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ambi-
(AM-bee)both, on both sides, around
Latin ambi- (and Greek amphi-) for both or surrounding on both sides. Ambidextrous people use both hands; an amphitheater wraps around the stage.
prefixLatin
OtherSpellings:ambiamphi
The story behind this root
Ambi and amphi are the Latin and Greek twins of the same idea — both sides at once. The Romans gave us ambidextrous; the Greeks gave us the amphitheater that surrounded its actors with audience on every side.
Example words
ambidextrous
able to use both hands equally well
ambivalent
having mixed feelings on both sides
amphibious
living both in water and on land
amphitheater
an oval theater with seats wrapping around the stage
Common Core alignment
Grades served: 6, 7, 8
- L.6.4bUse common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., audience, auditory, audible).
- L.7.4bUse common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., belligerent, bellicose, rebel).
- L.8.4bUse common, grade-appropriate Greek or Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., precede, recede, secede).
Other. A catch-all for roots that don't fit the other categories.
Browse all other roots →L.6.4bL.7.4bL.8.4b