Greek and Latin Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words
Prefix, Suffix, or Root Word / Meaning / ExampleA
a-, an- / no, not, without / atrophy, abiogenesis
ab- / away from, negative, absent / abnormal, abduct
abdomin/o / abdomen / abdominoplasty
ad- / toward, to, in direction of / adduct, adhesion, adrenal
aden/o / gland, glandular tissue / adenoids
adip/o / fat / adipose, adipocyte
af- / to, toward / afferent
aero- / air / aerobic, anaerobic
agglutin/o / clumping, stick together / agglutinate
algesi-, algesio-, -algesia, -algesic, -algia, -algic, -algy / pain, suffering / analgesic, fibromyalgia
allo- / other, different / allograft
alviol/o / air sac, small sac / alveolus
amyl/o / starch / amylase
andr/o / relationship to the male / androgen
angio- / blood vessel / angiogram, angioplasty
ante-, anter/o / before, in front of / anterior
anti / against / anti-inflammatory, antihistamine
aqua, aqu/i, aqu/o, aque/o / water / aqueous
areol/o / little open space, small area / areola
arrect/o / upright, lifted up, raised / arrector pili
arter/o, arteri/o / of or pertaining to artery / arterial, arteriosclerosis
arthro / joint / arthritis
articulo / joint / articulate, articulation
-ase / enzyme / sucrase, lactase, amylase
aspir/o, aspirat/o / to breathe in / aspirate
asthmat/o / gasping, choking / asthma
astr/o / star, star-shaped / astrocytes
athero / plaque, fatty substance / atherosclerosis
aud-, audi/o, audit/o, aur/i,aur/o / ear, hearing / auricle, auditory
aut/o / self / autoimmune, autograft
axill/o / armpit / axilla
B
bi-, bis- / twice, double, two / bilateral, bicuspid
bio- / life, living / biology, biogenesis
blast/o, -blast / bud, germ, embryonic, immature / osteoblast, blastula
brachi/o, -brachial / arm / brachial artery, antebrachium
brady- / slow / bradycardia
bronch/i, bronchi/o, bronch/o / windpipe / bronchitis, bronchi
bucc/o / of or pertaining to the cheek / buccinator
burs/o / sac of fluid near joint / bursitis, bursa
C
-calyx / covering / glycocalyx
canalicul/o / little canal or duct / canaliculus
capill-, capilla- / hair, hairlike / capillary
capit/o / head / capitulum
carcin/o / cancer / carcinogenic, carcinoma
cardia, cardi/o, card/o / heart / cardiac, cardiovascular, cardiology
carp/o / wrist bones / carpus, carpals
caud/o / tail, lower part of body / caudal
cec/o / blind / cecum
-cele / tumor, swelling, pouch / hydrocele
-centesis / puncture, aspiration of / amniocentesis
cephal/o, -ceps / head / cephalad, hydrocephalic, bicep
cerebr/o / brain / cerebrum, cerebral
cervic/o / neck / cervix, cervical
chondr/o / cartilage / chondrocyte
chrom/o / color / chromatin, chromosomes
-cide / kill, killing / bactericide, spermicide
circa, circum / around, about / circumcise, circumflex artery
cirrh/o / orange-yellow, tawny / cirrhosis
-clasis, -clast / break down / osteoclast
co-, con- / with, together / coenzyme, cofactor, congenital
corn-, corne-, corni- / horn, horny, beak, claw / stratum corneum
coron/o / crown, garland / coronal suture
corp/u, corpor/o / body / corpus luteum, corpuscles
cost/o / rib / costal, intercostal
cox/o / hip, hip joint / coxa
crani/o / skull / cranium
crin/o, -crine / secrete / endocrine
-cutane, cutaneo / skin / cutaneous
cubit/o, -cubital / elbow, forearm, ulna / cubital, antecubital
cyan/o / blue / cyanotic
cyst-, -cyst / bladder, bag / cyst, blastocyst
cyt/o, -cyte / cell / cytology, leukocyte
D
-dactyl / finger / polydactyly
de- / away from, remove, off, without / dehydrate
derma-, dermis, dermat/o, derm/o / skin / dermal, ectoderm, dermatologist
desm, desmo / tie, a bond / desmosome
di- / twice, double, twofold / disaccharide
di- / take apart, separate / dissect
dia- / through, between, apart / diaphragm
-dont / tooth / odontoid process
dors/o, dors/i / back / dorsal
-duct / opening, vessel, tube, to lead/draws / oviduct, abduct, adduct
dys- / bad, difficult, painful / dysfunctional, dystrophy
E
e-, ex-, exo- / out, outer, out of, from, external / excise, excrete, exocrine, exotoxin
ecto- / out, outside / ectoderm, ectopic
-ectomy / surgcial removal, cutting out, excision / appendectomy, hysterectomy
ef- / out, away from / efferent
-emia / blood, blood condition / anemia, leukemia
en-, end-, endo- / in, within, inside, internal / endoderm, encephalitis
