Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining

Forms

a-, an-. Without; away from; not.

ab-, abs-. From; away from; absent.

abdomin-, abdomino-. Abdomen.

abort-, aborto-. To miscarry.

abs-. SEE: ab-.

acanth-, acantho-. Thorn; spine.

acous-, acoust-, acousto-. Hearing.

acro-. Extremity; top; extreme point.

actin-, actino-. Ray; some form of

radiation.

ad-. Adherence; increase; toward.

-ad. Toward; in the direction of.

aden-, adeno-. Gland.

adip-, adipo-. Fat.

adren-, adreno-. Adrenal glands.

adrenal-, adrenalo-. Adrenal glands.

-aemia. Blood.

aer-, aero-. Air or gas.

-aesthesia, aesthesio-. SEE: -esthesia.

af-. Toward.

-agogue. An agent that promotes the

expulsion of a specific substance.

-agra. Sudden severe pain.

-al. 1. Relating to, e.g., abdominal,

intestinal. 2. In chemistry, an aldehyde.

albumin-, albumino-. Albumin.

-algesia, -algia. Suffering; pain.

algi-. Pain.

all-. SEE: allo-.

allo-, all-. Other.

amb-, ambi-. Both; on both sides; around;

about.

amph-, amphi-, ampho-. Both; on both

sides; on all sides; double; around; about.

an-. SEE: a-.

ana-, an-. Up; against; back.

andro-. Man; male; masculine.

angi-, angio-. Blood or lymph vessels.

aniso-. Unequal; asymmetrical; dissimilar.

ankyl-, ankylo-. Crooked; bent; fusion or

growing together of parts.

ante-. Before.

antero-. Anterior; front; before.

anthropo-. Human beings; human life.

ant-, anti-. Against.

antr-, antro-. Antrum.

apo-. From; derived from; separated from;

opposed.

arch-, arche-, archi-. First; principal;

beginning; original.

arteri-, arterio-. Artery.

arthr-, arthro-. Joint.

-ase. Enzyme.

-asis, -esis, -iasis, -isis, -sis. Condition;

pathological state.

astro-. Star; star-shaped.

atelo-. Imperfect; incomplete.

ather-, athero-. Fatty plaque.

atmo-. Steam; vapor.

atreto-. Absence of an opening.

aut-, auto-. Self.

axio-. Axis; the long axis of a tooth.

axo-. Axis; axon.

azot-, azoto-. Nitrogenous compounds.

bacteri-, bacterio-. Bacteria; bacterium.

balan-, balano-. Glans clitoridis; glans

penis.

bar-, baro-. Weight; pressure.

basi-, basio-. Base; foundation.

bi-, bis-. Two; double; twice.

bili-. Bile.

bio-. Life.

bis-. SEE: bi-.

blast-, -blast. Germ; bud; embryonic state

of development.

blenn-, blenno-. Mucus.

blephar-, blepharo-. Eyelid.

brachio-. Arm.

brachy-. Short.

brady-. Slow.

brom-, bromo-. Bromine.

bronch-, bronchi-, broncho-. Airway.

bronchiol-, bronchiolo-. Bronchiole.

cac-, caci-, caco-. Bad; ill.

calc-, calco-. Calcium.

calcan-, calcaneo-. Calcaneum (heel

bone).

carcin-, carcino-. Cancer.

cardi-, cardio-. Heart.

carpo-. Carpus.

cary-, caryo-. SEE: kary-.

cat-, cata-, cath-, kat-, kata-. Down;

downward; destructive; against; according

to.

cath-. SEE: cat-.

cel-, celo-. 1. Tumor; hernia. 2. Cavity.

-cele. Tumor; swelling; hernia.

cent-. Hundred.

cephal-, cephalo-. Head.

cerebell-, cerebello-. Cerebellum.

cervic-, cervico-. Neck; the neck of an

organ.

cheil-, cheilo-. SEE: chil-.

chem-, chemo-. Chemical; drug.

chil-, chilo-. Lip; lips.

chir-, chiro-. Hand.

chlor-, chloro-. Green.

chol-, chole-. Bile; gall.

cholangi-, cholangio-. Bile vessel.

cholecyst-, cholecysto-. Gallbladder.

choledoch-, choledocho-. Bile duct.

chondr-, chondro-. Cartilage.

chrom-, chromo-. Color.

