English · Stage 6

Where Words Come From

Vocabulary — English builds words from Greek and Latin roots (tele 'far' + phone 'sound' = telephone) and borrows words from languages all over the world (pyjamas, ballet, tsunami).

✦ English📘 Stage 6 · S6⏱ ~12 min🧒 Ages 10–12★ Free to start

I can explore word origins and how words enter English.

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Kavi Pulls a Word Apart

Kavi found a long word and pulled it apart like a puzzle. "Telephone," said Kavi, "is really two tiny Greek words: tele means far, and phone means sound — a machine for far-off sound!" Then Kavi grinned. "And English is a magpie — it borrows words from everywhere: pyjamas from Hindi, ballet from French, tsunami from Japanese. Let's hunt for where words come from!"

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What your child will learn

1Many words are built from Greek and Latin rootsA root is a small word-part that carries its own meaning. Join roots together and you build a bigger word. The Greek roots tele (far) and phone (sound) make telephone — a machine for far-off sound. Learn a root once and you can unlock dozens of words.

2Snap two roots together to build a wordTap each root to hear it, then Blend to reveal the word the roots make.

3English borrows words from all over the worldEach card shows a word English borrowed and the language it came from. Tap to hear it.

4Sort each borrowed word by the language it came from

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A peek inside

The word telephone is made of two Greek roots. What are they, and what does the whole word mean?

telephone → tele (far) + phone (sound)

Try this at home: The word telephone comes from two Greek roots. What do tele and phone mean?

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Start the free interactive lesson, or print the handout for screen-free play.

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Part of English · Stage 6 · S6 on KAVI Academy — a secular, whole-child learning platform for ages 5–12.