Prefixes

.
Origin Language
Prefix Prefix Meaning Root Type Example(s)
and Etymology
< Ancient Greek
Denotes an
a-, an- α-/αν- (a-/an-), Quantity Apathy
absence of
without, not
< Latin
Of or relating to (abdōmen),
abdomin(o)- External Body Abdomen
the Abdomen abdomen, fat
around the belly
< Ancient Greek
aden(o)-, Of or relating to αδην, αδέν- (adēn,
Internal Body Adenology
aden(i)- a gland aden-), an acorn;
a gland
Of or relating to < Latin (adeps,
adip- Internal Body Adipocyte
fat or fatty tissue adip-), fat
Denoting a white < Latin (albus), Color
alb- Albino
or pale color white (Description)
Denoting
< Ancient Greek
something as Quantity; Alloantigen,
allo- αλλος (allos),
different, or as an Description allopathy
another, other
addition
< Ancient Greek
Denoting
ankyl(o)-, ανκύλος
something as Description Ankylosis
ancyl(o)- (ankýlos),
crooked or bent
crooked, curved
Denoting
something as
< Latin (ambi-,
positioned on
ambi- ambo), both, on Position Ambidextrous
both sides;
both sides
Describing both
of two
Describing < Ancient Greek
aniso- something as ανῑσος (anīsos), Quantity Anisotropic
unequal unequal
Describing
something as
< Latin (āntē),
ante- positioned in Position antepartum
before, in front of
front of another
thing
anti- Describing < Ancient Greek Description Antibody,
 something as
αντι (anti), against antipsychotic
'against' another
< Ancient Greek
αρτηρία (artēría),
Of or pertaining a wind-pipe,
arteri(o)- Internal Body Artery, Arteriology
to an artery artery (used
distinctly versus a
vein)
Of or pertaining < Ancient Greek
arthr(o)- to the joints, αρθρος (arthros), Internal Body Arthritis
limbs a joint, limb
Of or pertaining < Latin (auris),
aur- External Body Aural
to the ear the ear
Of or pertaining
to the armpit < Latin (axilla),
axill- External Body Axilla
[uncommon as a armpit
prefix]
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining βλέφαρον
blephar(o)- External Body Blepharoplast
to the eyelid (blépharon),
eyelid
< Latin
(brachium) <
Of or relating to
brachi(o)- Ancient Greek External Body Brachium
the arm
βραχίων
(brachiōn), arm
Indicating < Ancient Greek
something as βραχυς (brachys),
brachy- Description brachycephalic
'short' or less short; little,
commonly 'little' shallow
Indicating < Ancient Greek
brady- something as βραδυς (bradys), Description Bradycardia
'slow' slow
Of or pertaining < Latin (bucca),
bucc(o)- External Body Buccolabial
to the cheek cheek
Of or pertaining < Latin (capillus),
capill- External Body Capillus
to hair hair
Pertaining to the < Latin (caput,
capit- External Body Capitation
head (as a whole) capit-), the head
cardi(o)- Of or pertaining < Ancient Greek Internal Body Cardiology
to the heart καρδία (kardía),
 heart
< Latin (carpus) <
Ancient Greek
καρπός (karpós),
wrist; [NOTE:
Of or pertaining
carp(o)- This root need not External Body Carpopedal
to the wrist.
be confused with
the mirror root
carp(o)- meaning
fruit.
Of or pertaining < Ancient Greek
cephal(o)- to the head (as a κέφαλή (képhalē), External Body Cephalalgy
whole) the head
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining
κέρας, κερατ-
cerat(o)- to the cornu; a Internal Body Ceratioid
(kéras, kerat-), a
horn
horn
< Latin
Of or pertaining
cerebell(o)- (cerebellum), Internal Body Cerebellum
to the cerebellum
little brain
Of or pertaining < Latin
cerebr(o)- Internal Body Cerebrology
to the brain (cerebrum), brain
Of or pertaining < Latin (cervix,
cervic- to the neck, the cervīc-), neck, External Body Cervicodorsal
cervix cervix
< Ancient Greek
chir(o)-, Of or pertaining
χείρ, χειρο- (cheir, External Body Chiropractor
cheir(o)- to the hand
