Word Parts, Prefixes, Suffixes

prefix: suffix

word part at the beginning of a word that changes its meaning: word part at the end of the word that changes its meaning

word root: combining form

foundational meaning of the word: a word root with a combining form vowel

prefix a, an

without or lacking

prefix andr/o

male

prefix anti

against

prefix auto

self

prefix bio

life

prefix chem/o

chemistry

prefix contra

against

prefix cyt/o

cell

prefix dis

separation, taking apart

prefix dys

difficult, abnormal

prefix eu

good, well

prefix fibr/o

fiber

prefix gluco, glyco

glucose, sugar

prefix gyn/o, gynec

female

prefix hydr/o

water

prefix idio

self, one’s own

prefix lyso, lys

break down, destruction, dissolving

prefix mal

bad, abnormal

prefix myc/o

fungus

prefix necr/o

death

prefix neo

new

prefix oxy

sharp, acute, oxygen

prefix pan, pant/o

all, everywhere

prefix pharmaco

drug, medicine

prefix re

again, backward

prefix somat/o, somatic/o

body, bodily

prefix acous/o

hearing

prefix aden/o

gland

prefix adip/o

fat

prefix adren/o

gland

prefix angi/o

blood vessel

prefix arteri/o

artery

prefix arthr/o

joint

prefix bucc/o

cheek

prefix bronch/i

bronchus

prefix burs/o

bursa

prefix carcin/o

cancer

prefix cardi/o

heart

prefix cephal/o

head

prefix chol

bile

prefix chondri

cartilage

prefix coron

heart

prefix cost

rib

prefix crani/o

brain

prefix cutane

skin

prefix cyst/o, cysti

cladder, sac

prefix derm, dermat/o

skin

prefix duoden/o

duodenum

prefix gastro

stomach

prefix gloss

tongue

prefix hem, hema, hemat, hemo, hemat/o

blood

prefix hepat/o hepatico

liver

prefix hist/o, histio

tissue

prefix hyster/o

uterus

prefix ileo

ileum

prefix ischi/o

ischium

prefix kerat/o

cornea (skin or eye)

prefix lacrim/o

tear (from eyes)

prefix lact/o lacti

milk

prefix laryng/o

larynx

prefix lingu/o

tongue

prefix lip/o

fat

prefix lymph/o

lymph

prefix mamm, mast/o

breast

prefix mening/o

meninges

prefix muscul/o

muscle

prefix my/o

muscle

prefix myel/o

spinal cord or bone marrow

prefix nephr/o

kidney

prefix neur/i, neur/o

nerve

prefix oculo

eye

prefix onco

eye

prefix onych/o

fingernail, toenail

prefix oo

egg, ovary

prefix oophor/o

ovary

prefix op, opt

vision

prefix ophthalm/o

eye

prefix orchid/o, orchio

testis

prefix orth/o

straight, narrow, correct

prefix osseo

bony

prefix ossi

bone

prefix ost, oste/o

bone

prefix ot/o

ear

prefix ovar/i, ovario, ovi, ovo

ovary

prefix phalang

phalanx

prefix pharyng/o

pharynx, throat

prefix phleb/o

vein

prefix phren/i, phreno, phrenico

diaphragm

prefix pleur, -pleur/a, pleur/o

rid, pleura

prefix pneum/a, pneumat/o

air, lung

prefix proct/o

anus, rectum

prefix prostat

prostate

prefix pseudo

false

prefix psych/o, psyche

mind

prefix radio

radiation, radius

prefix ren/o

kidney

prefix retin

retina of the eye

prefix rhin/o

nose