-cide. Causing death.

cine-. Movement.

circum-. Around.

clavicul-, claviculo-. Clavicle.

-cle, -cule. Little, e.g., molecule, corpuscle.

cleid-, cleido-. Clavicle.

co-, com-, con-. Together.

colp-, colpo-. SEE: kolp-.

contra-. Against; opposite.

crani-, cranio-. Skull; cranium.

cry-, cryo-. Cold.

-cusia,-cusis. Hearing.

cyan-, cyano-. Blue.

cycl-, cyclo-. Circular; cyclical; ciliary

body of the eye.

cyst-, cysto-, -cyst. Cyst; urinary bladder.

cyt-, cyto-, -cyte. Cell.

dacry-. Tears.

dactyl-, dactylo-. Finger; toe.

de-. From; down; not.

dec-, deca-. Ten.

deci-. One tenth.

demi-. Half.

dent-, denti-, dento-. Teeth.

derm-, derma-, dermato-, dermo-.

Skin.

deuter-, deutero-, deuto-. Second;

secondary.

dextro-. Right.

di-. 1. Double; twice; two. 2. Apart from.

dia-. Through; between; asunder.

dipla-, diplo-. Double; twin.

dips-, dipso-. Thirst.

dis-. 1. Double; twice. 2. Negative; apart;

absence of.

dors-, dorsi-, dorso-. Back.

duoden-, duodeno-. Duodenum.

-dynia. Pain.

dys-. Difficult; bad; painful.

-eal. Pertaining to.

ec-, ecto-. Out; on the outside.

-ectomy. Excision.

ectro-. Congenital absence of a part.

ef-, es-, ex-, exo-. Out.

electr-, electro-. Electricity.

embol-, embolo-. Plug.

-emesis. Vomiting.

-emia. Blood.

en-. In; into.

enantio-. Opposite.

end-, endo-. Within.

ent-, ento-. Within; inside.

enter-, entero-. Intestine.

ep-, epi-. Upon; over; at; in addition to;

after.

episi-, episio-. Vulva.

erythr-, erythro-. Red.

eschar-, escharo-. Scab.

-esis. SEE: -asis.

esophag-, esophago-. Esophagus.

-esthesia. Sensation.

etio-. Causation.

eu-. Well; good; healthy; normal.

eury-. Broad.

ex-. Out; away from; completely.

exo-. Out; outside of; without.

extra-. Outside of; in addition; beyond.

-facient. Causing; making happen.

femor-, femoro-. Thigh.

-ferous. Producing.

ferri-, ferro-. Iron.

fibro-. Fibers; fibrous tissues.

fluo-. Flow.

fluor-, fluoro-. Luminous; fluorescence.

fore-. Before; in front of.

-form. Form.

-fuge. To expel; to drive away; fleeing.

galact-, galacto-. Milk.

gam-, gamo-. Marriage; sexual union.

gaster-, gastero-, gastr-, gastro-.

Stomach.

gen-. Producing; forming.

-gen, -gene, -genesis, -genetic, -genic.

Producing; forming.

glauc-, glauco-. Gray.

genito-. Organs of reproduction.

gero-. Old age.

giga-. Billion.

gingiv-, gingivo-. Gums (of the mouth).

-globin. Protein.

gloss-, glosso-. Tongue.

gluc-, gluco-, glyc-, glyco-. Sugar;

glycerol or similar substance.

gnath-, gnatho-. Jaw; cheek.

-gog, -gogue. Make flow.

gon-, gono-. Semen; seed; genitals;

offspring.

-gram. A tracing; a mark.

-graph. Instrument for drawing or

recording.

-graphy. Writing; record.

