Word Roots from Latin and Greek

Word Structure and the Word Knowledge Subtest

The Word Knowledge subtest measures your understanding of vocabulary, words in context, and synonyms. Word Knowledge is one of four subtests that calculate the military Armed Forces Qualification Test score, alongside Arithmetic Reasoning, Mathematics Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension. While the military branches establish their own minimum score requirements and specific job qualification standards, which are set by each military branch and can change over time, earning a solid score across these core areas begins with mastering the building blocks of language. Unlike the math sections, Word Knowledge requires no calculations; use your vocabulary knowledge, any sentence context, and clues from word parts to choose the best meaning.

To unlock the meaning of complex vocabulary, you must understand how words are constructed. A root is the central base element of a word that carries its fundamental meaning. It serves as the primary anchor upon which other word parts attach. When you isolate the root of an unfamiliar word, you uncover its underlying concept, which allows you to reason through test questions even if you have never encountered the complete word before.

Some roots can stand alone as words, while many Latin and Greek roots combine with prefixes or suffixes to form words. A prefix is an affix attached to the beginning of a root to alter its meaning, while a suffix is an affix attached to the end of a root to alter its grammatical function or meaning. Decoding Latin and Greek roots helps test-takers identify the meanings of unfamiliar vocabulary on the Word Knowledge subtest, giving you a reliable strategy to analyze answer options systematically.