This article is still under construction and is not yet considered complete.

This article is based off of an article originally appearing on Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_medical_roots,_suffixes_and_prefixes.

This is a list of roots, suffixes, and prefixes used in medical terminology, their meanings, and their etymology. Most of them are classical compound|combining forms in New Latin and hence international scientific vocabulary. There are a few general rules about how they combine. First, prefixes and suffixes, most of which are derived from ancient Greek or classical Latin, have a droppable -o-. As a general rule, this -o- almost always acts as a joint-stem to connect two consonantal roots, e.g. arthr- + -o- + logy = arthrology. But generally, the -o- is dropped when connecting to a vowel-stem; e.g. arthr- + -itis = arthritis, instead of *arthr-o-itis. Second, medical roots generally go together according to language, i.e., Greek prefixes occur with Greek suffixes and Latin prefixes with Latin suffixes. Although international scientific vocabulary is not stringent about segregating combining forms of different languages, it is advisable when coining new words not to mix different lingual roots.

Prefixes, root words, and suffixes

The following is an alphabetical list of medical prefixes, root words, and suffixes, along with their meanings, origin, and English examples.

A

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Examples
a-, an-	not, without	Ancient Greek ἀ-/ἀν- (a-/an-), not, without	Analgesic, apathy
ab-	from; away from	Latin	Abduction
abdomin/o-	Of or relating to the abdomen	Latin abdōmen, abdomen, fat around the belly	Abdomen
-ac, -acal	pertaining to	Greek -ακός (-akos)	cardiac, hydrophobiac
acanth/o-	thorn or spine	ἄκανθα (akantha), thorn	acanthion, acanthocyte, acanthoma, acanthulus
acid/o	acid, sour, bitter	Latin acidus	acidity
acous/io-	hearing	Greek ἀκουστικός (acoustikos), of or for hearing	acoumeter, acoustician
acr/o-	extremity, topmost	ἄκρον (akron), highest or farthest point	Acrocrany, acromegaly, acroosteolysis, acroposthia
acu-	needle	Latin acus	acupuncture
acu/o, acut/o	sharp, severe	Latin acutus	subacute
-acusis	hearing	Greek ἀκουστικός (acoustikos), of or for hearing	paracusis
-ad	toward, in the direction of	Latin	dorsad
ad-	at, increase, on, toward	Latin	Adduction
aden/o-, aden/i-	Of or relating to a gland	ἀδήν, ἀδέν- (adēn, aden-), an acorn; a gland	Adenocarcinoma, adenology, adenotome, adenotyphus
adip/o-	Of or relating to fat or fatty tissue	adeps, adip-), fat	Adipocyte
adren/o-	Of or relating to adrenal glands	Latin	adrenal artery
-aemia	blood condition	Greek ἀναιμία, without blood	Anaemia
aer/o-	air, gas	ἀήρ, ἀέρος	Aerosinusitis
aesthesio-	sensation	αἴσθησις	Anesthesia
agit/o	rapidity, restlessnes	Latin agitō	agitophasia
-al	pertaining to	Latin -alis	abdominal, femoral
alb-	Denoting a white or pale color	albus, white	Albino
alge/si-	pain	ἄλγος	Analgesic
-algia, alg/i/o-	pain	Greek	Myalgia
all/o-	Denoting something as different, or as an addition	ἄλλος (allos), another, other	Alloantigen, allopathy
ambi-	Denoting something as positioned on both sides; describing both of two	Latin (ambi-, ambo), both, on both sides	Ambidextrous
ambul/o	to walk	Latin ambulō	ambulatory
amni-	Pertaining to the membranous fetal sac (amnion)	Greek ἄμνιον	Amniocentesis
amph/i-,	on both sides	ἀμφί (amphi)	Amphicrania, amphismela, amphomycin
amylo-	starchy, carbohydrate-related	Latin amylum (starch)	Amylase, amylophagia
an-	not, without	Greek	Analgesia
ana-	back, again, up	Greek	Anaplasia
an-	anus	Latin	anal
andr/o-	pertaining to a man	ἀνήρ, ἀνδρ-	Android, andrology, androgen
angi/o-	blood vessel	Greek ἀγγεῖον	Angiogram
aniso-	Describing something as unequal	Ancient Greek ἄνῑσος (anīsos), unequal	Anisocytosis, anisotropic
ankyl/o-, ancyl/o-	Denoting something as crooked or bent	Ancient Greek ἀγκύλος (ankýlos), crooked, curved	Ankylosis
anomal/o	irregular	Ancient Greek ἀνώμαλος (anṓmalos)	anomaly
ante-	Describing something as positioned in front of another thing	Latin (āntē), before, in front of	antepartum
anthrac/o	coal, carbon, carbuncle		anthracosis
anthrop/o	man, human being	Ancient Greek ἄνθρωπος ‎(ánthrōpos)	anthropometry
anti-	Describing something as 'against' or 'opposed to' another	Ancient Greek αντι (anti), against	Antibody, antipsychotic
antr/o	antrum		antrotomy
aphth/o	ulcer		aphthosis
apic/o	apex		apicotomy
apo-	away, separated from, derived from	ἀπό	Apoptosis
aque/o	water		aqueous
arch-	first, primitive	Ancient Greek	archinephron
arsen/o-	Of or pertaining to a male; masculine	Greek (arsein)	arsenoblast
arteri/o-	Of or pertaining to an artery	ἀρτηρία (artēría), a wind-pipe, artery (used distinctly versus a vein)	Arteriole, artery
arthr/o-	Of or pertaining to the joints, limbs	Ancient Greek αρθρος (arthros), a joint, limb	Arthritis
articul/o-	joint	articulus	Articulation
-ary	pertaining to	Latin -arius	biliary tract
-ase	enzyme	Greek διάστασις, division	Lactase
-asthenia	weakness	Greek, ἀσθένεια	Myasthenia gravis
atel/o-	imperfect or incomplete development		atelocardia
ather/o-	fatty deposit, soft gruel-like deposit		Atherosclerosis
-ation	process	Latin	medication
atmo-	steam, vapor		atmometer
atri/o-	an atrium (esp. heart atrium)	Latin	atrioventricular
aur/i-	Of or pertaining to the ear	Latin (auris), the ear	Aural
aut/o-	self	Greek αὐτο-	Autoimmune
aux/o-	increase; growth		Auxocardia  : enlargement of the heart, Auxology
axill-	Of or pertaining to the armpit (uncommon as a prefix)	Latin (axilla), armpit	Axilla
axi/o	axis		abaxial
azo/to-	nitrogenous compound		azothermia : raised temperature due to nitrogenous substances in blood

