greek

a-, an-

not, without (alpha privative)

-ac

pertaining to; one afflicted with

acanth-

thorn or spine

acou-

of or relating to hearing

acr-

extremity, topmost

-acusis

hearing

aden-

of or relating to a gland

-aemia, ema, hemat (Brit.)

blood condition

aer(o)-

air, gas

aesthesi- (Brit.)

sensation

alge(si)-

pain

all-

denoting something as different, or as an addition

amnio-

Pertaining to the membranous fetal sac (amnion)

amph(i)-

on both sides

an-

not, without (alpha privative)

ana-

back, again, up

andr-

pertaining to a man

angi-

blood vessel

aniso-

describing something as unequal

ankyl-, ancyl-

denoting something as crooked or bent

anthropo-

human

anti-

describing something as 'against' or 'opposed to' another

apo-

away, separated from, derived from

archi-

first, primitive

arsen(o)-

of or pertaining to a male; masculine

arteri(o)-

of or pertaining to an artery

arthr-

of or pertaining to the joints, limbs

-asthenia

weakness

atel(o)-

imperfect or incomplete development

aut-

self

aux(o)-

increase; growth

balan-

of the glans penis or glans clitoridis

bas-

of or pertaining to base

bil(i)-, chol(e)-

of or pertaining to bile

bio-

life

blast-

germinate or bud

blephar(o)-

of or pertaining to the eyelid

brachy-

indicating 'short' or less commonly 'little'

brady-

slow

carcin-

cancer

cardi-

of or pertaining to the heart

cata-

down, under

-cele

pouching, hernia

-centesis

surgical puncture for aspiration

cephal(o)-

of or pertaining to the head (as a whole)

cerat(o)-

of or pertaining to the cornu; a horn

cheil-

of or pertaining to the lips

chem(o)-

chemistry, drug

chir-, cheir-

of or pertaining to the hand

chlor-

denoting a green color

cholecyst(o)-

of or pertaining to the gallbladder

chondr(i)o-

cartilage, gristle, granule, granular

chrom(ato)-

color

-clast

break

clostr-

spindle

-coccus, -coccal

round, spherical

col-, colo-, colono-

colon

colp-

of or pertaining to the vagina

cor-

of or pertaining to the eye's pupil

-crine, crin(o)-

to secrete

cry(o)-

cold

cyan(o)-

having a blue color

cycl-

circle, cycle

cyph(o)-

denotes something as bent (uncommon as a prefix)

cyst(o)-, cyst(i)-

of or pertaining to the urinary bladder

cyt(o)-, -cyte

cell

dacry(o)-

of or pertaining to tears

-dactyl(o)-

of or pertaining to a finger, toe

dermat(o)-, derm(o)-

of or pertaining to the skin

-desis

binding

di-

two

dia-

through, during, across

diplo-

twofold

-dipsia

(condition of) thirst

dromo-

running, conduction, course

dynam(o)-

force, energy, power

-dynia

pain

dys-

bad, difficult, defective, abnormal

ec-

out, away

ect(o)-

outer, outside

-ectasia, -ectasis

expansion, dilation

-ectomy

denotes a surgical operation or removal of a body part; resection, excision

-emesis

vomiting condition

-emia

blood condition (Am. Engl.)

encephal(o)-

of or pertaining to the brain; see also cerebro-

endo-

denotes something as inside or within

enter(o)-

of or pertaining to the intestine

eosin(o)-

having a red color

epi-

on, upon

episi(o)-

of or pertaining to the pubic region, the loins

erythr(o)-

having a red color

-esophageal, -esophago-

gullet (AmE)

esthesio-

sensation (AmE)

exo-

denotes something as "outside" another

galact-

milk

gastr-

of or pertaining to the stomach

-gen

*born in, from

-genic

formative; pertaining to producing

-geusia

taste

glauc(o)-

Having a grey or bluish-grey colour

gloss(o)-, glott(o)-

of or pertaining to the tongue

gluco-

sweet

glyc-

sugar

gnath-

of or pertaining to the jaw

-gnosis

knowledge

gon-

seed, semen; reproductive

-gram, -gramme

record or picture

-graph

instrument used to record data or picture

-graphy

process of recording

gyno-, gynaeco- (Brit.), gyneco- (Amer.)

