SBI3U Biology Root Words

Flashcards for learning common biology prefixes, suffixes, and root words along with their meanings.

a- or an-

not or non

aero-

needing oxygen or air

anti-

against

amphi

both, doubly

aqua-

water

arthro-

joint

auto-

self

bi-

two, twice, double

bio-

life, living

cardi-

of the heart

carni-

meat

cephal-

head

cerebr-

of the brain

chemo-

chemical

chloro-

green

chromo-

coloured

-cide

killer, kill, killing

cyto-, -cyte

cell

-derm-

layer, skin

di-

two, double

-duct-

tube

ecto- (exo-)

outer, external

-emia

of the blood

endo-

on or toward the inside

epi-

above

erythro-

red

gastro-

stomach

-genesis

origin, beginning

glyco-, gluco-

sugar

hepa-

liver

hemo-

blood

herba-

to do with plants

hetero-

different

homo-

alike, similar

hydro-

water

hyper-

over, above

hypo-

under, below

inter-

between

intra-

within/inside

iso-

same

-itis

inflammation, infection

-lateral-

side

leuko-

white

-lysis/ lyso-

burst, break down

macro-

large

meso-

middle

micro-

small

mono-

one, single

morph-

shape, form

multi-

many

myo-

of muscle(s)

neuro-

of the nerve(s)

-ology

study of

-osis

condition, disease

osteo-

of the bone

ova-

egg

peri-

around, surrounding

-phage, phago-

eater, or to eat

-philic/ -philia

loving

-phobic/ -phobia

dislike, fearing

photo-

light

-phyte

plant

-pod-

of the foot

poly-

many

proto-

first

pseudo-

false

rena-/renal

kidney

-skeleton

part left after drying

-some

body

spina-

of the spine

-spore-

seed-like structure

sub-

lesser, below

synthesis

to make

-therm-/-thermo-

heat

tri-

three

-troph-

eat, consume

-vore

feeding

xero-

dry

zoo-, -zoa

animal

zygo-

join