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5. Learn about word parts.

You can figure out the meanings of new words by learning about the three basic word parts:

• prefixes (word beginnings),
• suffixes (word endings), and
• roots (word bases).

Learn the meanings of some of the most common prefixes, suffixes, and roots.

• The prefix sub means “under.”
• The root terra means “earth.”

Look for those word parts whenever you meet a new word.

The story is about a subterranean city.(If you know that sub means “under” and terra means “earth,” you can figure out that subterranean means “under the earth.”)

6. Watch for word families.

Word families are groups of words that are built from the same basic word. If you know the meaning of the basic word, you can often figure out the meanings of other words in the same family. The basic word astro or aster means “star.” Can you use that knowledge to figure out the meaning of any of the following words?