Root Word Meanings

a-

without

eg. aphonia

ab-

away from

eg. abduction

ad-

toward

eg. adduction

-algia

pain

eg. myalgia

an-

without

eg. anorexia

angio-

related to blood vessels

eg. angiogenesis

ante-/antero-

before

eg. antepartum

arth-

related to joints

eg. arthritis

bi-

two

eg. bisect

brachy-

short or close

eg. brachydactyly

brady-

slow

eg. bradycardia

capit-

toward the head

eg. decapitated

cephalo-

the head or toward the head

eg. encephalitis

contra-

opposite

eg. contralateral

-culum/-culus

a smaller version of a noun

eg. homunculus

de-

away from; cessation

eg. denervation

di-

two

eg. dilpophonia

dys-

disordered

eg. dysphonia

ecto-

outer

eg. ectopic pregnancy

-ectomy

excision; removal of

eg. appendectomy

-emia

blood

eg. anemia

endo-

inner, within

eg. endoscopy

ep-/epi-

upon or above something else

eg. epiglottis

extra-

outside

eg. extralaryngeal

-gen/-genic

producing or pertaining to

eg. allergen or neurogenic

hemi-

half

eg. hemiparesis (partial paralysis)

hyper-

above, increased, or too much

eg. hyperglycemia

hypo-

below, decreased, or too little

eg. hypokalemia

infra-

below

eg. infrahyoid muscles

inter-

between

eg. interarytenoid muscle

intra-

within, inside

eg. intracranial

ipsi-

same

eg. ipsilateral

-itis

inflammation or irritation

eg. tonsilitis, laryngitis

kine-

movement

eg. kinesiology

latero-

side

eg. lateral sulcus

leuco-/leuko-

white

eg. leukocyte

macro-

large

eg. macromolecule

medio-

middle

eg. mediastinum

micro-

small

eg. microscopic

mono-

single

eg. monaural

morph-

form

eg. morphology

my-/myo-

muscle

eg. myalgia

naso-

nose

eg. nasopharynx

neo-

new

eg. neonate

neuro-

nerve

eg. neurology

oculo-

eye

eg. oculomotor

-oma

tumor

eg. hematoma

oro-

oral

eg. oropharynx

-osis

a state or condition

eg. osteoporosis

osteo-

bone

eg. osteocyte

ot-

ear

eg. otoscope

palato-

referencing the palate

eg. palatopharyngeus

para-

beside

eg. parasympathetic nervous system

patho-

abnormal

eg. pathogen

-pathy

disease state

eg. neuropathy

ped-/paed-

child

eg. pediatrics

ped-/pod-

foot

eg. podiatry

peri-

around

eg. perilymph

-phage/-phagia

eating

eg. dysphagia

pharyngo-

related to the pharynx

eg. pharyngoscope

-plasia

growth

eg. hyperplasia

-plasty

surgical repair, molding

eg. tympanoplasty

poly-

many, multiple

eg. polycystic

post-

after, behind

eg. postpartum

pre-/pro-

before, in front of

eg. prefrontal cortex

quadra-/quadri-

four

eg. quadricep

re-

repeating, turned back

eg. recurrent laryngeal nerve

retro-

toward the rear, backward

eg. retrograde amnesia

-rrhea

flow

eg. diarrhea

sclero-/-sclerosis

hard, hardening

eg. artherosclerosis

scolio-

curved

eg. scoliosis

semi-

half

eg. semicircular canals

soma-/somato-

referencing the body

eg. somatosensory

steno-

narrowing

eg. aortic stenosis

-stomy

to create an opening

eg. tracheostomy

sub-

under

eg. subglottic

super-/supra-

above

eg. supralaryngeal

sym-/syn-

with, together

eg. synthesis

tachy-

fast

eg. tachycardia

tetra-

four

eg. tetracycline

-tomy

cutting

eg. tracheotomy

trans-

on the other side

eg. transfusion

tri-

three

eg. trigeminal nerve

-trophic/-trophy

nourishment

eg. atrophy

uni-

one

eg. unilateral