Root words are the building blocks of any language. They are the core words that carry the meaning and structure of a language. English, being a Germanic language, has a rich vocabulary of root words that have their origins in various languages such as Latin, Greek, French, and German. Similarly, Kannada, being a Dravidian language, has a unique set of root words that have their own history and significance.
In this blog post, we have compiled a list of 500+ English root words with their Kannada meanings. By learning these root words, you can expand your vocabulary and improve your language skills. Let’s dive in!
Kannada is one of the official languages of India and is widely spoken in the southern state of Karnataka. In this article, we have compiled a list of 500 English root words along with their Kannada meanings and examples.
A few points to keep in mind while going through the list:
Many English words have multiple meanings, and the meanings given in this list are not exhaustive.
The Kannada meanings are given as transliterations, and may not always match the exact word used in Kannada.
The examples given are just a few of the many words that can be formed from the root word.
Without further ado, here’s the complete list of 500 English root words with Kannada meanings and examples:
English Root Words with Kannada Meaning: A Comprehensive List
English
Meaning
Kannada Meaning
Example
Aque-
Water
ನೀರು
Aquarium
Astro-
Star
ನಕ್ಷತ್ರ
Astronaut
Bio-
Life
ಜೀವನ
Biology
Chron-
Time
ಸಮಯ
Chronology
Demi-
Half
ಅರ್ಧ
Demigod
Eco-
Environment
ಪರಿಸರ
Ecology
Geo-
Earth
ಭೂಮಿ
Geography
Hemo-
Blood
ರಕ್ತ
Hemoglobin
Hydro-
Water
ನೀರು
Hydroelectricity
Aero-
Air
ಗಾಳಿ
Aeroplane
Arch-
Rule
ನಿಯಮ
Archetype
Auto-
Self
ಸ್ವಯಂ
Autobiography
Biblio-
Book
ಪುಸ್ತಕ
Bibliography
Cogni-
Know
ತಿಳಿ
Cognition
Dent-
Tooth
ಹಾಲು
Dentist
Ethno-
Culture
ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ
Ethnography
Fid-
Faith
ನಂಬಿಕೆ
Fidelity
Gen-
Birth
ಹುಟ್ಟು
Genealogy
Hetero-
Different
ವಿಭಿನ್ನ
Heterogeneous
Icon-
Image
ಚಿತ್ರ
Iconography
Ject-
Throw
ಎಸೆ
Eject
Kil-
Thousand
ಸಾವಿರ
Kilogram
Lingu-
Language
ಭಾಷೆ
Linguistics
Magn-
Great
ದೊಡ್ಡ
Magnitude
Nat-
Born
ಜನ್ಮ
Native
Omni-
All
ಎಲ್ಲಾ
Omniscient
Path-
Feeling
ಭಾವನೆ
Empathy
Quant-
Amount
ಪ್ರಮಾಣ
Quantity
Retro-
Backward
ಹಿಂದೆ
Retrograde
Sci-
Know
ತಿಳಿ
Science
Tele-
Far
ದೂರ
Telephone
Un-
Not
ಅಲ್ಲ
Unhappy
Vore-
Eat
ತಿನ್ನು
Herbivore
Xeno-
Foreign
ಪರದೇಶೀಯ
Xenophobia
A-
Not
ಅಲ್ಲ
Amoral
Ab-
Away
ದೂರ
Abnormal
English Word
Meaning
Kannada Meaning
Example
lumin
light
ಬೆಳಕು
luminary (a person who inspires or influences others)
lun
moon
ಚಂದ್ರ
lunar (related to the moon)
man
hand
ಕೈ
manual (done with the hands)
mand
order
ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ
mandate (an official order or commission to do something)
mar
sea
ಸಮುದ್ರ
marine (related to the sea)
mater
mother
ತಾಯಿ
maternal (related to a mother)
med
middle
ಮಧ್ಯ
medium (in between two things)
mega
large
ದೊಡ್ಡ
megaphone (a large funnel-shaped device used to amplify the voice)
meter
measure
ಅಳತೆ
thermometer (an instrument used to measure temperature)
micro
small
ಸಣ್ಣ
microscope (an instrument used to see small objects)
mig
wander
ಸಂಚರಿಸು
migrate (to move from one place to another)
mill