woman

hema-, hemo-

blood (AmE)

hemangi(o)-

blood vessels

hemi-

one-half

hepat-, hepatic-

of or pertaining to the liver

heter(o)-

denotes something as "the other" (of two), as an addition, or different

hidr(o)-

sweat

hist(o)-, histio-

tissue

hom(o)-

denotes something as "the same" as another or common

home(o)-

similar

hydr(o)-

water

hyp(o)-

below normal

hyper-

extreme or beyond normal

hyster(o)-

of or pertaining to the womb or the uterus

iatr(o)-

of or pertaining to medicine or a physician (uncommon as a prefix but common as a suffix; see -iatry)

-iatry

denotes a field in medicine emphasizing a certain body component

-ic

pertaining to

idio-

self, one's own

ileo-

ileum

isch-

restriction

ischio-

of or pertaining to the ischium, the hip-joint

-ism

condition, disease

-ismus

spasm, contraction

iso-

denoting something as being equal

-ist

one who specializes in

-itis

inflammation

kary-

nucleus

kerat-

cornea (eye or skin)

kine]

movement

koil-

hollow

kyph-

humped

lapar(o)-

of or pertaining to the abdominal wall, flank

laryng(o)-

of or pertaining to the larynx, the lower throat cavity where the voice box is

lei(o)-

smooth

-lepsis, -lepsy

attack, seizure

lept(o)-

light, slender

leuc(o)-, leuk(o)-

denoting a white color

lip(o)-

fat

liss(os)-

smooth

lith(o)-

stone, calculus

log(o)-

speech

-logist

denotes someone who studies a certain field (the field of ------logy); a specialist; one who treats

-logy

denotes the academic study or practice of a certain field; the study of

lys(o)-, -lytic

dissolution

-lysis

destruction, separation

macr(o)-

large, long

-malacia

softening

mast(o)-

of or pertaining to the breast

meg(a)-, megal(o)-, -megaly

enlargement, million

melan(o)-

having a black color

melos

extremity

men-

month, menstrual cycle

mening(o)-

membrane

mer(o)-

part

mes-

middle

met, meta-

after, beside, beyond or change

-meter

instrument used to measure or count

metr-

pertaining to conditions or instruments of the uterus

-metry

process of measuring, -meter + -y (see -meter)

micr-

millionth; denoting something as small, relating to smallness

mon-

single

morph-

form, shape

my(o)-

of or relating to muscle

myc(o)-

fungus

myel(o)-

of or relating to bone marrow or the spinal cord

myl(o)-

of or relating to molar teeth or the lower jaw

myri-

ten thousand

myx(o)-

mucus

nan(o)-

dwarf, small

narc(o)-

numb, sleep

necr(o)-

death

neo-

new

nephr(o)-

of or pertaining to the kidney

neur-

of or pertaining to nerves and the nervous system

odont-

of or pertaining to teeth

odyn-

pain

-oesophageal, oesophago- (Brit.)

gullet

-oid

resemblance to

olig-

having little, having few

om(o)-

shoulder

-oma (singular), -omata (plural)

tumor, mass, fluid collection

omphal(o)-

of or pertaining to the navel, the umbilicus

onco-

tumor, bulk, volume

onych(o)-

of or pertaining to the nail (of a finger or toe)

oo-

of or pertaining to an (egg), a woman's egg, the ovum

ophthalm(o)-

of or pertaining to the (eye)

opistho-

back, behind, rear

-opsy

examination or inspection

orchi(o)-, orchid(o)-, orch(o)-

testis

orth(o)-

denoting something as straight or correct

-osis

a condition, disease, process or increase

ost(e)-, oste(o)-

bone

ot(o)-

of or pertaining to the ear

pachy-

thick

-pagus

Indicates conjoined twins, with the first part denoting the organs fused

pan-, pant(o)-

denoting something as 'complete' or containing 'everything'; "all"

para-

alongside of

-paresis

slight paralysis

path(o)-

disease

-pathy

denotes (with a negative sense) a disease, or disorder

ped-, pedo-

of or pertaining to the child

-penia

deficiency

peo-

of or pertaining to the penis

-pepsia

denotes something relating to digestion, or the digestive tract.

peri-

denoting something with a position 'surrounding' or 'around' another

-pexy

fixation

phaco-

lens-shaped

-phagia, -phage

Forms terms denoting conditions relating to eating or ingestion

phagist-

Forms nouns that denote a person who 'feeds on' the first element or part of the word

-phago-

eating, devouring

-phagy

Forms nouns that denotes 'feeding on' the first element or part of the word

phall-

phallus

pharmac-

drug, medication

pharyng-

of or pertaining to the pharynx, the upper throat cavity

-phil(ia)

attraction for

phleb-

of or pertaining to the (blood) veins, a vein

-phobia

exaggerated fear, sensitivity, aversion

phon-

sound

phos-

of or pertaining to light or its chemical properties, now historic and used rarely. See the common root phot- below.