-gravida. Pregnant.

gyn-, gyne-, gyneco-, gyno-. Woman;

female.

gyro-. Circle; spiral; ring.

hem-, hema-, hemato-, hemo-. Blood.

hemi-. Half.

hepat-, hepato-. Liver.

heredo-. Heredity.

heter-, hetero-. Other; different.

hex-, hexa-. Six.

histo-. Tissue.

hol-, holo-. Complete; entire;

homogeneous.

homeo-. Likeness; resemblance; constant,

unchanging state.

homo-. Same; likeness.

hydra-, hydro-, hydr-. Water.

hyo-. Hyoid bone.

hyp-, hyph-, hypo-. Less than; below or

under; beneath; deficient.

hyper-. Above; excessive; beyond.

hypno-. Sleep; hypnosis.

hyster-, hystero-. Uterus.

-ia. Condition, esp. an abnormal state.

-iasis. SEE: asis.

-iatric. Medicine; medical profession;

physicians.

-ic. Pertaining to; relating to.

ichthyo-. Fish.

-id. Secondary skin eruption distant from

primary infection site.

ideo-. Mental images.

idio-. Individual; distinct.

ileo-. Ileum.

ilio-. Ilium; flank.

im-. SEE: in-. Used before b,m, or p.

immun-, immuno-. Immune; immunity.

in-. In; inside; within; intensive action;

negative.

infra-. Below; under; beneath; inferior to;

after.

inter-. Between; in the midst.

intra-, intro-. Within; in; into.

ipsi-. Same; self.

irid-, irido-. Iris.

ischio-. Ischium.

-isis. SEE: -asis.

-ism. Condition; theory.

iso-. Equal.

-ite. 1. Of the nature of. 2. In chemistry, a

salt of an acid with the termination -ous.

-itis. Inflammation of.

-ize. To treat by special method.

jejuno-. Jejunum.

juxta-. Close proximity.

kary-, karyo-, cary-, caryo-. Nucleus;

nut.

kat-, kata-. SEE: cat-.

kera-, kerato-. Horny substance; cornea.

ket-, keto-. Ketone bodies (acids and

acetones).

kilo-. Thousand.

kinesi-, kino-, -kinesis. Movement.

klepto-. To steal.

kolp-, kolpo-, colp-, colpo-. Vagina.

kypho-. Humped.

kysth-, kystho-. Vagina.

lab-, labi-. Lip.

lact-. Milk.

laparo-. Flank; abdominal wall.

laryng-, laryngo-. Larynx.

latero-. Side.

leio-. Smooth.

lepido-. Flakes; scales.

-lepsy. Seizure.

lepto-. Thin; fine; slight; delicate.

leuk-, leuko-, leuc-. White; white blood

cell.

linguo-. Tongue.

lip-, lipo-. Fat.

-lite, -lith, lith-, litho-. Stone; calculus.

-logia, -logy. Science of; study of.

lord-, lordo-. Curve; swayback.

lumbo-. Loins.

lyo-. Loosen; dissolve.

-lysis. 1. Loosen; dissolve. 2. In medicine,

reduction of; relief from.

macr-, macro-. Large; long.

mal-. Ill; bad; poor.

mamm-, mammo-. Breast.

-mania. Frenzy; madness.

mast-, masto-. Breast.

meat-, meato-. Opening; meatus.

med-, medi-, medio-. Middle.

medull-, medullo-. Soft inner part;

medulla.

mega-, megal-, megalo-. Large; of great

size.

-megalia, -megaly. Enlargement of a

body part.

meio-, mio-. Less; smaller.

melan-, melano-. Black.

mening-, meningo-. Meninges.

menta-, mento-. Mind.

mes-, meso-. 1. Middle. 2. In anatomy, the

mesentery. 3. In medicine, secondary;

partial.

mesio-. Toward the middle.

meta-. 1. Change; transformation; next in a

series. 2. In chemistry, the 1,3 position of

benzene derivatives.

metacarp-, metacarpo-. Metacarpus

(bones of the hand).

-meter. Measure.

metr-, metra-, metro-. Uterus.

micr-, micro-. Small.

mio-. SEE: meio-.

mon-, mono-. Single; one.

muc-, muci-, muco-, myxa-, myxo-.