thousand
ಸಾವಿರ
millipede (an insect with many legs)
min
small
ಸಣ್ಣ
miniature (very small)
mis
wrong
ತಪ್ಪು
misinterpret (to understand wrongly)
miss
send
ಕಳುಹಿಸು
missile (a weapon that is sent through the air)
mit
send
ಕಳುಹಿಸು
transmit (to send something across a distance)
mob
move
ಕದಲು
mobile (able to move)
mon
warn
ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆ
monitor (to watch and warn of danger)
mono
one
ಒಂದು
monochrome (a picture or design in one color)
morph
shape
ಆಕಾರ
amorphous (without a defined shape)
mort
death
ಮರಣ
mortal (subject to death)
multi
many
ಹಲವು
multiply (to increase in number)
mur
wall
ಕೊಠಡಿ
mural (a painting on a wall)
mut
change
ಬದಲಾವಣೆ
mutation (a change in genetic material)
nat
born
ಜನ್ಮವೆತ್ತ
native (belonging to a particular place by birth)
English Word
Meaning
Kannada Meaning
Example
nat
born
ಜನ್ಮವೆತ್ತ
native (belonging to a particular place by birth)
nav
ship
ಹಡಗು
navigate (to steer a ship or boat)
neo
new
ಹೊಸ
neologism (a newly coined word or expression)
neur
nerve
ನರ
neural (related to nerves)
non
not
ಅಲ್ಲ
nonfiction (a book or article that is not made up)
nov
new
ಹೊಸ
novel (new and different)
numer
number
ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ
numerator (the top number in a fraction)
nutri
food
ಆಹಾರ
nutrient (a substance that provides nourishment)
ob
against
ವಿರುದ್ಧ
object (to express opposition or disapproval)
ocu
eye
ಕಣ್ಣು
ocular (related to the eye)
oct
eight
ಎಂಟು
octagon (a shape with eight sides)
omni
all
ಎಲ್ಲಾ
omnivorous (eating both plants and animals)
oper
work
ಕೆಲಸ
operate (to work on or control a machine or system)
opt
see
ನೋಡು
optic (related to the eye or vision)
orth
straight
ಸರಳ
orthopedic (related to the treatment of bones and joints)
osteo
bone
ಎಲುಬು
osteoporosis (a condition where bones become brittle and fragile)
pachy
thick
ದೊಡ್ಡ
pachyderm (a large mammal with thick skin)
paleo
ancient
ಪ್ರಾಚೀನ
paleontology (the study of prehistoric life)
pan
all
ಎಲ್ಲಾ
pandemic (a disease that affects all people in a region)
para
beside
ಬದಲಾಗಿ
parallel (alongside and equidistant)
path
feeling
ಅನುಭವ
empathy (the ability to understand and share the feelings of others)
ped
foot
ಕಾಲು
pedestrian (a person walking on foot)
pel
drive
ಸಾಗಿಸು
propel (to drive or push forward)
pen
almost
ಲಗ್ಗೆ
peninsula (a piece of land almost surrounded by water)
English Word
Meaning
Kannada Meaning
Example
pent
five
ಐದು
pentagon (a shape with five sides)
peri
around
ಸುತ್ತುವ
perimeter (the boundary around a shape)
phag
eat
ತಿಂದು
phagocyte (a cell that eats bacteria and other harmful substances)
phil
love
ಪ್ರೀತಿ
philanthropy (love of humanity, especially as shown in donations to charitable and socially useful causes)
phob
fear
ಭಯ
phobia (an extreme or irrational fear of something)
photo
light
ಬೆಳಕು
photograph (an image produced by the action of light on a sensitized surface)
physi
nature
ಸ್ವಭಾವ
physiology (the study of the functions of living organisms)
pico
small
ಸಣ್ಣ
picogram (one trillionth of a gram)
plasm
form
ಆಕಾರ
cytoplasm (the fluid that fills a cell)
pneum
lung
ನಿಶ್ವಾಸ
pneumonia (an infection of the lungs)
pod
foot
ಕಾಲು
podiatry (the study of the feet)
poly
many
ಅನೇಕ
polygon (a shape with many sides)
post
after
ನಂತರ
