28 common suffixes/suffix groups

-a -ia -on -os -is -us -um -ium

refers to

-al -tic -ic -iac -oius -ous -ent

pertains to, concerning

-an -ion -ian

process or procedure of

-ance, -ancy

state of, condition of

-er -or

one who, process of

-form

shape, resembles

-gen, -troph, plas-

beginning, produce, development, cause

-gram

Record or write

-graph

Instrument

-graphy

Procedure of, process of using instrument to make recording

-ia -ity

Express, quality, condition, state of

-ible -ile

ability to, capacity of, refers to

-ician

person belonging to, associated with, one who

-ics, -tics

art of, science of

-id

state of, condition of, refer to (flaccid)

-ist

specialist who practices something

-ite

nature of (cellulite)

-ion, -tion, -ition, -ation, -iation, -ing, -y

procedure/condition (hysterectomy)

-itis, -isy, -icy

Express, inflammation, infection

-ium, -olus, -iole, -cule, -culus, -cle, -culum, -ellum

small, smaller, lesser

-ize, -ate

act like, use, subject to, make into, refer to

-ma, -men, -ment, -ure

many, multiple, “results form health condition” , act of. (ligament)

-old, -form

likeness, resembles (epidermoid, vermiform)

-ology

Science of (ex: biology)

-oma

tumor, swelling (ex: lipoma, glaucoma, carcinoma.)

-osis, esis, asis, -iasis, -sis

Medical condition/disease (scoliosis)

-ous

material, refers to, state of (ex: serious)

-tic

Relates to (ex: caustic)