Mucus.

multi-. Many; much.

musculo-, my-, myo-. Muscle.

my-, myo-. SEE: musculo-.

myc-, myco-. Fungus.

myel-, myelo-. Spinal cord; bone marrow.

myring-, myringo-. Tympanic

membrane, eardrum.

myx-, myxo-. SEE: muc-.

nano-. 1. One billionth. 2. Dwarfism (nanism).

narco-. Numbness; stupor.

naso-. Nose.

necr-, necro-. Death; necrosis.

neo-. New; recent.

nephr-, nephra-, nephro-. Kidney.

neur-, neuri-, neuro-. Nerve; nervous

system.

nitr-, nitro-. Nitrogen.

non-. No.

normo-. Normal; usual.

noso-. Disease.

noto-. The back.

nucleo-. Nucleus.

nyct-, nycto-. Night; darkness.

ob-. Against.

occipit-, occipito-. Occiput.

octa-, octo-. Eight.

oculo-. Eye.

-ode, -oid. Form; shape; resemblance.

odont-, odonto-. Tooth; teeth.

-odynia, odyno-. Pain.

-oid. SEE: -ode.

oleo-. Oil.

olig-, oligo-. Few; small.

-ology. Science of; study of.

-oma. Tumor.

omo-. Shoulder.

omphal-, omphalo-. Navel.

onco-. Tumor; swelling; mass.

onych-, onycho-. Fingernails; toenails.

oo-, ovi-, ovo-. Egg; ovum.

oophor-, oophoro-, oophoron-. Ovary.

ophthalm-, ophthalmo-. Eye.

-opia. Vision.

opisth-, opistho-. Backward.

-opsy. View of.

optico-, opto-. Eye; vision.

orchi-, orchid-, orchido-. Testicle.

-orexia. Appetite.

oro-. Mouth.

orth-, ortho-. Straight; correct; normal; in

proper order.

os-. Mouth; bone.

oscheo-. Scrotum.

-ose. 1. Carbohydrate. 2. Primary

alteration of a protein.

-osis. Condition; status, process; abnormal

increase.

osmo-. 1. Odor; smell. 2. Impulse. 3.

Osmosis.

oste-, osteo-. Bone.

-ostomosis,

-ostomy, -stomosis, -stomy. A created

mouth or outlet.

ot-, oto-. Ear.

-otomy. Cutting.

-ous. 1. Possessing; full of. 2. Pertaining to.

ovi-, ovo-. SEE: oo-.

ox-. Oxygen.

oxy-. 1. Sharp; keen; acute; acid; pungent.

2. Oxygen in a compound. 3. Hydroxyl

group.

pach-, pachy-. Thick.

-pagus. Twins joined at a specific site, e.g.,

craniopagus.

pali-, palin-. Recurrence; repetition.

pan-. All; entire.

pant-, panto-. All or the whole of

something.

papulo-. Pimple; papule.

para-, -para. 1. Prefix: near; alongside of;

departure from normal. 2. Suffix: Bearing

offspring.

patell-, patello-. Patella; kneecap.

path-, patho-, -path, -pathic, -pathy.

Disease; suffering.

ped-, pedi-, pedo-. Foot.

pedia-. Child.

pedicul-, pediculo-. Louse.

-penia. Decrease from normal; deficiency.

pent-, penta-. Five.

-pepsia. Digestion.

per-. Throughout; through; utterly; intense.

peri-. Around; about.

perineo-. Perineum.

peritoneo-. Peritoneum.

pero-. Deformed.

petro-. 1. Stone. 2. The petrous portion of

the temporal bone.

-pexy. Fixation, usually surgical.

phaco-. Lens of the eye.

phag-, phago-. Eating; ingestion;

devouring.

phalang-, phalango-. Phalanges (bones

of fingers and toes).

phall-. Penis.

pharmaco-. Drug; medicine.

pharyng-, pharyngo-. Pharynx.

-phasia. Speech.

