Numbers come in pairs of prefixes, one Greek and one Latin. A monorail (Greek) and a unicycle (Latin) each have one of something. A dilemma (Greek) is a choice between two, and a bicycle (Latin) has two wheels. A polygon (Greek) has many sides, and to multiply (Latin) is to make many.
Key idea
One: mono- (Greek), uni- (Latin). Two: di- (Greek), bi- (Latin). Many: poly- (Greek), multi- (Latin).
The list has fewer number words than you might expect, but each is a good one. A unanimous vote comes from one mind (un- + anim, mind). A monotonous voice stays on one tone. A dichotomy cuts something in two. A polymath has learned many subjects.
The parts and their words
Words taken apart
| Word and meaning | Parts, and what they say |
|---|---|
| monotonous dull because it never varies | mono- one + ton tone + -ous → “of one tone” |
| unanimous fully agreed by everyone | un one + anim mind + -ous → “of one mind” |
| universal applying to all | uni- one + vers turned + -al → “turned into one (all together)” |
| dichotomy a division into two opposite parts | dicho in two + tom cut + -y → “a cutting in two” |
| polymath a person with expert knowledge of many subjects | poly- many + math learning → “one of much learning” |
| monologue a long speech by one person | mono- one + log speech → “one person’s speech” |
| unicycle a cycle with one wheel | uni- one + cycle wheel → “one wheel” |
| polygon a flat shape with many straight sides | poly- many + gon angle → “many angles” |
Worked example: Use the parts
The vote to name the class turtle Pickles was unanimous. How many students voted against it?
- Take it apart: un (one, from uni-) + anim (mind, as in animate) + -ous.
- Literally: “of one mind.”
- If everyone is of one mind, no one disagreed.
Answer: None: everyone agreed.
Meet the word
Common mistake
Mixing the Greek and Latin sets, or thinking one is wrong. Both are right in their own words: monorail (Greek) and unicycle (Latin); dilemma (Greek) and bicycle (Latin). Usually a Greek number joins a Greek root and a Latin number joins a Latin root.