cheiro-), hand
< Ancient Greek
Denoting a green χλορος (chloros), Color
chlor(o)- Chlorophyll
color green, yellow- (Description)
green
Of or pertaining < Ancient Greek Body
chol(e)- Cholaemia
to bile χολή (cholē), bile Fluid/Substance
< Ancient Greek
χοληκύστις
(cholēkýstis),
Of or pertaining
cholecyst(o)- gallbladder < Internal Body Cholecystectomy
to the gallbladder
χολη (cholē), bile,
gall + κύστις
(kýstis), bladder
cili- Of or pertaining < Latin (cilium), External Body Ciliary
 to the cilia, the
eyelashes; eyelash; eyelid
eyelids
Denoting
< Latin (circum),
circum- something as Position Circumcision
around
'around' another
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining κόλπος (kólpos),
colp(o)- External Body Colposcopy
to the vagina bosom, womb;
hollow, depth
< Ancient Greek
cor-, core-, Of or pertaining κόρη (kórē), girl,
External Body Corectomy
coro- to eye's pupil doll; pupil of the
eye
Of or pertaining
to the heart < Latin (cor,
cordi- Internal Body Cardiology
[Uncommon as a cordi-), heart
prefix]
Applied to
processes and
Description;
parts of the body < Latin (cornū),
cornu- External/Internal Cardiology
describing them horn
Body
likened or similar
to horns
Of or pertaining < Latin (costa),
cost(o)- Internal Body Costochondral
to the ribs rib
< Latin (cranium)
< Ancient Greek
Belonging or κρᾱνίον
crani(o)- relating to the (krānion), the Internal Body Craniology
cranium cranium, skull,
bones enclosing
the brain
Of or relating to
< Latin (coxa),
cox- the hip, haunch, External Body Coxopodite
hip
or hip-joint
< Ancient Greek
Denotes a blue κύανος, κυάνεος Color
cyan(o)- Cyanopsia
color (kýanos, (Description)
kyáneos), blue
cyph(o)- Denotes < Ancient Greek Description Cyphosis
something as κυφός (kȳphós),
 bent [uncommon
bent, hunchback
as a prefix]
Of or pertaining < Ancient Greek
cyst(o)-,
to the urinary κύστις (kýstis), Internal Body Cystotomy
cyst(i)-
bladder bladder; cyst
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining δάκτυλος
dactyl(o)- External Body Dactylology
to a finger, toe (dáktylos), finger,
toe
Of or pertaining < Latin (dens),
dent- External Body Dentist
to teeth tooth
< Ancient Greek
dermat-, Of or pertaining δέρμα, δέρματ-
External Body Dermatology
derm- to the skin (dérma, démat-),
skin, human skin
< Ancient Greek
[same as Greek
dia- διά (diá), through, Position Diacetyl
meaning]
during, across
Of or pertaining
< Latin (digitus),
digit- to the finger [rare External Body Digit
finger, toe
as a root]
dors(o)-, Of or pertaining < Latin (dorsum),
External Body Dorsocephalad
dors(i)- to the back back
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining ενκέφαλος
encephal(o)- Internal Body Encephalogram
to the brain (enképhalos), the
brain
Denotes < Ancient Greek
endo- something as ενδο- (endo-), Position Endocrinology
'inside' or 'within' inside, internal
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining
enter(o)- έντερον (énteron), Internal Body Enterology
to the intestine
intestine
< Ancient Greek
[Same as Greek επι- (epi-), before,
epi- Position Epidermis
meaning] upon, on, outside,
outside of
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining
επίσιον- (epísion), External
episi(o)- to the pubic Episiorrhaphy
the pubic area, Anatomy
region, the loins
loins; vulva
 < Ancient Greek
Denotes a red Color
erythr(o)- ερυθρος Erythrocyte
color (Description)
(erythros), red
< Ancient Greek
Denotes
εξο- (exo-),
exo- something as Position Exoskeleton
outside of,
'outside' another
external
< Latin (faciēs),
Of or pertaining
faci(o)- the face, External Body Facioplegic
to the face
countenance
< Latin (frōns,
Of or pertaining
