50 Common English Words with Latin Roots (And How They Changed)

Did you know that over 60% of English words have Latin or Greek roots? In the sciences and professions, that number jumps to over 90%. Understanding the Latin foundation of English is like having a "cheat code" for vocabulary, whether you're studying for the SATs or just curious about language history.

The Power of Prefixes

Before we dive into specific words, notice how Latin prefixes change the meaning of a root word.

• Sub- (under): Submarine, substitute, subconscious.
• Pre- (before): Predict, prepare, prevent.
• Trans- (across): Transfer, transport, translate.

50 English Words from Latin Roots

Here are some of the most fascinating etymologies in our everyday speech:

1. Candidate: From candidatus, meaning "clothed in white." Roman political candidates wore bright white togas to symbolize purity.
2. Salary: From salarium, originally "salt money." Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt, which was a valuable commodity.
3. Trivia: From trivia (tri + via), literally "three roads." It referred to common places where people met and chatted about "ordinary" things.
4. Muscle: From musculus, meaning "little mouse." The movement of a muscle was thought to look like a mouse moving under the skin.
5. Sinister: From sinister, originally just meaning "on the left." Because the left side was considered unlucky in some ancient omens, it evolved to mean "evil."

(...and 45 more examples including Doctor, Amateur, Agenda, Audience, and Library...)

Why Etymology Matters for Students

By learning the Latin lemma, you can decode unfamiliar English words instantly. If you know that scribere means "to write," you suddenly understand describe, inscribe, prescription, and scribble.

Explore the Roots

Ready to find the root of your favorite word?

• Search for any English word in our Latin Dictionary to find its Latin equivalent.
• Browse our Word Lists for "Latin Roots in English" to start practicing.
• Use the Text Analyzer to see how these roots function in original Latin literature.

Start decoding your language today!