entero- / intestine / dysentery, gastroenterologist
epi- / over, above, on, upon / epithelium, epidermis
episi/o / loins, pubic area, vulva / episiotomy
erythr/o / red / erythema, erythrocyte
-esthetic / sensation, feeling / anesthetic
eu- / true, good, well, new / eukaryote
extra- / on the outside, beyond, outside / extracellular
F
femor/o / thigh bone / femur
-ferent / carrying / efferent, afferent
fibr/o / fiber / fibroblast
fore- / before, in front of / forearm, foreskin, forehead
fossa / hollow, depressed area / olecranon fossa
G
galact/o / milk / galactose
gam, gamo, gamet/o / marriage, sexual, joined / gamete
gaster-, gastr-, gastr/o / stomach, belly / gastric, gastrointestinal, gastritis
-genic, -genesis / origin, birth, creation / carcinogenic, biogenesis
gingiv- / gum / gingivitis
gluco- / sweet / glucose
glute/o / buttocks / gluteal, gluteus maximus
glyc/o, glycos/o / sugar, sweet / glycogen, hyperglycemia, glycocalyx
gracil/o / slender / gracilis
-gram / record, picture / angiogram
gyn-, gyno-, gynec-, gyneco- / woman / gynecology
H
hem/o, hema, hemat/o / blood, relating to the blood / hemorrhage, hemoglobin
hemi- / half / hemisphere
hepat/o / liver / hepatic vein, hepatitis
hist/o, histi/o / tissue / histology
holo- / all / holocrine
hom/o, homos / same, alike / homogenous
home/o / same, unchanging, constant / homeostasis
hydr/o, hydra- / water / hydrolysis, dehydration
hyper- / excessive, above, beyond / hyperglycemia, hypertonic
hypo- / below, under, decreased / hypoglycemia, hypotonic
hyster/o / uterus / hysterectomy
I
im- / not, in, into, inward, to cause / impermeable, impregnate
infra- / below, beneath / infraorbital
inguin/o / groin / inguinal canal
inter- / between, among / intercellular, interstitial
intra- / inside, within / intracellular, intravenous, intramuscular
iso- / equal, same / isotonic, isometric, isograft
-itis / disease, inflammation / bronchitis, arthritis
J
K
kary/o / nucleus, nut, kernel / karyotype, eukaryote
kines/o, kinesi/o, -kinesia / movement / cytokinesis, kinesiology
kypho- / bent, humped / kyphosis
L
labio- / lip / labium
lacrim/o / of or relating to tear / lacrimal bone, lacrimal duct
lact/i, lact/o / milk / lactose, lactate, lactase
-lemma / sheath, covering, envelope / sarcolemma
leuk/o / white / leukocyte, leukemia
lip/o / fat / lipid, liposuction, lipoma
-logy / study / cytology, histology, hematology
lys, lyse, -lysis / breakdown, rupture, destruction, separation / cytolysis, hydrolysis, lysosome
M
macro- / large, abnormal size or length, long / macromolecule, macrophage
mal- / abnormal, bad, inadequate / malnutrition
-malacia / soft, softening / osteomalacia
mamm/o / of or pertaining to breast / mammary, mammogram
mast- / of or pertaining to breast / mastectomy
melan/o / dark, black color / melanin, melanoma
mening/o, meningi/o / membrane / meningitis
-mer / part / polymer, monomer
mes-, meso- / middle / mesoderm
micr/o, micro- / small / microscope
mono- / one, single / monomer, monosaccharide
morph/o / shape, form, structure / morphology
muc/o, mucos/o / mucus / mucosa, mucous membrane, mucus
multi- / many, much / multinucleate
my/o, myos/o / muscle / myocardium
myel/o / bone marrow / myeloblast
N
narc/o / numb, sleep / narcotic
necr/o, -necrosis / of or pertaining to death/dead things / necrosis, necrotizing fasciitis
nephr-, nephra-, nephro- / kidney / nephritis, nephrology
nerv/o, neur/i, neur/o / nerve, nerve tissue / neuron, neurology
nuc-, nucle-, nucleo- / nut, kernel / nucleus, nucleoplasm
O
obliqu/o / slanted / oblique
occipit/o / back of the skull / occipital bone
ocul/o / eye / ocular, binocular
odont/o / tooth / odontoid process
olecran/o / elbow / olecranon process
-ology / science or study of / physiology, cardiology
-oma / tumor / carcinoma, sarcoma
onc/o / tumor / oncogene, oncology
o/o,oo/o / beginning, egg / oocyte, oogenesis
ophthalm/o / eye, vision / ophthalmology
opt-, opto-, optic-, optico- / eye, vision / optic nerve
or/o / mouth, oral cavity / oral, oropharynx
ortho- / direct, straight / orthopedic
osmo- / push / osmosis, osmotic pressure
oss/e, oss/i, oste/o, osst/o / bone / osteon, osteocyte, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis
ot/o / ear, hearing / otitis, otic