-phil, -philia, -philic. Love for; tendency

toward; craving for.

phlebo-. Vein.

-phobia. Abnormal fear or aversion.

phono-. Sound; voice.

-phoresis. Transmission.

-phoria. In ophthalmology, a turning with

reference to the visual axis.

photo-. Light.

phren-, phreno-, -phrenia. 1. Mind.

2.Diaphragm.

-phylaxis. Protection.

physico-. Physical; natural.

physio-. Pertaining to nature.

physo-. Air; gas.

phyt-, phyto-. Plant; something that

grows.

pico-. One trillionth.

picr-, picro-. Bitter.

-piesis. Pressure.

pimel-, pimelo-. Fat.

plagio-. Slanting; oblique.

-plakia. Plaque.

-plasia. Growth; cellular proliferation.

plasm-, -plasm. 1. Prefix: Living

substance or tissue. 2. Suffix: To mold.

-plastic. 1. Molded. 2. Restoration of lost

or badly formed features.

platy-. Broad.

-plegia. Paralysis; stroke.

pleur-, pleuro-. Pleura; side; rib.

-ploid. Chromosome pairs of a specific

number.

plur-, pluri-. Several; more.

pneo-. Breath; breathing.

pneum-, pneuma-, pneumato-. Air;

gas; respiration.

pneumo-, pneumono-. Air; lung.

pod-, podo-. Foot.

poikil-, poikilo-. Varied, irregular.

-poiesis, -poietic. Production; formation.

polio-. Gray matter of the nervous system.

poly-. Much; many.

post-. After.

postero-. Posterior; behind; toward the

back.

-praxis. 1. Act; activity. 2. Practice; use.

pre-. Before; in front of.

presby-. Old age.

pro-. Before; in behalf of.

proct-, procto-. Anus; rectum.

proso-. Forward, anterior.

prostat-, prostato-. Prostate gland.

proto-. 1. First. 2. In chemistry, the lowest

of a series of compounds with the same

elements.

pseud-, pseudo-. False.

psych-, psycho-. Mind; mental processes.

psychro-. Cold.

-ptosis. Prolapse, downward displacement.

pubio-, pubo-. Pubic bone or region.

pulmo-. Lung.

py-, pyo-. Pus.

pycn-, pycno-, pykn-, pykno-. Dense;

thick; compact; frequent.

pyelo-. Pelvis.

pyg-, pygo-. Buttocks.

pykn-, pykno-. SEE: pycn-.

pyle-. Orifice, esp. of the portal vein.

pyloro-. Gatekeeper, i.e., the pylorus.

pyreto-. Fever.

pyro-. Heat; fire.

quadr-, quadri-. Four.

quinqu-. Five.

rachi-, rachio-. Spine.

radio-. 1. Radiant energy; a radioactive

substance. 2. In chemistry, a radioactive

isotope.

re-. Back; again.

recto-. Straight; rectum.

ren-, reno-. Kidney.

reticulo-. Reticulum.

retro-. Backward; back; behind.

rhabdo-. Rod.

rheo-, -(r)rhea. Current; stream; to flow;

to discharge.

rhino-. Nose.

rhizo-. Root.

rhodo-. Red.

roseo-. Rose-colored.

-(r)rhage, -(r)rhagia. Rupture; profuse

fluid discharge.

-(r)rhaphy. A suturing or stitching.

-(r)rhexis. Rupture of a specific body part.

sacchar-, saccharo-. Sugar.

sacro-. Sacrum.

salping-, salpingo-. Auditory tube;

fallopian tube.

sapro-. Putrid; rotten.

sarco-. Flesh.

scapho-. Boat-shaped; scaphoid.

scapulo-. Shoulder.

scato-. Dung; fecal matter.

schisto-. Split; cleft.

schizo-. Division.

scirrho-. Hard; hard tumor or scirrhus.

sclero-. 1. Hard. 2. Relating to the sclera.

-sclerosis. Dryness; hardness.

-scope. Instrument for viewing or

examining (includes other methods of

examination).