front- front-), the External Body Frontonasal
to the forehead
forehead
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining
gastr(o)- γαστήρ (gastēr), External Body Gasteral
to the stomach
stomach, belly
Of or pertaining < Latin (genū),
genu- External Body Genuflex
to the knee knee
Of or pertaining < Latin (gingīva),
gingiv- External Body Gingivitis
to the gums gum
< Ancient Greek
Denoting a grey, γλαυκός Color
glauc(o)- Glaucoma
bluish-grey color (glaúkos), grey, (Description)
bluish-grey
< Ancient Greek
gloss(o)-, Of or pertaining γλῶσσα, γλῶττα
Internal Body Glossology
glott(o)- to the tongue (glōssa, glōtta),
tongue
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining
gnath(o)- γνάθος (gnáthos), Internal Body Gnathonic
to the jaw
jaw
Corrupted word
Of or pertaining formation <
halluc- to the thumb, the Classical Latin External Body Hallucinosis
big toe (hallex, hallicis),
thumb, big toe
< Latin (hæma) <
hemat-,
Ancient Greek
haemato- Of or pertaining Body Hematology, older
αίμα, αίματ-
(haem-, to blood Fluid/Substance form Haematology
(haima, haimat-),
hem-)
blood
 < Ancient Greek
hepat- Of or pertaining ηπαρ, ηπατο-
Internal Body Hepatology
(hepatic-) to the liver (hēpar, hēpato-),
the liver
Denotes
< Ancient Greek
something as 'the
έτερος (héteros),
hetero- other' (of two), as Description Heterogeneous
the other (of two),
an addition, or
another; different
different
Denotes < Ancient Greek
something as 'the ομο- (homo-), the
homo- Description Homosexuality
same' as another, same; alike;
alike, or common common
Of or pertaining Incorrect
to the shoulder Etymology <
humer(o)- External Body Humerus
(or [rarely] the Latin (umerus),
upper arm) shoulder
< Ancient Greek
Denotes
υπερ (hyper),
something as
hyper- over, above; Quantity Hypertension
'extreme' or
beyond, to the
'beyond normal'
extreme
Denotes < Ancient Greek
hyp(o)- something as υπ(ο)- (hypo-), Quantity Hypodermic,
'below normal' below, under
Of or pertaining < Ancient Greek
hyster- to the womb, the υστέρα (hystéra), Internal Body Hysterectomy
uterus womb
Of or pertaining
to medicine, or a
physican < Ancient Greek
iatr(o)- [uncommon as a ιᾱτρός (iātrós), Descriptian Iatrochemistry
prefix; common healer, physician
as as suffix, see
-iatry]
Of or pertaining < Ancient Greek
ischio- to the ischium, ισχιόν (ischión), Internal Body Ischiorrhogic
the hip-joint hip-joint, ischium
Denoting
< Ancient Greek
iso- something as Quantity Isotonic
ίσος (ísos), equal
being 'equal'
labi(o)- Of or pertaining < Latin (labium), External Body Labiodental
 to the lip lip
Of or pertaining < Ancient Greek
lapar(o)- to the abdomen- λαπάρᾱ (lapárā), Internal Body Laparotomy
wall, flank flank
Of or pertaining
to the larynx, the
< Ancient Greek
lower throat
λάρυγξ, λαρυγγ-
laryng(o)- cavity where the Internal Body Larynx
(lárynx, laryng-),
voice box is, not
throat, gullet
to be confused
with the pharynx.
< Ancient Greek
Denoting a white Color
leuc-, leuk- λευκος (leukos), Leukocyte
color (Description)
white, bright
Of or pertaining
to the tongue; < Latin (lingua),
lingu(a)- External Body Linguistics
language (in non- tongue
medical senses)
Of or pertaining < Latin (mamma),
mamm(o)- External Body Mammogram
to the breast breast; udder
Of or pertaining < Latin (manus),
manu- External Body Manufacture
to the hand hand
< Ancient Greek
μαστός (mastós),
Of or pertaining
mast(o)- breast, women's External Body Mastectomy
to the breast
breast; man's
pectoral muscle
< Ancient Greek
Denoting a black μελας, μελανο- Color
melan(o)- Melanin
color (melas, melano-), (Description)
black; dark
Pertaining to
< Ancient Greek
conditions or
metr(o)- μήτρᾱ (mētrā), Internal Body Metrorrhagia
instruments of
womb, uterus
the uterus
denoting
< Ancient Greek
something as
micro- μικρος (mikros), Description Microscope
small, or relating
small
to smallness
my(o)- Of or relating to < Ancient Greek Internal Body Myoblastoma
muscle μυς, μυ- (mys,
my-), muscle;
 mouse; mussel
< Ancient Greek
Of or relating to μυελον (myelon),
myel(o)- Body Substance Myeloblast
bone marrow marrow; bone-
marrow
Of or pertaining < Latin (nāsum),
nas(o)- External Body nasal
to the nose nose
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining
nephr(o)- νεφρός (nephrós), Internal Body Nephrology
to the kidney
kidney
Of or pertaining
< Latin (nervus),
to nerves and the
tendon; nerve;
nervous system
Cognate with the
nerv- [Uncommon as a Internal Body Nerve
Greek νευρον
root: neuro-
(neuron) (see
mostly always
below)
used]
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining
νευρον (neuron),
neur(o)- to nerves and the Internal Body Neurology
tendon, sinew;
nervous system
nerve
Of or pertaining < Latin (oculus),
ocul- External Body Oculist
to the eye the eye
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining οδούς, οδοντ-
odont(o)- External Body orthodontist
to teeth (odoús, odont-),
tooth
Denoting
< Ancient Greek
something as
oligo- ολιγος (oligos), Quantity Oligotrophy
'having little,
few
having few'
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining
om(o)- ωμος (ōmos), External Body Omoplate
to the shoulder
shoulder
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining ομφαλός
omphal(o)- to the navel, the (omphalós), External Body Omphalotomy
umbilicus navel, belly-
button
onych(o)- Of or pertaining < Ancient Greek External Body Onychophagy
to the nail (of a < όνυξ, όνυχο-
finger or toe) (ónyx, ónycho-),
 nail; claw; talon
Of or pertaining
< Ancient Greek
to the an egg, a Body
oo- ωόν, ωο- (ōón, Oogenesis
woman's egg, the Fluid/Substance
ōo-), egg, ovum
ovum
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining
ωφόρον
oophor(o)- to the woman's Internal Body Oophorectomy
(ōphóron), ovary,
ovary
egg-bearing
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining οφθαλμός
ophthalm(o)- External Body Ophthalmology
to the eye (ophthalmós), the
eye
< Middle French
Of or relating to (optique) < Greek
chemical οπτικός (optikós);
optic(o)- External Body Opticochemical
properties of the Cognate with
eye Latin [[oculus]],
relating to the eye
Of or pertaining < Latin (ōs, or-),
or(o)- Internal Body Oral
to the mouth mouth
< Ancient Greek
Denoting
ορθος (orthos),
orth(o)- something as Description Orthodontist
straight, correct,
straight or correct
normal
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining
ot(o)- ους, ωτ- (ous, External Body Otopathy
to the ear
ōt-), the ear
Of or pertaining < Latin (ōvarium),
ovari(o)- Internal Body Ovariectomy
to the ovaries ovary
Of or pertaining
ovo-, ovi-, < Latin (ōvum), Body
to the eggs, the Ovogenesis
ov- egg, ovum Fluid/Substance
ovum
Of or pertaining
to the eyelid < Latin
palpebr- External Body Palpebra
[uncommon as a (palpebra), eyelid
root]
Denoting
something as < Ancient Greek
panophobia,
pan- 'complete' or πας, παν- (pas, Quantity
panopticon
containing pan-), all, every
'everything'
 < Latin (papilla),
Of or pertaining
nipple; dimunitive
papill- to the nipple (of External Body Papillitis
of papula (see
the chest/breast)
below)
Indicates
< Latin (papula),
papulosity, a
pimple, pustle; a
small elevation
papul(o)- small elevation or External Body Papulation
or swelling in the
swelling in the
skin, a pimple,
skin
swelling
Of or pertaining
ped-, -ped-, < Latin (pēs,
to the foot; External Body Pedoscope
-pes pēd-), foot
-footed
Denoting
something with a < Ancient Greek
peri- position περι- (peri-), Position Periodontal
'surrounding' or around
'around' another
Of or pertaining
< Ancient Greek
to the pharynx,
φάρυγξ, φάρυγγ-
the upper throat Pharyngitis,
pharyng(o)- (phárynx, Internal Body
cavity, not to be Pharyngoscopy
pháryng-), throat,
confused with the
windpipe; chasm
larynx.
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining
φλεψ, φλεβ- Body Phlebography,
phleb(o)- to the (blood)
(phleps, phlebo-), Fluid/Substance Phlebotomy
veins, a vein
blood-vessel, vein
Of or pertaining
to light or its
chemical < Ancient Greek
properties, now φλως, φλωτ- Body
phos- Phosphene
historic and used (phōs, phōt-), Sense/Effect
rarely. See the light
common root
phot(o)- below.
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining φλως, φλωτ- Bodily
phot(o)- Photopathy
to light (phōs, phōt-), Sense/Effect
light
pleur(o)- Of or pertaining < Latin (pleura) < Internal Body Pleurogenous
to the ribs Ancient Greek
πλευρόν
 (pleurón), rib,
side of the body
< Ancient Greek
πνευμων,
πνευμον-
Of or pertaining (pneumōn, Pneumonocyte,
pneum(o)- Internal Body
to the lungs pneumon-), lung Pneumonia
< πνευμα
(pneuma), wind,
spirit
Of or pertaining < Ancient Greek
pod-, -pod-,
to the foot, πούς, ποδ- (poús, External Body Podiatry
-pus
-footed pod-), foot
< Ancient Greek
Denoting a grey Color
polio- πολιός (poliós), Poliomyelitis
color (Description)
grey
Denotes a < Ancient Greek
poly- 'plurality' of πολυς (polys), Quantity Polymyositis
something much, many
< Ancient Greek
Denotes a purple Color
porphyr(o)- πορπύρα Porphyroblast
color (Description)
(porphýra), purple
Denotes
something as < Latin (post), Postoperation,
post- Position
'after' or 'behind' after, behind Postmortem
another
Denotes
< Latin (prīmus),
something as
prim- first, most Description Primary
'first' or 'most-
important
important'
Denotes < Medieval Latin
something as (pre-) <
Position;
pre- 'before' another (Classical) Latin Prematurity
Description
(in [physical] (præ), before, in
position or time) front of
Denotes
something as < Ancient Greek
Position;
pro- 'before' another προ (pro), before, Procephalic
Description
(in [physical] in front of
position or time)
prot(o)- Denotes < Ancient Greek Position; Protoneuron
something as πρωτος (prōtos), Description
 'first' or 'most- first; principle,
important' most important
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining Psychology,
psych- ψυχή (psyché), Internal Body
to the mind Psychiatry
breath, life, soul
< Latin (pulmo,
pulmon-, Of or relating to pulmōn-, usually
Internal Body Pulmonary
pulmo- the lungs. used in plural), a
lung
Of or pertaining < Latin (rēnes),
ren- Internal Body Renal
to the kidney kidney
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining
rhin(o)- ρῑς, ρῑνο- (rhīs, External Body Rhinoceros
to the nose
rhīno-), nose
< Ancient Greek
Denoting a rose- Color
rhod(o)- ρόδον (rhódon), Rhodophyte
red color (Description)
rose
Of or pertaining Internal Body;
< Latin (ruber),
rubr(o)- to the red nucleus Color Rubrospinal
red
of the brain (Description)
sangui-, Of or pertaining < Latin (sanguis, Body
Sanguine
sanguine- to blood sanguin-), blood Fluid/Substance
< Ancient Greek
σάρπιγξ,
Of or pertaining
σαρπιγγ-,
salping(o)- to the fallopian Internal Body Salpingectomy
(sálpinx,
tubes
salpingo-) trumpet
[literally]
< Ancient Greek;
Irregular
Denoting
formation of the
schiz- something 'split' Description Schizophrenia
verb σχιζειν
or 'double-sided'
(schizein), to cut,
split
Of or pertaining < Latin (sinus), a
sinus- Internal Body Sinusitis
to the sinus curve, bend, bay
< Greek
σπόνδθλος /
Of or pertaining
σφόνδθλος,
spondyl(o)- to the spine, the Internal Body Spondylitis
(spóndylos /
vertebra
sphóndylos), the
spine
 Denoting
< Latin
something as 'full
squamos(o)- (sqāmōsus), full Description Squama
of scales' or
of scales; scaly
'scaly'
Denoting
something as < Ancient Greek
sten(o)- 'narrow in shape' στενος (stenos), Description Stenography
or pertaining to narrow; short
narrow-ness
Of or pertaining
to the upper
< Ancient Greek
chest, chest, the
steth(o)- στηθος (stēthos), External Body Stethoscope
area above the
chest, cuirass
breast and under
the neck
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining στόμα, στοματ-
stomat(o)- Internal Body Stomatogastric
to the mouth (stóma, stomat-),
mouth
Indicates
similarity,
likeness, or being
together;
< Ancient Greek
Assimilates Synalgia, Syllable,
syn- συν- (syn), with, Description
before some Syssarcosis
together
consonants:
before l to syl-, s
to sys-, before a
labial to sym-.
Denoting
< Ancient Greek
something as
tachy- ταχυς (tachys), Description Tachycardia
fast, irregularly
fast, quickly
fast
Of or pertaining
to a woman's < Ancient Greek
thele- teat, nipple θηλή (thēlē), a External Body Thelephoroid
[uncommon as a teat, nipple
prefix]
Denoting
something as < Ancient Greek
thely- 'relating to a θηλυς (thēlys), Description Thelygenous
woman, female, feminine
feminine'
 Of or pertaining
to the upper < Latin (thōrāx) <
chest, chest; the Ancient Greek
thorac(i)- External Body Thorax
area above the θώραξ (thōrax),
breast and under chest, cuirass
the neck
< Ancient Greek
Of or relating to θρόμβος
Thrombus,
thromb(o)- a blood clot, (thrómbos), lump, Internal Body
Thrombocytopenia
clotting of blood piece, clot of
blood
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining
trachel(o)- τράχηλος External Body Trachelotomy
to the neck
(tráchēlos), neck
Denoting
something as
< Latin (trāns), Description;
trans- moving or Transfusion
across, through Position
situated 'across'
or 'through'
< Ancient Greek
Of or pertaining τρίξ, τριχ(ο)-
trich(o)- External Body Trichotomy
to hair (tríx, trich(o)-),
hair
< Latin
Of or pertaining
(umbilīcus),
umbilic- to the navel, the External Body Umbilical
navel, belly-
umbilicus
button
Of or pertaining < Latin (unguis),
ungui- External Body Unguiform, Ungual
to the nail, a claw nail, claw
Of or pertaining
to urine, the
urinary system;
< Ancient Greek
(specifically) Body
ur(o)- ουρον (ouron), Urology
pertaining to the Fluid/Substance
urine
physiological
chemistry of
urine
< Latin (ūrīna),
Of or pertaining urine < Ancient
Body
urin- to urine, the Greek ουρον Uriniferous
Fluid/Substance
urinary system (ouron), see
above.
uter(o)- Of or pertaining < Latin (uterus), Internal Body Uterus
 to the uterus or
womb, uterus
womb
Of or pertaining < Latin (vāgīna),
vagin- External Body Vagina
to the vagina sheath, scabbard
Of or pertaining
to the (blood)
veins, a vein < Latin (vēna), Body
ven- Vein, Venospasm
[used in terms blood-vessel, vein Fluid/Substance
pertaining to the
vascular system ]
< Latin (venter),
Of or pertaining
the belly, the
ventr(o)- to the belly; the Internal Body Ventrodorsal
stomach; the
stomach cavities
womb
Of or pertaining < Latin (vēsīca),
vesic(o)- Internal Body Vesica
to the bladder bladder; blister
< Latin (viscera),
Of or pertaining
internal organs;
to the internal
viscer(o)- plural of Internal Body Viscera
organs, the
(viscerum),
viscera
internal organ
Denoting a
< Ancient Greek
yellow color, an Color
xanth(o)- ξανθός (xanthós), Xanthopathy
abnormally (Description)
yellow
yellow color

Suffixes

Origin Language and

Suffix Suffix Meaning Example(s)
Etymology
Denotes a surgical operation < Ancient Greek εκτομή
-ectomy Mastectomy
or removal of a body part (ectomē), excision
-form, Used to form adjectives
< Latin (forma), form, shape Cuneiform
-iform indicating 'having the form of'
(1) Denotes the sense 'born in, < Ancient Greek -γενής
(1) Endogen; (2)
-gen from' (2) Denotes the sense 'of (-genēs) < γεν-νάειν (gen-
Heterogenous
a certain kind' náein), to be born
Ancient Greek -γραφία
Denotes a written, drawn, or
-graph (-graphía), written, drawn, Cardiograph
graphic interpretation
graphic interpretation
-iatry Denotes a field in medicine of < Ancient Greek ιᾱτρός Podiatry,
 a certain body component (iātrós), healer, physician Psychiatry
Denotes the academic study or < Ancient Greek λογoς hematology,
-logy
practice of a certain field (logos) study urology
-logist: Denotes someone who < Ancient Greek λογιστης
Oncologist,
studies a certain field: _____- (logistēs), studier,
pathologist
ology practitioner
Denotes (with a negative < Ancient Greek παθος sociopathy,
-pathy
sense) a disease, or disorder (pathos), suffering, accident neuropathy
< Ancient Greek πεπτός
Denotes something relating to
(peptós) cooked, digested <
-pepsia digestion, or the digestive Dyspepsia
πέσσω (péssō) I boil, cook;
tract.
digest
Forms terms denoting < Ancient Greek φαγἰα
-phagia conditions relating to eating or (phagía) eating < φαγειν Sarcophagia
ingestion (phagein) to eat
-phagy: Forms nouns that
< Ancient Greek φαγια
denotes 'feeding on' the first Anthropophagy
(phagia) eating See Above
element or part of the word
-phagist: Forms nouns that
denote a person who 'feeds on' < Ancient Greek φαγιστης
Lotophagis
the first element or part of the (phagistēs) eater; See Above
word

English Meanings

Bodily Concept Greek Root Latin Root Other Root

Digestion -pepsia - -
Disease -pathy - -
Eating -phagia - -

Roots of Body Parts & Components

Body Part/Component Greek Root Latin Root Other Root

abdomen lapar(o)- abodomin- -
arm brachi(o)- - -
armpit - axill- -
artery arteri(o)- - -
big toe - halluc- -
bladder cyst(o)- vesic(o)- -
 hemat-, haemat- (haem-, sangui-,
blood -
hem-) sanguine-
blood clot thromb(o)- - -
body somat-, som- corpor- -
bone marrow, marrow myel(o)- medull- -
brain encephal(o)- cerebr(o)- -
breast mast(o)- mamm(o)- -
thorac(i)-,
chest steth(o)- -
thorac(o)-
cheek - bucc- -
ear ot(o)- aur- -
optic(o)
eye ophthalm(o)- ocul(o)-
[French]
eyelid blephar(o)- cili-; palpebr- -
face - faci(o)- -
fat, fatty tissue - adip- -
finger dactyl(o)- digit- -
forehead - front(o)- -
gallbladder cholecyst(o)- - -
gland aden(o)- - -
gums - gingiv- -
hair trich(o)- capill- -
hand cheir(o)-, chir(o)- manu- -
head cephal(o)- capit(o)- -
heart cardi(o)- cordi- -
hip, hip-joint - cox- -
horn cerat(o)- cornu- -
intestine enter(o)- - -
jaw gnath(o)- - -
kidney nephr(o)- ren- -
knee - genu- -
lip cheil(o)-, chil(o)- labi(o)- -
liver hepat- (hepatic-) - -
loins, pubic region episi(o)- - -
 pulmon(i)-
lungs pneumon- -
(pulmo-)
marrow, bone marrow myel(o)- medull- -
mind psych- - -
mouth stomat(o)- or- -
muscle my(o)- - -
nail onych(o)- ungui- -
navel omphal(o)- umbilic- -
neck trachel(o)- cervic- -
nerve; the nervous system neur(o)- nerv- -
nipple, teat thele- papill- -
nose rhin(o)- nas- -
pupil (of the eye) cor-, core-, coro- - -
rib pleur(o)- cost(o)- -
shoulder om(o)- humer(o)- -
sinus - sinus- -
skin dermat- (derm-) cut-, cuticul- -
skull crani(o)- - -
stomach gastr(o)- ventr(o)- -
throat (upper throat cavity) pharyng(o)- - -
throat (lower throat
laryng(o)- - -
cavity/voice box])
thumb - halluc- -
tooth odont(o)- dent- -
tongue gloss-, glott- lingu(a)- -
toe dactyl(o)- digit- -
tumour cel- - -
urine, urinary System ur(o)- urin(o)- -
vein, the veins phleb(o)- ven- -
vulva episi(o)- vulv- -
wrist carp(o)- -

Roots of Color

Color Greek Root in English Latin Root in English Other Root

black melano- - -
blue cyano- - -
gray, grey polio- - -
green chlor- - -
purple porphyr(o)- purpur-, purpureo- -
red erythr(o)-, rhod(o)- rub-, rubr- -
red-yellow cirrh(o)- - -
white leuc-, leuk- alb- -
yellow xanth(o)- - jaun - [French]

Roots of Description
[Size, Shape, Strength, Etc.]

Description Greek Root in English Latin Root in English Other Root

bad, incorrect cac(o)-, dys- mal- -
bent, crooked ankyl(o)- - -
big macr(o)-; mega- magn-, magni-; magnus -
biggest - maxim-; maximus, maximum -
broad, wide eury- - -
cold cry(o)- - -
dead necr(o)- - -
equal iso- - -
false pseudo- - -
female, feminine thely- - -
flat platy- - -
good, well eu- - -
great macr(o)-; mega- magn-, magni-; magnus -
hard sclero- - -
heavy - grav-, gravis -
hollow coel(o)- cav- -
huge megalo- - -
incorrect, bad dys-, caco- - -
large; extremely large macr(o)-; mega- magn-, magni-; magnus -
largest - maxim-; maximus, maximum -
long - long- -
narrow sten(o)- - -
new neo- - -
normal, correct;
ortho- - -
straight
old paleo- - -
sharp oxy- - -
short brachy- - -
small micro- parvi- (rare) -
smallest - minim-, minimus -
slow brady- - -
soft malac(o)- - -
straight; normal,
ortho- - -
correct
thick pachy- - -
varied, various poikilo- - -
well, good eu- - -
wide, broad eury- - -

Roots of Position

Description Greek Root in English Latin Root in English Other Root

around peri- circum- -
left - sinistr- -
middle mes(o)- medi- -
right dexi(o)- dextr(o)- -
surrounding peri- circum- -

Roots of Quantity
[Amount, Quantity]

Description Greek Root in English Latin Root in English Other Root

double, twice diplo- - -
equal iso- - -
few oligo- - -
many, much poly- multi- -