Unlock hundreds more features
Save your Quiz to the Dashboard
View and Export Results
Use AI to Create Quizzes and Analyse Results

Sign inSign in with Facebook
Sign inSign in with Google

Greek and Latin Roots Quiz: How Well Do You Know Your Word Origins?

Ready to discover if 'noct' is Greek or Latin? Dive in and boost your vocab!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper cut art illustration of Greek and Latin roots quiz symbols on teal background

This Greek and Latin roots quiz helps you spot where words come from and use roots to decode meaning. Decide if roots like noct are Greek or Latin, match root meanings to words, and notice patterns you can use on any vocab list - quick practice to build confidence before class or a test.

Which language does the root "bio" come from?
Greek
Arabic
Latin
Hebrew
The root "bio" originates from the Greek word "bios," which means life. It appears in many English words related to life or living organisms, such as biology and biography. This Greek origin distinguishes it from Latin roots for similar concepts. .
Which language does the root "aqua" derive from?
Greek
Old English
French
Latin
The root "aqua" comes from Latin, where it means water. It forms the basis of English words like aquarium and aquatic. In Greek, the equivalent root is "hydro-." .
The root "tele" meaning "far" belongs to which language?
Sanskrit
Latin
Greek
German
The prefix "tele-" comes from the Greek word "t?le," meaning "far." It is used in words such as telephone (sound from far) and television (seeing from far). Latin does not use this form, instead relying on other constructions for distance. .
What is the meaning of the Latin root "script"?
To speak
To draw
To read
To write
The Latin root "script" comes from "scribere," which means "to write." It appears in English words like script, manuscript, and inscription. This distinguishes it from roots meaning to speak or read. .
Which language does the root "photo" derive from?
Sanskrit
Arabic
Greek
Latin
The root "photo" comes from the Greek word "ph?s," meaning "light." It is used in photography, photon, and photosynthesis. Latin does not have this exact form; its terms for light are different. .
The root "noct" in "nocturnal" originates from which language?
Old English
Greek
Latin
French
The root "noct" comes from the Latin word "nox, noctis," meaning "night." It forms English words like nocturnal and nocturne. Greek uses a different root (nyx) for night-related words. .
What does the Greek root "phon" mean?
Heat
Life
Sound
Light
The Greek root "phon?" means "sound" or "voice." It appears in words such as phonograph, telephone, and symphony. This distinguishes it from roots related to light or life. .
The Latin root "cede/ceed" means:
To write
To go or yield
To hear
To see
The Latin root "cedere" means "to go" or "to yield." It appears in English words such as proceed, succeed, and concede. This makes it distinct from roots meaning to hear or write. .
What is the meaning of the Greek root "astro"?
Star
Time
Water
Earth
The Greek root "astron" means "star." It is found in words like astronomy and astronaut. This root is distinct from those meaning time (chrono-) or earth (geo-). .
Which meaning is associated with the Latin root "pater/patri"?
Brother
Child
Mother
Father
The Latin root "pater" or "patri" means "father." It appears in words such as paternal, patriot, and patriarch. It is the counterpart to "mater," which means mother. .
Which word uses the Greek root "chrono" meaning "time"?
Geologist
Microphone
Chronometer
Biography
The word "chronometer" comes from the Greek roots "chronos" (time) and "metron" (measure), meaning an instrument for measuring time. Other options use different roots: microphone uses "phon" (sound), biography uses "bio" (life), and geologist uses "geo" (earth). .
In the word "aqueduct," what does the Latin root "duc" mean?
To lead
To speak
To build
To carry
The Latin verb "ducere" means "to lead." In "aqueduct," it combines with "aqua" (water) to mean a structure that leads water. Though "carry" is related, the root specifically means "to lead." .
The prefix "pan-" in the word "pandemic" comes from Greek and means:
All
Few
Single
Many
The Greek prefix "pan-" means "all" or "every." In "pandemic," it refers to a disease affecting all people across a large region. It differs from prefixes meaning many (poly-) or single (mono-). .
Which Latin root means "father" and appears in "patriarch"?
Filia
Frater
Mater
Pater
The Latin root "pater" means "father" and is the origin of words like patriarch and paternal. "Mater" means mother, "frater" means brother, and "filia" means daughter. .
Which English word is derived from both a Greek and a Latin root?
Photography
Geology
Biography
Television
"Television" combines the Greek root "tele-" (far) with the Latin root "vision" (seeing). Photography is purely Greek, biography is Greek, and geology is Greek as well. This mix of Greek and Latin elements is relatively rare in English. .
0
{"name":"Which language does the root \"bio\" come from?", "url":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPREVIEW","txt":"Which language does the root \"bio\" come from?, Which language does the root \"aqua\" derive from?, The root \"tele\" meaning \"far\" belongs to which language?","img":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/3012/images/ogquiz.png"}

Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Root Origins -

    Recognize whether a given root, such as "noct," is Greek or Latin by applying key distinguishing features explored in this Greek and Latin roots quiz.

  2. Analyze Root Meanings -

    Break down common Greek root meanings and Latin affixes to uncover the literal definitions behind unfamiliar words.

  3. Distinguish Greek vs. Latin Affixes -

    Compare characteristics of Greek roots and Latin affixes to accurately classify new vocabulary elements in your reading and writing.

  4. Apply Etymology to Vocabulary -

    Use your understanding of word origins to infer the meanings of complex terms without consulting a dictionary.

  5. Enhance Word-Decoding Skills -

    Develop strategies for decoding difficult words by leveraging knowledge of Greek and Latin roots in various contexts.

  6. Evaluate Etymology Quiz Skills -

    Assess your grasp of etymology practice through a focused quiz format that reinforces learning and motivates further exploration of Greek and Latin roots.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Major Greek root families -

    Greek roots form the basis of many academic and scientific terms, such as bio- (life), chrono- (time), and geo- (earth), as noted by the Oxford English Dictionary. A mnemonic like "Big Cats Growl" helps recall Bio-, Chrono-, Geo- efficiently. Regular review of these families builds strong decoding skills.

  2. Major Latin root families -

    Latin roots underlie many everyday words, including port- (carry), dict- (say), and scrib-/script- (write), as listed in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. You can memorize Port-Dict-Script with the phrase "Portly Dictators Script" to lock in meanings. Spotting these roots helps decode words in complex texts.

  3. Distinguishing Greek and Latin suffixes -

    Suffixes like -logy (study of) are Greek in origin, while -tion (action) and -able (capable of) come from Latin, according to Purdue OWL. The rhyme "-ology is Greek, -ation is Latin" makes it easy to tag words on sight. Applying these rules accelerates vocabulary growth and comprehension.

  4. Combining forms and spelling variations -

    When roots merge with prefixes or suffixes, they often modify spelling: Greek photo- + -graph yields photograph, while Latin aqua- + duc gives aqueduct, dropping one 'a'. According to the Perseus Digital Library, these changes follow consistent patterns like vowel elision or consonant assimilation. Recognizing these shifts helps you parse unfamiliar words quickly.

  5. The power of retrieval practice -

    Active quizzing on Greek and Latin roots - such as in a Greek and Latin roots quiz - leverages retrieval practice, which studies from Vanderbilt University show can boost long-term retention by up to 30%. Tools like online flashcards or timed quizzes encourage repetition and self-assessment. Integrating this method into weekly study sessions makes etymology practice both efficient and engaging.

Powered by: Quiz Maker