postgraduate (a student who has already completed a degree and is now studying for a higher one)
pre
before
ಮುಂದೆ
preview (to see or show something before it is available to the general public)
prim
first
ಮೊದಲ
primary (first or most important)
pro
for
ಹೆಚ್ಚು
promote (to support or encourage something)
proto
first
ಮೊದಲ
prototype (the first or original version of something)
pseudo
false
ಸುಳ್ಳು
pseudonym (a false name used by an author)
psych
mind
ಮನಸ್ಸು
psychology (the study of the mind and behavior)
pter
wing
ರೆಕ್ಕೆ
pterodactyl (an extinct flying reptile)
pulmon
lung
ನಿಶ್ವಾಸ
pulmonary (related to the lungs)
pyr
fire
ಬೆಂಕಿ
pyrotechnic (related to fireworks or the use of explosives)
quadri
four
ನಾಲ್ಕು
quadrilateral (a shape with four sides)
English Word
Meaning
Kannada Meaning
Example
quasi
somewhat
ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ
quasi-intellectual (someone who appears to be intellectual but lacks genuine knowledge or expertise)
radi
ray
ಕಿರಣ
radiation (the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles)
re
again
ಮತ್ತೆ
reset (to set again or to restore to its original state)
retro
backward
ಹಿಂದೆ
retroactive (taking effect from a date in the past)
rhin
nose
ಮೂಗು
rhinoceros (a large, thick-skinned mammal with one or two horns on its nose)
sanguin
blood
ರಕ್ತ
sanguine (optimistic, especially in difficult circumstances)
scope
see
ನೋಟವನ್ನು ಹಾಯ್ದು
microscope (an instrument used to see small objects)
semi
half
ಅರ್ಧ
semifinal (a game or round immediately preceding the final, in which the winners of two semifinals compete against each other)
sepsis
decay
ಪುಟ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ
sepsis (a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the body’s response to infection)
sept
seven
ಏಳು
September (the ninth month of the year, originally the seventh month in the Roman calendar)
sex
six
ಆರು
sextet (a group of six people or things)
sol
alone
ಏಕಾಂತ
solitary (done or existing alone)
soma
body
ದೇಹ
somatic (relating to the body, especially as distinct from the mind)
son
sound
ಧ್ವನಿ
sonic (relating to sound)
spec
look
ನೋಟ
spectator (a person who watches an event or activity)
spir
breathe
ಉಸಿರು
inspire (to breathe in)
stell
star
ನಕ್ಷತ್ರ
stellar (relating to stars)
sub
under
ಕೆಳಗೆ
subterranean (underground)
super
above
ಮೇಲೆ
superhuman (beyond what is normally possible for a human being)
sym
together
ಒಂದುಗೂಡಿಸು
symphony (an orchestral composition, usually in four movements)
syn
together
ಒಂದುಗೂಡಿಸು
synchronize (to cause to occur at the same time or rate)
English Word
Meaning
Kannada Meaning
Example
tach
fast
ತ್ವರಿತ
tachycardia (a condition characterized by an abnormally rapid heart rate)
techn
art
ಕಲೆ
technology (the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes)
tele
distant
ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿ
television (a device for receiving and displaying broadcast signals)
temp
time
ಸಮಯ
temporary (lasting for only a limited period of time)
ten
hold
ಹಿಡಿದು
tenant (a person who occupies land or property rented from a landlord)
term
end
ಅಂತ್ಯ
terminal (relating to or situated at the end or extremity of something)
terra
earth
ಭೂಮಿ
terrain (a stretch of land, especially with regard to its physical features)
