Words with the root nov
nov means “new”, from Latinnovus.
15 examples of the root “nov”
- novel-elnew (book or idea)
- novelty-eltyquality of being new
- novice-iceone new to a skill
- innovatein- + -atebring in something new
- renovatere- + -atemake new again
- innovatorin- + -atorone who brings new things
- innovationin- + -ationact of creating something new
- renovationre- + -ationact of making new again
- novella-ellashort new fictional story
- innovativein- + -ativetending to introduce new ideas
- newlynew + -lyin a new manner
- nouveau-eaunew (borrowed French form)
- supernovasuper- + -anew bright exploding star
- renovatorre- + -atorone who makes things new
- novatian-ianone advocating new strict doctrine
How nov works
The root 'nov' typically functions as a base forming nouns, adjectives, and verbs, often paired with prefixes like 'in-' (into) or 're-' (again) and suffixes like '-ate,' '-ation,' or '-ity.' Spelling variants include 'new' (native English cognate) and 'nouveau' (borrowed directly from French).
Watch out: The word 'November' looks like it contains 'nov' meaning new, but it derives from 'novem' (Latin for nine), referring to the ninth month of the original Roman calendar.
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
- port · carry
- duct · lead
- scrib/script · write
- dict · say
- aud · hear
- vid/vis · see
- rupt · break
- mit/miss · send
- vert/vers · turn
- ped · foot
- man/manu · hand
- spec/spect · look
- cap/cept · take
- pos/pon · place
- fac/fact · make
- voc/vok · voice
- terr · earth
- aqua · water
- luc/lum · light
- temp · time
- mort · death
- gram/graph · write
- log/logy · word
- phon · sound
- bio · life
- chron · time
- geo · earth
- path · feeling
- hydr · water
- scope · look at
- therm · heat
- psych · mind
- auto · self
- tele · far
- micro · small
Questions people ask
What does the root “nov” mean?
nov means “new”. It comes from Latin (novus). The root 'nov' typically functions as a base forming nouns, adjectives, and verbs, often paired with prefixes like 'in-' (into) or 're-' (again) and suffixes like '-ate,' '-ation,' or '-ity.' Spelling variants include 'new' (native English cognate) and 'nouveau' (borrowed directly from French).
What are some examples of words with the root “nov”?
novel, novelty, novice, innovate, renovate, innovator, innovation, renovation. The full list of 15 examples, with what each one literally means, is above.
Which words look like they have the root “nov” but don’t?
The word 'November' looks like it contains 'nov' meaning new, but it derives from 'novem' (Latin for nine), referring to the ninth month of the original Roman calendar.
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.