-scopy. Examination.

scoto-. Darkness.

sebo-. Fatty substance.

semi-. Half.

septi-. Seven.

sero-. Serum.

sesqui-. One and one half.

sial-, sialo-. Saliva.

sidero-. Iron; steel.

-sis. SEE: -asis.

sitio-, sito-. Bread; made from grain; food.

skeleto-. Skeleton.

skia-. Shadow.

sodio-. Sodium.

somat-, somato-. Body.

spectro-. Appearance; image; form;

spectrum.

sperma-, spermat-, spermato-. Sperm;

spermatozoa.

spheno-. Wedge; sphenoid bone.

sphygmo-. Pulse.

spir-, spiro-. Breathe.

spleno-. Spleen.

spondyl-, spondylo-. Vertebra.

spongio-. Spongelike.

staphylo-. Uvula; bunch of grapes;

Staphylococcus.

steato-. Fat.

steno-. Narrow; short.

sterco-. Feces.

stere-, stereo-. Three-dimensional.

sterno-. Sternum.

stetho-. Chest.

stomato-. Mouth.

-stomosis, -stomy. SEE: -ostomosis.

strepto-. Twisted.

sub-. Under; beneath; in small quantity;

less than normal.

super-. Above; beyond; superior.

supra-. Above; beyond; on top.

syn-, sym-. With; together with; along;

beside.

tachy-. Swift; rapid.

taen-, taeni-, ten-, teni-. Tapeworm.

tarso-. 1. Flat of the foot. 2. Edge of the

eyelid.

tauto-. Same.

techno-. Art; skill.

tel-, tele-. 1. End. 2. Distant.

teleo-. Perfect; complete.

temporo-. Temples of the head.

ten-, teni-. SEE: taen-.

tendo-, teno-. Tendon.

ter-. Three.

tera-. One trillionth.

terato-. Severely malformed fetus.

tetra-. Four.

thalamo-. Chamber; part of the brain

where a nerve originates; thalamus.

thanato-. Death.

theco-. Sheath; case; receptacle.

thermo-. Hot; heat.

thio-. Sulfur.

thorac-, thoraci-, thoraco-. Chest; chest

wall.

thrombo-. Blood clot; thrombus.

thymo-. 1. Thymus. 2. Soul; emotions.

thy-, thyro-. Thyroid gland; oblong; shield.

thyroid-, thyroido-. Thyroid gland.

toco-. Childbirth.

-tome. Cutting instrument.

tomo-. Section; layer.

-tomy. Cutting operation; excision.

ton-, tono-. Tension.

top-, topo-. Place; locale.

tox-, toxi-, toxico-, toxo-, -toxic. Toxin;

poison; toxic.

trachelo-. Neck.

tracheo-. Trachea; windpipe.

trans-. Across; over; beyond; through.

traumato-. Trauma.

tri-. Three.

trich-, trichi-, tricho-. Hair.

troph-, tropho-, -trophic. Nourishment.

-tropin. Stimulation of a target organ by a

substance, esp. a hormone.

tubo-. Tube.

tympan-, tympano-. Eardrum;

tympanum.

typhlo-. 1. Cecum. 2. Blindness.

typho-. Fever; typhoid.

ulo-. Scar; scarring.

ultra-. Beyond; excess.

uni-. One.

uretero-. Ureter.

urethro-. Urethra.

-uria. Urine.

urin-, urino-, uro-. Urine.

uter-, utero-. Uterus.

vagin-, vagino-. Vagina.

varic-, varico-. Dilated vein.

vaso-. Vessel, e.g., blood vessel.

veno-. Vein.

ventro-, ventr-, ventri-. Abdomen;

anterior surface of the body.

vertebro-. Vertebra; vertebrae.

vesico-. Bladder; vesicle.

viscero-. Viscera.

vitr-, vitro-, vitre-, vitreo-. 1. Vitreous

body (of the eye). 2. Glassy.

vulvo-. 1. Vulva. 2. Covering.

xanth-. Yellow.

xeno-. Strange; foreign.

xero-. Dry.

xiph-, xiphi-, xipho-. Xiphoid catilage