hemi = half a melon" to recall that any hemi word cuts something in two. Backed by: Johns Hopkins Medical terminology guidelines.

  4. Mastering compound roots like phonograph -

    Combine phono (sound) and graph (write) to form phonograph, literally a "sound-writing" device - an early record player. Analyzing words by their components helps you unlock unfamiliar terms in science and literature. Tip: Label index cards with each root and mix-and-match to quiz yourself.

  5. Leveraging spaced repetition for roots -

    Studies (Karpicke & Roediger, Journal of Experimental Psychology) show that spaced repetition dramatically improves retention of Greek roots like phono, graph, and hemi. Create flashcards in an SRS app, reviewing each root at expanding intervals for maximum recall. Celebrate small milestones to maintain motivation and build vocabulary confidence!

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