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 Greek prefix “poly-” or Latin “multi-” (as in “polygon” and “multilingual”) mean: many or none?
“poly-” · “multi-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
2. What does the Greek root “anthrop-” (as in “anthropology” and “philanthropy”) mean: human being or star?
“anthrop-” · “anthropology” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
3. What does the Latin root “luc-” or “lum-” (as in “translucent” and “luminous”) mean: light or heavy?
“luc-” · “lum-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
4. What does the Latin root “cent-” (as in “century” and “centimetre”) mean: one hundred or one thousand?
“cent-” · “century” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
5. What does the Greek prefix “hepta-” (or Latin “sept-”) mean in geometry: seven or nine?
“hepta-” · “sept-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
6. What does the Greek prefix “penta-” (as in “pentagon” and “pentathlon”) mean: five or eight?
“penta-” · “pentagon” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
7. What does the Greek root “phil-” (as in “philanthropy” and “hydrophilic”) mean: loving / having an affinity for, or fearing?
“phil-” · “philanthropy” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
8. What does the Latin prefix “quadr-” or Greek “tetra-” (as in “quadrilateral” and “tetrahedron”) mean: four or six?
“quadr-” · “tetra-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
9. 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…
10. What does the Latin prefix “omni-” (as in “omnivore” and “omniscient”) mean: all (everything) or half?
“omni-” · “omnivore” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
11. What does the Greek prefix “hypo-” (as in “hypothermia” and “hypodermic”) mean: under / below normal, or above?
“hypo-” · “hypothermia” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
12. What does the Greek prefix “hexa-” (as in “hexagon”) mean: six or seven?
“hexa-” · “hexagon” · Classical prefixes & numbe…

12 questions · Seed 104730 · 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 Greek prefix “poly-” or Latin “multi-” (as in “polygon” and “multilingual”) mean: many or none?
Many
Both “poly-” and “multi-” mean many or multiple.
2. What does the Greek root “anthrop-” (as in “anthropology” and “philanthropy”) mean: human being or star?
Human being
Greek anthropos means human being.
3. What does the Latin root “luc-” or “lum-” (as in “translucent” and “luminous”) mean: light or heavy?
Light
Latin lux / lumen means light.
4. What does the Latin root “cent-” (as in “century” and “centimetre”) mean: one hundred or one thousand?
One hundred
Latin centum means one hundred (100 years in a century; 1/100 of a metre in a centimetre).
5. What does the Greek prefix “hepta-” (or Latin “sept-”) mean in geometry: seven or nine?
Seven
A heptagon is a seven-sided polygon.
6. What does the Greek prefix “penta-” (as in “pentagon” and “pentathlon”) mean: five or eight?
Five
“Penta-” comes from the Greek pente, meaning five.
7. What does the Greek root “phil-” (as in “philanthropy” and “hydrophilic”) mean: loving / having an affinity for, or fearing?
Loving / having an affinity for
Greek philos means loving or attracted to (hydrophilic = water-loving).
8. What does the Latin prefix “quadr-” or Greek “tetra-” (as in “quadrilateral” and “tetrahedron”) mean: four or six?
Four
Both “quadr-” and “tetra-” denote four.
9. 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.
10. What does the Latin prefix “omni-” (as in “omnivore” and “omniscient”) mean: all (everything) or half?
All (everything)
Latin omnis means all; an omnivore eats both plant and animal foods.
11. What does the Greek prefix “hypo-” (as in “hypothermia” and “hypodermic”) mean: under / below normal, or above?
Under / below normal
“Hypo-” is the antonym of “hyper-” and means under or below.
12. What does the Greek prefix “hexa-” (as in “hexagon”) mean: six or seven?
Six
“Hexa-” comes from the Greek hex, meaning six.

12 questions · Seed 104730 · 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 Greek prefix “poly-” or Latin “multi-” (as in “polygon” and “multilingual”) mean: many or none?
“poly-” · “multi-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
2. What does the Greek root “anthrop-” (as in “anthropology” and “philanthropy”) mean: human being or star?
“anthrop-” · “anthropology” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
3. What does the Latin root “luc-” or “lum-” (as in “translucent” and “luminous”) mean: light or heavy?
“luc-” · “lum-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
4. What does the Latin root “cent-” (as in “century” and “centimetre”) mean: one hundred or one thousand?
“cent-” · “century” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
5. What does the Greek prefix “hepta-” (or Latin “sept-”) mean in geometry: seven or nine?
“hepta-” · “sept-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
6. What does the Greek prefix “penta-” (as in “pentagon” and “pentathlon”) mean: five or eight?
“penta-” · “pentagon” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
7. What does the Greek root “phil-” (as in “philanthropy” and “hydrophilic”) mean: loving / having an affinity for, or fearing?
“phil-” · “philanthropy” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
8. What does the Latin prefix “quadr-” or Greek “tetra-” (as in “quadrilateral” and “tetrahedron”) mean: four or six?
“quadr-” · “tetra-” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
9. 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…
10. What does the Latin prefix “omni-” (as in “omnivore” and “omniscient”) mean: all (everything) or half?
“omni-” · “omnivore” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
11. What does the Greek prefix “hypo-” (as in “hypothermia” and “hypodermic”) mean: under / below normal, or above?
“hypo-” · “hypothermia” · Classical prefixes & numbe…
12. What does the Greek prefix “hexa-” (as in “hexagon”) mean: six or seven?
“hexa-” · “hexagon” · Classical prefixes & numbe…

12 questions · Seed 104730 · 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 Greek prefix “poly-” or Latin “multi-” (as in “polygon” and “multilingual”) mean: many or none?
Many
Both “poly-” and “multi-” mean many or multiple.
2. What does the Greek root “anthrop-” (as in “anthropology” and “philanthropy”) mean: human being or star?
Human being
Greek anthropos means human being.
3. What does the Latin root “luc-” or “lum-” (as in “translucent” and “luminous”) mean: light or heavy?
Light
Latin lux / lumen means light.
4. What does the Latin root “cent-” (as in “century” and “centimetre”) mean: one hundred or one thousand?
One hundred
Latin centum means one hundred (100 years in a century; 1/100 of a metre in a centimetre).
5. What does the Greek prefix “hepta-” (or Latin “sept-”) mean in geometry: seven or nine?
Seven
A heptagon is a seven-sided polygon.
6. What does the Greek prefix “penta-” (as in “pentagon” and “pentathlon”) mean: five or eight?
Five
“Penta-” comes from the Greek pente, meaning five.
7. What does the Greek root “phil-” (as in “philanthropy” and “hydrophilic”) mean: loving / having an affinity for, or fearing?
Loving / having an affinity for
Greek philos means loving or attracted to (hydrophilic = water-loving).
8. What does the Latin prefix “quadr-” or Greek “tetra-” (as in “quadrilateral” and “tetrahedron”) mean: four or six?
Four
Both “quadr-” and “tetra-” denote four.
9. 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.
10. What does the Latin prefix “omni-” (as in “omnivore” and “omniscient”) mean: all (everything) or half?
All (everything)
Latin omnis means all; an omnivore eats both plant and animal foods.
11. What does the Greek prefix “hypo-” (as in “hypothermia” and “hypodermic”) mean: under / below normal, or above?
Under / below normal
“Hypo-” is the antonym of “hyper-” and means under or below.
12. What does the Greek prefix “hexa-” (as in “hexagon”) mean: six or seven?
Six
“Hexa-” comes from the Greek hex, meaning six.

12 questions · Seed 104730 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification