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Words with the root aqua

aqua means “water”, from Latinaqua.

15 examples of the root “aqua”

  1. aquarium-ariumplace for keeping water animals
  2. aquatic-aticliving or done in water
  3. aqueductductchannel for conducting water
  4. aquifer-ferrock layer bearing water
  5. aquamarinemarinesea-water blue-green color
  6. aquacultureculturefarming of water organisms
  7. subaqueoussub- + -eousexisting or formed under water
  8. aquaplaneplaneslide uncontrolled over water
  9. aquanaut-nautdiver working deep underwater
  10. aquatinttintprint made using acid and water
  11. semiaquaticsemi- + -aticpartly living in water
  12. aqueous-eousof, like, or containing water
  13. teraqueousterra- + -eousconsisting of land and water
  14. subaquaticsub- + -aticfound or occurring under water
  15. aquatically-aticallyin a water-based manner

How aqua works

The root 'aqua' typically functions as a noun base, converting to adjectives via suffixes like '-atic' and '-eous,' or forming compound nouns with roots like 'duct' and 'culture.' The spelling remains stable as 'aqua-' across nearly all English derivatives, with no assimilation changes.

Watch out: The word 'aquiline' (eagle-shaped, as in a hooked nose) comes from Latin 'aquila' meaning eagle, not 'aqua,' despite its similar appearance.

To see roots combine with other parts, try the word dissector and root builder, or test yourself in the vocabulary quiz.

Other Greek and Latin roots

Questions people ask

What does the root “aqua” mean?

aqua means “water”. It comes from Latin (aqua). The root 'aqua' typically functions as a noun base, converting to adjectives via suffixes like '-atic' and '-eous,' or forming compound nouns with roots like 'duct' and 'culture.' The spelling remains stable as 'aqua-' across nearly all English derivatives, with no assimilation changes.

What are some examples of words with the root “aqua”?

aquarium, aquatic, aqueduct, aquifer, aquamarine, aquaculture, subaqueous, aquaplane. The full list of 15 examples, with what each one literally means, is above.

Which words look like they have the root “aqua” but don’t?

The word 'aquiline' (eagle-shaped, as in a hooked nose) comes from Latin 'aquila' meaning eagle, not 'aqua,' despite its similar appearance.

What is a root word?

A root is the core of a word that carries its main meaning. Many English roots come from Latin or Greek and cannot stand alone, like port (“carry”) in transport and portable.