EnglishAges 16-18

Classical prefixes & number roots

Decode classical Greek and Latin numerical prefixes and roots across technical vocabulary. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 16-18

Classical prefixes & number roots

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What does the prefix “octa-” or “octo-” (as in “octagon” and “octopus”) mean: eight or ten?
“octa-” · “octo-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
2. What does the Greek prefix “hexa-” (as in “hexagon”) mean: six or seven?
“hexa-” · “hexagon” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
3. What does the Latin root “ver-” (as in “verify”, “verdict” and “veracity”) mean: truth or speed?
“ver-” · “verify” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
4. What does the Greek prefix “poly-” or Latin “multi-” (as in “polygon” and “multilingual”) mean: many or none?
“poly-” · “multi-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
5. What does the Greek root “-phobia” or “-phobic” (as in “hydrophobic”) mean: fear of / repelled by, or fondness for?
“-phobia” · “-phobic” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
6. What does the Latin/Greek numerical prefix “uni-” or “mono-” (as in “unicycle” and “monochrome”) mean: one (single) or many?
“uni-” · “mono-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
7. What does the prefix “semi-” or “hemi-” (as in “semicircle” and “hemisphere”) mean: half or double?
“semi-” · “hemi-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
8. What does the Latin prefix “intra-” (as in “intranet” and “intracellular”) mean: within / inside one group or cell, or between different countries?
“intra-” · “intranet” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
9. What does the Latin prefix “circum-” or Greek “peri-” (as in “circumference” and “perimeter”) mean: around or through?
“circum-” · “peri-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
10. What does the prefix “bi-” or “di-” (as in “bicycle” and “dioxide”) mean: two or ten?
“bi-” · “di-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
11. What does the Latin prefix “inter-” (as in “international” and “interisland”) mean: between / among, or within?
“inter-” · “international” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
12. What does the prefix “tri-” (as in “triangle” and “tripod”) mean: three or four?
“tri-” · “triangle” · Classical prefixes & numbe…

12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 16-18

Classical prefixes & number roots

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What does the prefix “octa-” or “octo-” (as in “octagon” and “octopus”) mean: eight or ten?
Eight
“Octa-” / “octo-” means eight.
2. What does the Greek prefix “hexa-” (as in “hexagon”) mean: six or seven?
Six
“Hexa-” comes from the Greek hex, meaning six.
3. What does the Latin root “ver-” (as in “verify”, “verdict” and “veracity”) mean: truth or speed?
Truth
Latin verus means true; to verify is to establish the truth or accuracy of something.
4. What does the Greek prefix “poly-” or Latin “multi-” (as in “polygon” and “multilingual”) mean: many or none?
Many
Both “poly-” and “multi-” mean many or multiple.
5. What does the Greek root “-phobia” or “-phobic” (as in “hydrophobic”) mean: fear of / repelled by, or fondness for?
Fear of / repelled by
Greek phobos means fear or aversion (hydrophobic molecules repel water).
6. What does the Latin/Greek numerical prefix “uni-” or “mono-” (as in “unicycle” and “monochrome”) mean: one (single) or many?
One (single)
Both Latin “uni-” and Greek “mono-” mean one or single.
7. What does the prefix “semi-” or “hemi-” (as in “semicircle” and “hemisphere”) mean: half or double?
Half
Latin “semi-” and Greek “hemi-” both mean half.
8. What does the Latin prefix “intra-” (as in “intranet” and “intracellular”) mean: within / inside one group or cell, or between different countries?
Within / inside one group or cell
“Intra-” means on the inside or within a single boundary.
9. What does the Latin prefix “circum-” or Greek “peri-” (as in “circumference” and “perimeter”) mean: around or through?
Around
Both “circum-” and “peri-” mean around (measuring the boundary around a shape).
10. What does the prefix “bi-” or “di-” (as in “bicycle” and “dioxide”) mean: two or ten?
Two
Latin “bi-” and Greek “di-” mean two.
11. What does the Latin prefix “inter-” (as in “international” and “interisland”) mean: between / among, or within?
Between / among
“Inter-” means between or among two or more groups.
12. What does the prefix “tri-” (as in “triangle” and “tripod”) mean: three or four?
Three
“Tri-” comes from Latin and Greek words for three.

