Word part · Latin root
Trib root words: meaning and 16 examples
In short
The Latin root trib (from Latin) means "give, or share out". It is also spelled tribute and tribut. Words with it include contribute, contributes, contributed, contributing, contribution and contributions. Written tribute in action words and tribut before -ion and -or: contribute, contribution, contributor.
- Part
- trib
- Meaning
- give, or share out
- Origin
- Latin
- Also spelled
- tribute, tribut
- Words listed
- 16
Written tribute in action words and tribut before -ion and -or: contribute, contribution, contributor.
Words with the Latin root trib
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
Next: longer words (about grades 5 and 6)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| contribute | con (prefix)+tribute (root or base)→contribute | give something along with others |
| contributes | con (prefix)+tribute (root or base)+s (suffix)→contributes | gives along with others (one person, now) |
| contribution | con (prefix)+tribut (root or base)+ion (suffix)→contribution | what someone gives to a shared goal |
| contributions | con (prefix)+tribut (root or base)+ion (suffix)+s (suffix)→contributions | more than one contribution |
| distribute | dis (prefix)+tribute (root or base)→distribute | give out shares to many people |
| distribution | dis (prefix)+tribut (root or base)+ion (suffix)→distribution | the way something is given out or spread |
More words: tribute, attribute, attributes
Stretch: long or less common words (about grades 7 and 8)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| contributed | con (prefix)+tribute (root or base)+ed (suffix)→contributeddrop the e | gave along with others |
| contributing | con (prefix)+tribute (root or base)+ing (suffix)→contributingdrop the e | giving along with others, now |
| contributor | con (prefix)+tribut (root or base)+or (suffix)→contributor | a person who gives to a shared goal |
| contributors | con (prefix)+tribut (root or base)+or (suffix)+s (suffix)→contributors | more than one contributor |
| distributor | dis (prefix)+tribut (root or base)+or (suffix)→distributor | a business that gives out goods to stores |
| redistribution | re (prefix)+dis (prefix)+tribut (root or base)+ion (suffix)→redistribution | giving out shares again in a new way |
More words: tributary
Where does trib 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.
- In the middle:
- contribution, contributions, contributor, contributors, distribution, distributor, redistribution
- At the end:
- contribute, contributes, contributed, contributing, distribute
How do you teach the root trib?
Bring the meaning to class jobs. When each student gives a little to a group project, they contribute. When you hand out papers, you distribute them. Contribute and distribute are the two anchor words; everything else grows from them. Show the switch from tribute to tribut before -ion and -or so the student sees why contribution has no e in the middle.
A quick routine
Pass out three pencils and say, "I'm distributing pencils. Trib means give or share out." Write con + tribute and dis + tribute. The student reads them and explains the difference: "Contribute is giving to the group. Distribute is giving out to many." Then have them build contribution and distributor with tile cards and say each sum aloud.
What do students mix up with trib?
Students sometimes split contribute as cont + ribute because they see the word rib. Show the parts with color: con, then tribute. Tribe is a far cousin of this root, but the meaning has drifted, so it isn't on this list. Attribute belongs, though its first part changed from ad to at, so save it for after the anchor words.
Some of these words change spelling where the parts join. The spelling rules pages cover dropping e, doubling and changing y to i. 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 trib mean?
Trib means "give, or share out". It is a Latin root, also spelled tribute and tribut. Written tribute in action words and tribut before -ion and -or: contribute, contribution, contributor.
What are some words with the root trib?
Start with contribute, contributes, contribution and contributions. Then move to contributed and contributing. This page lists 16 words in all, most with a word sum that shows the parts.
What is the difference between contribute and distribute?
Both mean give. Contribute adds con, together, so it means giving along with others. Distribute adds dis, apart, so it means giving out pieces to many people.
Related word parts
- con-with, or together
- dis-not, the opposite of, or apart
- -tionthe act of, or the result of
- -ora person or thing that does something
- fercarry, or bring
Terms on this page: morpheme, root, prefix, suffix, base word, word sum, morphology.
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