GRE Word Roots: Learn One Root, Unlock a Word Family

The fastest way to build GRE vocabulary is not to memorize words one by one; it is to learn the roots that words are built from. Most hard GRE words come from a small set of Latin and Greek roots. Learn that the root facere means to do or make, and suddenly a dozen words start to make sense. Recognize loqui (to speak) and you can decode words you have never seen before. Learn one root and you unlock a whole family at once. Below are 42 high-value roots, each linked to the GRE words it powers.

facere

to do (Latin)

aequus

even, level (Latin)

animus

spirit, hostility (Latin)

eu

good/well (Greek)

sentire

to feel (Latin)

claudere

to close (Latin)

haerere

to stick (Latin)

loqui

to speak (Latin)

par

equal (Latin)

prae-

before (Latin)

tendere

to stretch (Latin)

vertere

to turn (Latin)

verus

true (Latin)

ambi

both, around (Latin)

bene

good/well (Latin)

complere

to fill up/complete (Latin)

cor

heart (Latin)

credere

to believe (Latin)

culpa

fault, blame (Latin)

currere

to run (Latin)

doxa

opinion/belief (Greek)

errare

to wander (Latin)

fides

faith (Latin)

frangere

to break (Latin)

fundere

to pour (Latin)

gradi

to step, walk (Latin)

grandis

large, great (Latin)

languere

to be faint or weak (Latin)

magnus

great (Latin)

mal

bad (French)

mutare

to change (Latin)

pars

part (Latin)

plicare

to fold (Latin)

scire

to know (Latin)

species

kind, type (Latin)

stare

to stand (Latin)

super

above (Latin)

tangere

to touch (Latin)

tenere

to hold (Latin)

venerari

to revere (Latin)

vita

life (Latin)

vox

voice (Latin)

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