GSS Etymology Practice Test 2026 - Free Etymology Practice Questions and Study Guide

Auto- comes from the Greek autos, meaning self. That origin explains why it carries the idea of self-action or self-reference in English words like autograph (self-writing), autobiography (a book about oneself), and automatic (self-acting). The other languages listed don’t provide this prefix in English words: Latin doesn’t supply auto- as a productive prefix with this meaning, Old English used “self” as a standalone word rather than as a widely used formative prefix, and German uses the word selbst for “self” but not as the origin of this common English prefix. So, the correct origin and meaning is Greek; self.