The following are some confusing pairs or triplets of Greek and Latin roots that are used to make English words, especially in the scientific fields. The Latin form comes first and is lower case. The Greek form is all in caps. The - shows where other parts of the word are attached and the English definition(s) follow. There are sometimes Latin or Greek variant forms, which are listed before the English definition.
More Ancient / Classical History Quick Tips
The selection of which words are confusing is mine. It is based on words that would sound similar when pronounced or might seem close in spelling. It also includes words I confuse. Let me know if you have others to add to this list.
To see scientific words formed with these Greek and Latin bases, see Online Medical Dictionary.
- al- phonological change from ad 'to' that occurs before an /l/
- al- wing
- ALL- other
- ambul- to walk
- AMBLY- dull
- articul- joint
- ARTHR- joint, speech sound
- aud-, audit- hear
- AUT- self
- bull- bubble, blister
- BUL- (BOUL-) will
- bi- two
- BI- life
- bract- thin plate
- BRACHY- short
- BRACHI- arm
- cent- hundred
- CENTE- puncture
- col- to inhabit
- coll- neck
- COL- colon
- COLL(A)- glue
- cord- heart
- cori- skin
- COR(E)- pupil of the eye
- cre-, cresc-, cret- to grow
- CRI- separate
- dent- tooth
- DENDR- tree
- dorm- sleep
- DROM- running
- err- wander
- ERG- work
- hal-, halit- to breathe
- HAL- salt
- loc- place
- LOG- word, reason, speech
- medi- middle
- mega- large, one million
- ment- mind
- ment- chin
- MEN- moon
- nar- nostril
- NARC- stupor
- nerv- nerve, vein of an insect wing or leaf
- NEUR- nerve, nervous system, tendon
- nod- knot
- NOT- the back
- ole- oil
- OLIG- few
- os-, or- mouth, opening
- OSS- bone
- palli- mantle, covering
- PALI(N)- again, pack
- PALE- (PALAE)- old
- pati- pass- to suffer, to endure
- PATH- disease, suffering
- ped- foot
- PED- (PAED)- child, instruction
- pend-, pens- to hang
- PEN- deficiency, lack
- PENT(A)- five
- plan- flat
- plant- sole of the foot
- PLAN- wandering
- plex- to interweave, to braid
- PLEX- stroke
- PLEG- paralysis
- scop- broom, brush
- SCOP- to view
- sep-, sept- to separate, wall
- SEP- to rot
- spir- to breathe
- SPIR- coil
- somn- sleep
- SOM-, SOMAT- body
- stercor-, sterc- excrement
- STERE- solid, 3-d
- sta-, stat- to stand
- STA- to stand, to stop
- terti- third
- TETRA- four
- tri- three
- TRI- three
- TRIB-, TRIP- rub, crush
Source: Bioscientific Terminology, by Donald M. Ayers 1972
