Latin derivatives, prefixes, and suffixes

Word building in Latin Launchpad asks students to spot the English word that grew from a Latin word they already know. The pairs below are the ones the practice uses. Prefixes and suffixes are taught as reusable pieces.

Practice word building in the app

Derivatives

• aqua, water, gives English aquatic.
• luna, moon, gives English lunar.
• porta, gate, gives English portal.
• terra, earth, gives English terrestrial.
• via, road, gives English viaduct.
• annus, year, gives English annual.
• amicus, friend, gives English amicable.
• bellum, war, gives English belligerent.
• liber, book, gives English library.
• nomen, name, gives English nominal.
• familia, family, gives English familiar.
• stella, star, gives English stellar.
• insula, island, gives English insular.
• epistula, letter, gives English epistle.
• corona, crown, gives English coronation.
• unda, wave, gives English undulate.
• rota, wheel, gives English rotary.
• video, see, gives English visible.
• patria, homeland, gives English patriot.
• lumen, light, gives English luminous.
• victoria, victory, gives English victorious.
• cultura, cultivation, gives English culture.
• poeta, poet, gives English poetry.
• natura, nature, gives English natural.
• medicina, medicine, gives English medical.
• aurum, gold, gives English aureole.
• flumen, river, gives English flume.
• virtus, courage, gives English virtue.
• musica, music, gives English musical.
• fabula, story, gives English fable.
• mater, mother, gives English maternal.
• amor, love, gives English amorous.
• tempus, time, gives English temporary.
• mare, sea, gives English marine.
• navis, ship, gives English naval.
• pater, father, gives English paternal.
• dies, day, gives English diary.
• lex, law, gives English legal.
• audio, hear, gives English audience.
• scribo, write, gives English scribe.
• miles, soldier, gives English military.
• deus, god, gives English deity.
• exemplum, example, gives English exemplary.
• schola, school, gives English scholar.
• magister, teacher, gives English magistrate.
• sol, sun, gives English solar.
• caelum, sky, gives English celestial.
• astrum, star, gives English astronomy.
• ars, art, gives English artist.
• agricola, farmer, gives English agriculture.
• urbs, city, gives English urban.
• caput, head, gives English capital.
• scriptum, something written, gives English scripture.
• senatus, senate, gives English senator.
• gloria, glory, gives English glorious.
• honor, honor, gives English honorable.
• opus, work, gives English opera.
• gradus, step, gives English gradual.
• ordo, order, gives English order.
• ratio, reason, gives English rational.
• civis, citizen, gives English civic.
• doctrina, teaching, gives English doctrine.

Prefixes and suffixes

• pre- means before. A prefix. Prehistoric means before written history.
• re- means again or back. A prefix. Rebuild means build again.
• in- means not, or in. A prefix. Invisible means not visible. Inhale means breathe in.
• con- means together. A prefix. Convene means come together. Com- is the form before some letters.
• de- means down or away. A prefix. Descend means climb down.
• ex- means out. A prefix. Export means carry out.
• sub- means under. A prefix. Submarine means under the sea.
• trans- means across. A prefix. Transfer means carry across.
• inter- means between. A prefix. International means between nations.
• -or means a person who. A suffix. An actor is a person who acts.
• -tion means the act of. A suffix from Latin -tio. Education is the act of leading out, or of teaching.
• -able means able to. A suffix from Latin -bilis. Portable means able to be carried.