Glossary · Word parts and vocabulary
What is a morpheme?
Definition
A morpheme is a word part that carries meaning and can't be split smaller; cats has two (cat and -s), and unkindness has three.
A morpheme can be a whole word (cat, run, happy) or a part that only appears attached to others (un-, -ness, -ed). It is about meaning, not sound. The s in cats is a morpheme because it means more than one. The s in bus isn't, because it's just part of the word.
Morphemes and syllables often don't line up. Jumped is one syllable and two morphemes. Elephant is three syllables and one morpheme.
Splitting words into morphemes gives students a second way to attack long words, one that brings meaning with it. A student who sees re + build + ing knows the word and roughly what it means before they've finished reading it.
In a lesson
Ask the student how many morphemes are in replanted. They find re (again), plant and ed (past). Three parts, three meanings, one word.
Examples
Each word with its spelling units, one per sound.
- jumpedj·u·m·p·ed
- helpfulh·e·l·p·f·u·l
- unhappyu·n·h·a·pp·y
- playersp·l·ay·er·s
Words come from our lexicon, checked against a pronouncing dictionary. Words a student sees in our assessments are left out.
Why does this matter for the record?
Note whether a student splits by meaning or by sound. Splitting jumped into jump and ed is morpheme thinking; jum and ped is syllable thinking.
Rate each skill as you teach it
Needs support, Developing, Secure. The rating schedules the review and builds the report.