SSAT Word List Organized by Root Word Families

Most SSAT word lists are organized alphabetically. That is the wrong organization for learning — alphabetical order puts abhor next to abolish for no vocabulary reason whatsoever, guaranteeing that students study words with no reinforcing connections between them.

This word list is organized differently: by root families. Each section gives your child a Latin or Greek root, its meaning, and 8-10 words commonly tested on the SSAT Middle and Upper levels. Learning words by root is more efficient because:

1. Each root provides a memory peg — a concrete meaning anchor shared by every word in the family
2. Your child acquires 8-10 words at the cost of learning one root pattern
3. The root knowledge transfers to words not on this list when they encounter them on test day

Before the list: roots are not magic. They give a strong inference, not a guaranteed definition. The word notorious comes from nosc/not (to know) — literally "known for," which is accurate, but knowing it is "known for" only helps if your child also knows it carries a negative connotation. Use roots to decode and anchor, then verify precise meanings through full word study.

Root Family 1: VOC/VOK (to call, voice)

Latin root meaning "to call" or "voice." SSAT words from this family appear frequently in both synonym and analogy questions.

Analogy note: A SSAT analogy might test EQUIVOCAL : CLEAR (antonym bridge) or ADVOCATE : OPPOSE (antonym bridge by function).

Root Family 2: SENT/SENS (to feel, to perceive)

Latin root meaning "to feel" or "to perceive through the senses."

Analogy note: CONSENT : DISSENT is a classic antonym bridge pair from this family.

Root Family 3: LOQUI/LOCUT (to speak)

Latin root for speaking. Words from this family describe how people speak, making them excellent SSAT synonym targets.

SSAT connection: LOQUACIOUS and GARRULOUS are commonly tested as synonym pairs.

Root Family 4: VERD/VER (truth)

Latin root meaning "truth." These words appear in both synonyms and analogies on the SSAT.

Antonym pair: VERACIOUS : MENDACIOUS — truth-telling vs. lying — frequently appears as an analogy or antonym question.

Root Family 5: CRED (to believe, trust)

Latin root meaning "to believe" or "trust."

SSAT analogy: CREDULOUS : SKEPTICAL — classic antonym bridge (the credulous person believes too easily; the skeptical person disbelieves).

Root Family 6: BENE/BONA (good, well)

Latin root meaning "good" or "well." Pairs naturally with MAL- (bad) for antonym question practice.

Root Family 7: MAL (bad, evil, wrong)

The natural antonym of bene-. Learning these two families together makes both stick.

Root Family 8: FORT/FORC (strong)

Latin root meaning "strong" or "strength."

Root Family 9: GRAT (thankful, pleasing)

Latin root meaning "thankful" or "pleasing."

SSAT note: GRATUITOUS is commonly tested because students confuse its meaning (unjustified, unnecessary) with simply meaning "free of charge."

Root Family 10: GREG (flock, herd, group)

Latin root meaning "flock" or "group."

SSAT favorite: GREGARIOUS (loves groups) and its antonym solitary or hermetic (prefers isolation) appear regularly. EGREGIOUS looks positive (e-greg-ious = "standing out from the group") but means shockingly bad — a common trap.

Root Family 11: PATH/PASS (feeling, suffering)

Greek root meaning "feeling" or "suffering."

Root Family 12: CHRON (time)

Greek root meaning "time."

Root Family 13: RUPT (to break)

Latin root meaning "to break."

Root Family 14: SCRIB/SCRIPT (to write)

Latin root meaning "to write."

Root Family 15: TERR (earth, land)

Latin root meaning "earth" or "land."

Using This Word List Effectively

Work through one root family per day. Do not attempt to cram multiple families in one session.

Have your child generate before looking. Before reading the word list for a new root, ask your child to name 3-5 words from the root meaning. This retrieval attempt — even when it fails — dramatically improves subsequent learning.

Learn antonym pairs together. When your child encounters benevolent, immediately associate it with malevolent. The SSAT tests both directions.

Spot roots in everyday reading. When your child encounters an unfamiliar word while reading or studying, look for recognizable root elements before checking a dictionary. This practice builds the root-decoding skill that transfers to unknown words on test day.

Revisit with spaced intervals. After learning a root family, return to it 2 days later, then 5 days later, then 12 days later. Each return requires your child to recall from memory rather than re-read — the retrieval is what builds durable retention.

Key Takeaways

• Alphabetical word lists are inefficient; root-family organization lets your child acquire 8–10 words per root learned and builds a decoding system for words they have never studied.
• The highest-value root pairs to study together are antonym families: bene/mal, verd/mendac, credulous/incredulous — the SSAT tests both directions.
• Roots give a strong inference, not a guaranteed definition; your child should use root knowledge to decode and anchor, then confirm precise meaning through full word study.
• Spaced review — returning to each family at 2, 5, and 12 days — builds far more durable retention than re-reading words in a single session.
• The transfer effect is the real value: a child who knows 15 roots can reason through hundreds of unfamiliar SSAT words, not just the ones on this list.

For a structured 3-month SSAT verbal study plan organized around root-based vocabulary, see our SSAT verbal study strategies guide. For the science behind why root-based learning outperforms flashcards, see our vocabulary building methods guide.

These root families give your child a powerful foundation in Vocabulary Knowledge — the first of five verbal domains the tests actually score. See how LexiMap trains all five domains so your child's preparation covers the full picture.

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