Word part · Greek root
Logue root words: meaning and 18 examples
In short
The Greek root logue (from Greek) means "word, or speech". It is also spelled log and logy. Words with it include monologue, monologues, prologue, prologues, logic and logical. Spelled logue or log when it closes a word naming a kind of talk (dialogue, catalog), and log before ic (logic).
- Part
- logue
- Meaning
- word, or speech
- Origin
- Greek
- Also spelled
- log, logy
- Words listed
- 18
Spelled logue or log when it closes a word naming a kind of talk (dialogue, catalog), and log before ic (logic). It is a cousin of the logy that means the study of, but the meaning is talk, not a subject.
Words with the Greek root logue
The list runs from shorter, common words to longer ones. The bands are a rough guide built from syllable count and how common each word is in our word list, not a grade-level standard. Read each word, then its word sum.
Colors:prefixroot or basesuffix
Start here: short, common words (about grades 3 and 4)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| logic | log (root or base)+ic (suffix)→logic | clear thinking with reasons that hold together |
Next: longer words (about grades 5 and 6)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| prologue | pro (prefix)+logue (root or base)→prologue | words that come before the main story |
| prologues | pro (prefix)+logue (root or base)+s (suffix)→prologues | more than one prologue |
| logical | log (root or base)+ic (suffix)+al (suffix)→logical | making sense, step by step |
More words: dialogue, catalog, apology, apologies, analogue
Stretch: long or less common words (about grades 7 and 8)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| monologue | mono (root or base)+logue (root or base)→monologue | a long speech given by one person |
| monologues | mono (root or base)+logue (root or base)+s (suffix)→monologues | more than one monologue |
| logically | log (root or base)+ic (suffix)+al (suffix)+ly (suffix)→logically | in a way that makes sense, step by step |
| illogically | il (prefix)+log (root or base)+ic (suffix)+al (suffix)+ly (suffix)→illogicallythe prefix changes to match | in a way that does not make sense |
More words: dialogues, epilogue, catalogue, analogy, analogies
Where does logue sit in a word?
A root can come first, last or in the middle. Students who only look at the start of a word miss half of these.
- At the start:
- logic, logical, logically
- In the middle:
- illogically
- At the end:
- monologue, monologues, prologue, prologues
How do you teach the root logue?
Start with dialogue, because students write it in their own stories. Dia means across, so a dialogue is speech that goes back and forth between people. A monologue is one person speaking, and a prologue is what comes before a story begins. Set the three side by side and let the student say what changes from word to word. Then show logic: reasons put into words. Every word in the family is about words and talk.
A quick routine
Write logue at the top and say, "Logue means words or speech. Tell me who is talking." Read dialogue (two or more people), monologue (one person), prologue (someone before the story starts) and epilogue (someone after it ends). Then write catalog and say, "Same part, shorter spelling. A catalog is a list of words about things for sale." Dictate monologue; the student spells the ending l-o-g-u-e.
What do students mix up with logue?
The ue at the end is silent, so students drop it or write log. Catalog and catalogue are both correct in American English, but dialogue and monologue usually keep their ue. The bigger mix-up is with -logy. Biology and geology name a subject you study, while apology and analogy are about words. Ask, "Is this a subject you study, or something someone says?"
For the sounds inside these words, see the phonics word lists. Routines that fit: meanings of prefixes and suffixes, circle the parts, read the base and flexible routine for big words.
Questions people ask
What does the root logue mean?
Logue means "word, or speech". It is a Greek root, also spelled log and logy. Spelled logue or log when it closes a word naming a kind of talk (dialogue, catalog), and log before ic (logic). It is a cousin of the logy that means the study of, but the meaning is talk, not a subject.
What are some words with the root logue?
Start with logic. Then move to prologue, prologues, monologue and monologues. This page lists 18 words in all, most with a word sum that shows the parts.
Is a log of wood from this root?
No. A log from a tree is an old English word. A ship's log, the written record, got its name from that wooden log, not from the Greek part. Logic, catalog and dialogue are the words that belong here.
Related word parts
- logythe study of
- monoone, or alone
- pro-forward, or for
- -ichaving to do with, or like
- -alhaving to do with
Terms on this page: morpheme, root, prefix, suffix, base word, word sum, morphology.
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