Scientific Vocabulary

Complete the interactive activities in the Seneca app to work towards your CPD certificate.

The Structure of Words

Words in science matter. Science has its own distinctive vocabulary, and this allows our students to make meaning of the world around them and understand the complex nature of science.

The structure of words

Having a greater understanding of the structure and origin of words can support the learning of new scientific vocabulary.
Morphology is the study of the different parts of a word: prefix, root, suffix.

Prefix, root, suffix

Prefix: at the beginning of the word.
- hypo- (below), hyper – (above), cyclo – (ring), poly (many), endo – (within), exo – (outside of).
Root: have a meaning standing alone. Often form the longest part of a word. Science vocabulary often has Greek or Latin roots.
- chloros (green) isos (equal), allo (other), com (together).
Suffix: at the end of the word, providing additional information.
- -ane (saturated hydrocarbon), -phillic (love, affection), -phobic (hate, fear), - lysis (decompose, breakdown).

Etymology

Knowing the word origin or etymology of a particular term can also help to identify its meaning.
This knowledge can make it is easier to understand the use of the word in science.
Word origins can often be related to everyday terms that students will know and use.

Etymology

Exploring word origins can be a useful method is to look at different families of words for example:
- Thermometer.
- Exothermic.
- Endothermic.
- Thermal.
- Geothermal.
- Thermoregulation.
- Thermistor.
All of these words come from the Greek root word therme meaning heat, therefore all of the key terms are related to heat.