ov/i, ov/o / egg / ovary, ovum, oviduct
P
pall/o, pallid/o / pale, lacking color / pallor
para- / beside, near / parasagittal
path-, -pathy / disease / pathogen, osteopathy
pector/o / chest / pectoralis major
-ped, -pede, ped/o, pedia, pedis, pes, pod / foot / bipedal, podiatrist
pedi/a / child / pediatrician
-penia / deficient / osteopenia
peri- / surrounding, around / pericardium
-phaga, -phage, -phagia, phago- / to eat, devour / macrophage, phagocyte
phil, -phile, -philia, -philic, philo- / love, attract / hydrophilic
phleb/o / vein / phlebitis, phlebotomist
phob/o, -phobia, -phobic / abnormal fear / hydrophobic
physi/o / body function / physiology
-plasia, plasm-, plasmo-, plast/o / anything formed or molded / plasma, cytoplasm
-plasty / reconstruction / rhinoplasty
-plegia / paralysis / quadriplegic, paraplegic
pleura- / rib, side / pleural cavity
pneum/o / lungs / pneumonia
pod-, podo- / foot / podiatrist
-poiesis / production, formation, to make / hematopoiesis
poly- / many / polymer, polysaccharide
post- / after, behind / posterior, postoperative
pro- / before, foreward / prothrombin
pre- / before, in front of / precancerous, prenatal
proct/o / anus, rectum / proctology
proxim/o / near / proximal
pterygo- / wing / pterygoid process
pulmon-, pulmo- / lung / pulmonary
pylor-, pyloro / gatekeeper / pyloric valve
Q
quadr/i, quadr/o / four / quadriceps, quadriplegic
R
ren/i, ren/o / kidney / renal
reti-, reticul- , reticul/o / network / endoplasmic reticulum, reticular,
-rrhage, -rrhagia / bleeding, abnormal excessive fluid discharge / hemorrhage, hemorrhagic
-rrhea / abnormal flow, discharge / diarrhea
rug/o / wrinkle, fold / rugae
S
sacchar/o / sugar / polysaccharide
sarc/o / flesh, muscular, connective tissue / sarcoma, sarcomere
scler/o, -sclerosis / hard, hardening / atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis
scoli/o / curved, bent / scoliosis
-scope / instrument for viewing / stethoscope, microscope
scrot/o / bag, pouch / scrotum
sell/o / saddle / sella turcica
semi- / half / semilunar valve
semin/i / seed, sperm / seminal vesicle
seps/o, sept/i, sept/o / infection, separate / sepsis, septic, septum
som-, soma-, somat/o, -some / body / chromosome, lysosome
sperm-, sperma, spermi, spermo, spermato / seed / spermatid, spermatogenesis
-stasia, -stasis, -static / control, maintenance of constant level / homeostasis
sten/o / narrowing, contracted / stenosis
steth- / chest / stethoscope
stomat/o / mouth / stoma
-stomosis, -stomy / surgical opening, new opening / colostomy
styl/o / pillar, point, pen / styloid process
sub- / under, below, less, smaller than / subcutaneous
sulc/o / furrow, groove / lacrimal sulcus
super-, super/o, supra / above, excessive, higher than / superior, suprarenal, supraorbital
sym-, syn- / with, together, united / bilateral symmetry, synapse
T
tach-, tacho-, tachy- / fast, rapid / tachycardia
tars-, tarso-, -tarsal / foot / tarsus, metatarsal
tel-, tele-, telo- / end, completion / telomere, telophase
tetan/o / rigid, tense / tetanus
therm/o, -thermia / heat / hypothermia, endothermic
thorac/o, -thorax / chest / pneumothorax, thoracic cavity
thromb/o / blood clot / thrombus, thrombosis
-tibial / shinbone / tibia
-tomy / cutting, sharp / lobotomy, episiotomy
-ton / tension, to stretch / hypotonic, hypertonic, isotonic
tox/o, toxic/o, -toxin / poison, poisonous / toxic, toxemia
trabecul/o / little beam / trabeculae
trache-, trachea- / throat, neck, windpipe / trachea
trans- / across, through / transverse, transfusion
tri- / three / tricuspid
troph/o, -trophic, -trophy / development, nourishment, to feed or eat, food / hypertrophy, hypotrophy, dystrophy
U
uln-, ulno- / forearm / ulna
umbilic/o / navel / umbilical cord
uni- / one / uninucleate
uter/o / womb / uterus
V
vagin- / sheath, scabbard / vagina
vaso- / duct, blood vessel / vasoconstriction
ven/o, veni- / vein / venous, intravenous
ventr/o, ventri- / in front, belly side / ventral
vesicul- / small bladder, blister / vesicle
vill- / shaggy hair / villi
viscer/o / internal organ / viscera, visceral
viscos/o / sticky / viscous
vitre-, vitreo- / glassy, clear / vitreous humor
vulv/o / covering / vulva
W
X
xeno- / foreign, different / xenograft
xiphi-, xipho- / sword / xiphoid process
Y
Z
zygot/o / joined together / zygote