phot-

of or pertaining to light

phren-, phrenic-

the mind

phyllo-

leaf-like

-phyte, phyto-

to grow

-plasia

formation, development

-plasty

surgical repair, reconstruction

-plegia

paralysis

pleio-

more, excessive, multiple

pleur-

of or pertaining to the ribs

-plexy

stroke or seizure

pne-, pneum-

air, breath, lung

pod-, -pod-, -pus 

of or pertaining to the foot, -footed

-poiesis

production

polio-

having a grey color

poly-

denotes a 'plurality' of something

por-

pore, porous

porphyr-

denotes a purple color

presby-

old age

pro-

denotes something as 'before' another (in [physical] position or time)

proct-

anus, rectum

prosop-

face

prot-

denotes something as 'first' or 'most important'

pseud-

denotes something false or fake

psor-

Itching

psych-

of or pertaining to the mind

ptero-, ptery-

Pertaining to a wing; 'pterygo-', wing-shaped

-ptosis

falling, drooping, downward placement, prolapse

-ptysis

spitting

py-

pus

pyel-

pelvis

pykno-

to thicken (as the nucleus does in early stages of cell death)

pylor-

gate

pyr-

fever

rhabd(o)-

rod shaped, striated

rhachi(o)-

spine

rhin(o)-

of or pertaining to the nose

rhod(o)-

denoting a rose-red color

-rrhage, -rrhagia

burst forth, rapid flow (of blood, usually)

-rrhaphy

surgical suturing

-rrhea (Amer.)

flowing, discharge

-rrhexis

rupture

-rrhoea (Brit.)

flowing, discharge

salping(o)-

of or pertaining to tubes, e.g. fallopian tubes

sapro-

relating to putrefaction or decay

sarco-

muscular, flesh-like

schist(o)-

split, cleft

schiz(o)-

denoting something "split" or "double-sided"

scler(o)-

hard

-sclerosis

hardening

scoli(o)-

twisted

-scope

instrument for viewing

-scopy

process of viewing

scoto-

darkness

sigmoid(o)-

sigmoid, S-shaped curvature

sito-

food, grain

somat(o)-, somatico-

body, bodily

-spadias

slit, fissure

spasmo-

spasm

sperma-, spermo-, spermato-

semen, spermatozoa

splanchn(i)-, splanchn(o)-

viscera

splen(o)-

spleen

spondyl(o)-

of or pertaining to the spine, the vertebra

-stalsis

contraction

-stasis

stopping, standing

-staxis

dripping, trickling

sten(o)-

denoting something as narrow in shape or pertaining to narrowness

-stenosis

abnormal narrowing of a blood vessel or other tubular organ or structure

steth-

of or pertaining to the upper chest, the area above the breast and under the neck

stheno-

strength, force, power

stom-, stomat-

of or pertaining to the mouth; an artificially created opening

sy, syl-, sym-, syn-, sys-

indicates similarity, likeness, or being together; assimilates before some consonants: before l to syl-, s to sys-, before a labial consonant to sym-

tachy-

denoting something as fast, irregularly fast

terato-

Monster

tetan-

rigid, tense

thec-

case, sheath

thel-

of or pertaining to a nipple (uncommon as a prefix)

thely-

denoting something as relating to a woman, feminine

therap-

treatment

therm(o)-

heat

thromb(o)-

of or relating to a blood clot, clotting of blood

thym-

emotions

thyr(o)-

thyroid

-tic

pertaining to

-tide

bound to, forming a noun from an adjective by dropping -ic and adding -tide.

toco-

childbirth

-tome

cutting instrument

-tomy

act of cutting; incising, incision

ton-

tone, tension, pressure

-tony

tension

top(o)-

place, topical

tox(i)-, tox(o)-, toxic(o)-

toxin, poison

trache(a)-

trachea

trachel(o)-

of or pertaining to the neck

trich(i)-, trichia, trich(o)-

of or pertaining to hair, hair-like structure

-tripsy

crushing

-trop

turned toward, with an orientation toward, having an affinity for, affecting

-trophy

nourishment, development

tympan(o)-

eardrum

ur-

of or pertaining to urine, the urinary system

xanth(o)-

having a yellow color, especially an abnormally yellow color

xen(o)-

foreign, different

xer(o)-

dry, desert-like

xiph-

sword

ze-

boil

zo(o)-

animal, animal life

zym(o)-

fermentation