12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 16-18

Classical prefixes & number roots

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. What does the prefix “octa-” or “octo-” (as in “octagon” and “octopus”) mean: eight or ten?
“octa-” · “octo-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
2. What does the Greek prefix “hexa-” (as in “hexagon”) mean: six or seven?
“hexa-” · “hexagon” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
3. What does the Latin root “ver-” (as in “verify”, “verdict” and “veracity”) mean: truth or speed?
“ver-” · “verify” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
4. What does the Greek prefix “poly-” or Latin “multi-” (as in “polygon” and “multilingual”) mean: many or none?
“poly-” · “multi-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
5. What does the Greek root “-phobia” or “-phobic” (as in “hydrophobic”) mean: fear of / repelled by, or fondness for?
“-phobia” · “-phobic” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
6. What does the Latin/Greek numerical prefix “uni-” or “mono-” (as in “unicycle” and “monochrome”) mean: one (single) or many?
“uni-” · “mono-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
7. What does the prefix “semi-” or “hemi-” (as in “semicircle” and “hemisphere”) mean: half or double?
“semi-” · “hemi-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
8. What does the Latin prefix “intra-” (as in “intranet” and “intracellular”) mean: within / inside one group or cell, or between different countries?
“intra-” · “intranet” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
9. What does the Latin prefix “circum-” or Greek “peri-” (as in “circumference” and “perimeter”) mean: around or through?
“circum-” · “peri-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
10. What does the prefix “bi-” or “di-” (as in “bicycle” and “dioxide”) mean: two or ten?
“bi-” · “di-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
11. What does the Latin prefix “inter-” (as in “international” and “interisland”) mean: between / among, or within?
“inter-” · “international” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
12. What does the prefix “tri-” (as in “triangle” and “tripod”) mean: three or four?
“tri-” · “triangle” · Classical prefixes & numbe…

12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 16-18

Classical prefixes & number roots

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. What does the prefix “octa-” or “octo-” (as in “octagon” and “octopus”) mean: eight or ten?
Eight
“Octa-” / “octo-” means eight.
2. What does the Greek prefix “hexa-” (as in “hexagon”) mean: six or seven?
Six
“Hexa-” comes from the Greek hex, meaning six.
3. What does the Latin root “ver-” (as in “verify”, “verdict” and “veracity”) mean: truth or speed?
Truth
Latin verus means true; to verify is to establish the truth or accuracy of something.
4. What does the Greek prefix “poly-” or Latin “multi-” (as in “polygon” and “multilingual”) mean: many or none?
Many
Both “poly-” and “multi-” mean many or multiple.
5. What does the Greek root “-phobia” or “-phobic” (as in “hydrophobic”) mean: fear of / repelled by, or fondness for?
Fear of / repelled by
Greek phobos means fear or aversion (hydrophobic molecules repel water).
6. What does the Latin/Greek numerical prefix “uni-” or “mono-” (as in “unicycle” and “monochrome”) mean: one (single) or many?
One (single)
Both Latin “uni-” and Greek “mono-” mean one or single.
7. What does the prefix “semi-” or “hemi-” (as in “semicircle” and “hemisphere”) mean: half or double?
Half
Latin “semi-” and Greek “hemi-” both mean half.
8. What does the Latin prefix “intra-” (as in “intranet” and “intracellular”) mean: within / inside one group or cell, or between different countries?
Within / inside one group or cell
“Intra-” means on the inside or within a single boundary.
9. What does the Latin prefix “circum-” or Greek “peri-” (as in “circumference” and “perimeter”) mean: around or through?
Around
Both “circum-” and “peri-” mean around (measuring the boundary around a shape).
10. What does the prefix “bi-” or “di-” (as in “bicycle” and “dioxide”) mean: two or ten?
Two
Latin “bi-” and Greek “di-” mean two.
11. What does the Latin prefix “inter-” (as in “international” and “interisland”) mean: between / among, or within?
Between / among
“Inter-” means between or among two or more groups.
12. What does the prefix “tri-” (as in “triangle” and “tripod”) mean: three or four?
Three
“Tri-” comes from Latin and Greek words for three.

12 questions · Seed 42 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification