Download Greek and Latin Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words

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