Words with the root vert/vers
vert/vers means “turn”, from Latinvertere.
15 examples of the root “vert/vers”
- invertin-turn inside or upside down
- revertre-turn back to earlier state
- divertdi-turn aside from a path
- convertcon-turn something into another form
- averta-turn away from something
- reversere-turn back to opposite direction
- diversedi-turned in different directions
- universeuni-all turned into one whole
- version-iona turning into particular form
- advertisead- + -iseturn attention toward something
- subvertsub-turn from below to undermine
- perverseper-thoroughly turned away from right
- controversycontro- + -ya turning against one another
- introvertintro-one turned inward toward themselves
- inadvertentin- + ad- + -entnot turning attention to something
How vert/vers works
The root appears as 'vert' in verbs (convert, invert) and 'vers' in nouns and adjectives (version, diverse, reverse); the prefix 'ad-' assimilates to 'a-' before 'vert' in 'avert' and fully in 'advertise'. Adding the root typically shifts base nouns or adjectives into words expressing change, direction, or transformation.
Watch out: The word 'vertebra' shares the same Latin root 'vertere' legitimately, but 'vertex' (highest point) also comes from it, while 'very' does not — it comes from Latin 'verus' (true) and only resembles 'vers' by coincidence.
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
- 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
- nov · new
- 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 “vert/vers” mean?
vert/vers means “turn”. It comes from Latin (vertere). The root appears as 'vert' in verbs (convert, invert) and 'vers' in nouns and adjectives (version, diverse, reverse); the prefix 'ad-' assimilates to 'a-' before 'vert' in 'avert' and fully in 'advertise'. Adding the root typically shifts base nouns or adjectives into words expressing change, direction, or transformation.
What are some examples of words with the root “vert/vers”?
invert, revert, divert, convert, avert, reverse, diverse, universe. The full list of 15 examples, with what each one literally means, is above.
Which words look like they have the root “vert/vers” but don’t?
The word 'vertebra' shares the same Latin root 'vertere' legitimately, but 'vertex' (highest point) also comes from it, while 'very' does not — it comes from Latin 'verus' (true) and only resembles 'vers' by coincidence.
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.