tetra
four
ನಾಲ್ಕು
tetrahedron (a solid shape with four plane faces)
the
god
ದೇವರು
theology (the study of religious faith, practice, and experience)
therm
heat
ಬೆರಗು
thermometer (an instrument used for measuring temperature)
topo
place
ಸ್ಥಳ
topography (the arrangement of the physical features of an area)
tox
poison
ವಿಷ
toxic (poisonous)
trans
across
ಹಾದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ
transport (to carry or convey something from one place to another)
tri
three
ಮೂರು
triangle (a three-sided polygon)
ultra
beyond
ಅತಿದೂರ
ultraviolet (beyond the violet end of the spectrum of visible light)
un
not
ಅಲ್ಲ
unable (not able to do something)
uni
one
ಒಂದು
unicorn (a mythical horse with a single spiraled horn on its forehead)
vac
empty
ಖಾಲಿ
vacuum (a space entirely devoid of matter)
ven
come
ಬರುವ
convene (to come together for a meeting or activity)
ver
true
ನಿಜ
verify (to check or confirm the truth of something)
vers
turn
ತಿರುಗು
reverse (to turn something the opposite way or direction)
vert
turn
ತಿರುಗು
vertical (upright or perpendicular to the plane of the horizon)
via
way
ದಾರಿ
viaduct (a bridge-like structure carrying a road or railroad over a valley or other obstacle)
English Word
Meaning
Kannada Meaning
Example
vid
see
ನೋಡು
video (a recording of moving visual images)
voc
call
ಕರೆಯು
vocal (relating to the human voice or singing)
vol
will
ಇಚ್ಛೆ
volunteer (a person who offers to do something without being forced or paid to do it)
volv
roll
ಸುತ್ತುವುದು
revolve (to move in a circular or orbital path around a center)
vor
eat
ತಿನ್ನುವುದು
herbivore (an animal that eats only plants)
xeno
foreign
ವಿದೇಶಿ
xenophobia (an intense dislike or fear of people from other countries)
zo
animal
ಪ್ರಾಣಿ
zoology (the scientific study of animals)
zoo
animal
ಪ್ರಾಣಿ ಉದ್ಯಾನ
zoo (a park where live animals are kept for public viewing)
-able
can be
-ಬಲ
adjustable (able to be adjusted)
-al
pertaining to
-ಯನ್ನು ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ
personal (pertaining to a particular person)
-ance/-ence
quality or state of
-ಯ ಅಥವಾ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ
tolerance (the ability or willingness to tolerate something)
-ate
to make or to act
-ಮಾಡು
activate (to make something active)
-dom
place or state of
-ಯ ಸ್ಥಳ ಅಥವಾ ಅವಸ್ಥೆ
kingdom (a place or state ruled by a king or queen)
-en
made of
-ದಿಂದ ಮಾಡಿದ
wooden (made of wood)
-er/-or
one who
-ವನ್ನು ಅಥವಾ -ವರು
teacher (one who teaches)
-ful
full of
-ಯಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿದ
cheerful (full of cheer)
-hood
condition or quality
-ಯ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಅಥವಾ ಗುಣ
childhood (the state of being a child)
-ify
to make
-ಮಾಡುವ
simplify (to make something simpler or easier)
-ism
doctrine or belief
-ಯ ಅಥವಾ ನಂಬಿಕೆ
socialism (a political and economic theory advocating for social ownership and
In conclusion, learning root words is an essential part of mastering the English language. Knowing the meaning of root words can help you understand the meaning of new words and expand your vocabulary. With this comprehensive list of 500 English root words with Kannada meanings and examples, you can take the first step towards mastering the English language.
