AP Bio Prefixes, Suffixes, and Stems

A-; an-

No; lacking; none

Ex: atypical

Ab-

Away from; out from

Ex: abduct

Acou-

Hearing

Ex: acoustic

Acr-; Acro-

Extreme; peak

Ex: acrobat

Ad-

To; towards

Ex: adduct

Adeno-

Gland

Ex: adenoma

Agri-

Field, soil

Ex: agriculture

-al

Having character of

Ex: central

Alb-

White

Ex: albino

-algia

Pain

Ex: myalgia

Alto-

High

Ex: altophobia

Ameb-; amoeb-

Change; alteration

Ex: amoeba

Amphibi-

Leading a double life

Ex: amphibian

Ampho-; amb-

Both

Ex: amphogenic

Ana-

Up

Ex: analogy

Andro-

Masculine; man

Ex: androgen

Anemo-

Wind

Ex: anemometer

Angio-

Vessel

Ex: angiography

Ante-

Before; ahead of time

Ex: antedate

Antero

Front

Ex: anterior

Antho-

Flower

Ex: anthomania

Anti-

Against

Ex: antibacterial

Anthropo-

Man

Ex: anthropology

Ap-

To; towards

Ex: aptitude

Aqu-

Water

Ex: aquatic

Archaeo-

Primitive; ancient

Ex: archaeology

Arthro-

Joint

Ex: arthritis

Aster-; astr-

Stars

Ex: asteroid

-ate

Used in forming verbs from nouns

Ex: carbonate

-ation

Used in forming nouns from verbs

Ex: presentation

Atom-

Vapor

Ex: atmosphere

Audi-

Hear

Ex: audio

Auto-

Self

Ex: autobiography

Bactr-

Stick; club

Ex: bacteria

Barb-

Beard

Ex: barber

Baro-

Weight

Ex: barometer

Bath-

Depth; height

Ex: bathymeter

Bene-

Well; good

Ex: benefit

Bi-

Two; white; double

Ex: bicycle

Bio-; bi-

Life; living

Ex: biology

-blast

Sprout; germ

Ex: osteoblast

Brachi-

Having arms

Ex: brachial

Branchi-

Having fins

Ex: branchial

Brev-

Short

Ex: brevity

Bronch-

Windpipe

Ex: bronchitis

Calor-

Heat

Ex: calorie

Carb-

Coal; carbon

Ex: carbohydrate

Cardi-

Heart

Ex: cardiovascular

Carn-

Meat

Ex: carnivore

Carp-

Fruit

Ex: Carpology

Carpal-

Wrist

Ex: carpal tunnel

Caud-

Tail

Ex: caudal

Ac-

To; towards

Ex: accompany

-aceus; -aceous

Of or pertaining to

Ex: sebaceous