Human Anatomy & Physiology: Latin and Greek Word-Part Lists (prefixes, suffixes, roots)

a study guide to help you learn your vocab!

a-, an- (abiotic)

not, without, lacking or deficient

bi-, di-, dipl- (bipolar)

two, twice

poly- (polycystic)

many

-ase (lipases)

an enzyme

hydro- (hydrology)

water

hyper- (hypertrophy)

above, beyond, over

hypo- (hypoglycemia)

below, under, less

macro- (macromolecule)

large

micro- (microscope)

small

-lys, -lyt, -lyst (hydrolysis)

to split, decompose, dissolve

gluc, glyc (glucose)

sugar, sweet

mono- (mononucleosis)

one, single

-stasis (homeostasis)

standing, placed, staying in place

peri- (pericardium)

around or surrounding

-philia (pedophile)

liking of

-phobia (aerophobia)

fear of

-synthesis (biosynthesis)

to put together, to make

-al (dermal)

pertaining to

auto- (autoimmune disorder

self

cyt- or -cyte cytology

cell

de- (endoscope)

inside

epi-

above, on top of, upo

ex- or ecto- (

kary (karyote)

cell nucleus

mes- (mesothelioma)

middle, between

nuc- or centr- (nucleus)

center

phag or phage (dysphagia)

to eat or to swallow

pod, podia (podiatrist)

foot

pro- (prophylactic)

before, beforehand, or forward

pseudo- (pseudostratified) (pseudonym)

false, fake

som-, somat-, -some (psychosomatic)

body

trans- (transplant)

across, through, beyond