28 common suffix

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

Names a thing when attached to a root word. Refers to/pertains to

Ex: derm/a (skin)

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

Makes adjectives. pertains to, refers to; concerning

Ex: neur/al (nerve refers to)

-an, -ion, -ian

pertains to, process of, procedure of

Ex: sect/ion (cutting up/process of)

-ance, -ancy

state of, condition of

Ex: pregn/ancy (conceive/condition of)

-er, -or

Added to verbs to make adjectives OR nouns. One who/process of

Ex: doct/or (teaches/one who)

-form

shape/resembles

Ex: denti/form (tooth/shaped)

-gen, -troph, -plas

beginning/produce/development/cause

Ex: neo/plasm (new/formation or development)

-gram

to record/write

Ex: cardio/gram (heartbeat/recording)

-graph

an instrument

Ex: cardio/graph (heart recording instrument )

-graphy

procedure of/process of using an instrument as recording

Ex: cardio/graph/y (heart recording procedure)

-ia, -ity

Add to adjectives or nouns to express quality/condition/state of

Ex: chlamyd/ia (cloak/state of)

-ible, -ile

Add to verbs to make adjectives. ability to/capacity of/refers to

Ex: flex/ible (bend/ability)

-ician

person— belonging to/associated with/one who

Ex: Ped/iatr/ician (children/treat or care/doctor associated with)

-ics, -tics

art/science of

Ex: aqua/tic/s (water “excersice/art of)

-id

Add to verbs/nouns to make adjectives. state of/condition of/refer to/pertain to

Ex: Flacc/id (weakness/state of)

-ist

Add to verbs to make nouns. specialist/one who practices “something”

Ex: an/esthet/ist (w/o, feeling physical/specailist)

-ite

Nature of

Ex: cellul/ite (cells/chambers, or cellulose/nature of)

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

procedure of/process of/action of/condition of

Ex: hyster/ectom/y (uterus/cut out/procedure of)

-itis, -isy, -icy

Add to nouns to express condition of inflammation/infection.

Ex: Sinus/itis (cavity/infection)

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

Add to nouns. small/smaller/lesser

Ex: ventri/cle (belly-like/small)

-ize, -ate

Add to nouns or adjectives to make verbs. act like/use/subject to/make into/refer to.

Ex: hypnot/ize (sleep/acts like)

-ma (-mata), -men (-mina), -ment, -ure

Add to verbs to make nouns. many/multiple/results from health condition/act of

Ex:liga/ment (binding/act of)

-oid, -form

Add to nouns to form adjectives. likeness/resembles

Ex: epiderm/oid (upper skin/likeness)

-o/log/y

process of the study of/ science of/knowledge of

Ex: bio/log/y (life/science of/process)

-oma

Add to nouns to make verbs. tumor/swelling

Ex: lip/oma (fat/tumor)

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

Add to nouns to make verbs. condition/medical condition/disease/state of

Ex: scoli/osis (crooked/conditions)

-ous

Add to nouns to make adjectives. material/refers to/state of

Ex: ser/ous (composed of serum/state of)

-tic

Add to a verb to make an adjective. relates to/pertains to/refrs to

Ex: caus/tic (burning/relates to or refers to)