B

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
bacteri/o-	Pertaining to bacteria	Latin bacterium; Ancient Greek βακτήριον ("baktḗrion"), “small staff”	Bacteriophage, Bactericide
balano-	Of the glans penis or glans clitoridis	βάλανος (bálanos), acorn, glans	Balanitis
bar/o	weight, pressure		barotrauma
bary-	heavy, dull, hard		baryphonia
bas/o-	Of or pertaining to base	βάσις (básis), "foundation", "base"	Basolateral
-basia	walking		brachybasia
bathy-, batho-	deep, depth		bathycardia
bi-	twice, double	Latin	Binary
bio-	life	βίος (bíos)	Biology
blast/o-	germ or bud	βλαστός (blastós)	Blastomere
blephar/o-	Of or pertaining to the eyelid	Ancient Greek βλέφαρον (blépharon), eyelid	Blepharoplast
brachi/o-	Of or relating to the arm	Latin bracchium, from Ancient Greek βραχίων (brachiōn), arm	Brachium of inferior colliculus
brachy-	Indicating 'short' or less commonly 'little'	βραχύς (brachys), short, little, shallow	brachycephalic
brady-	'slow'	βραδύς (bradys), slow	Bradycardia
bronch/i-	of or relating to the bronchus	Latin bronchus; Ancient Greek βρόγχος (brónkhos), windpipe	Bronchitis, bronchiolitis obliterans
bucc/o-	Of or pertaining to the cheek	Latin bucca, cheek	Buccolabial
burs/o-	bursa (fluid sac between the bones)	Latin bursa, purse; Ancient Greek βύρσα (búrsa), hide, wine-skin	Bursa, bursitis

C

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
-calculia	to compute		dyscalculia
calor/i	heat		calorimetry
campt/o	bent		camptocormia
capill-	Of or pertaining to hair	Latin capillus, hair	Capillus
capit-	Pertaining to the head (as a whole)	caput, capit-), the head	Capitation
capsul/o, caps/o	capsule, container		capsulitis
carcin/o-	cancer	καρκίνος (karkinos), crab	Carcinoma
cardi/o-	Of or pertaining to the heart	καρδία (kardía), heart	Cardiology
cari/o	caries, rottenness		cariogenic
carp/o-	Of or pertaining to the wrist	Latin (carpus) < Ancient Greek καρπός (karpós), wrist; NOTE: This root should not be confused with the mirror root carp(o)- meaning fruit.	Carpopedal
cata-	down, under	κατά (kata)	Cataract, catabolism
-cataphasia	affirmation		acataphasia
cathar/o, cathart/o	cleansing, purging		catharsis
-cathisia, -kathisia	sitting		acathisia
caud/o	tail		caudal
cavit/o, cav/o	hollow, cavity		cavitation
-cele	pouching, hernia	κήλη (kēlē)	Hydrocele, Varicocele
-centesis	aspiration	Ancient Greek κέντησις (kentēsis)	Amniocentesis
cephal/o-	Of or pertaining to the head (as a whole)	κεφαλή (képhalē), the head	Cephalalgy, hydrocephalus
cerat/o-	cornu; a horn	κέρας, κερατ- (kéras, kerat-), a horn	Ceratoid
cerebell/o-	Of or pertaining to the cerebellum	Latin cerebellum, little brain	Cerebellum
cerebr/o-	Of or pertaining to the brain	Latin cerebrum, brain	Cerebrology
cervic-	Of or pertaining to the neck, the cervix	Latin cervix, neck, cervix	Cervicodorsal
chem/o-	chemistry, drug	χημεία	Chemotherapy
chir/o-, cheir/o-	Of or pertaining to the hand	χείρ, χειρο- (cheir, cheiro-), hand	Chiropractor
chlor/o-	Denoting a green color	χλωρός (chloros), green, yellow-green	Chlorophyll
chol/e-	Of or pertaining to bile	χολή (cholē), bile	Cholaemia (UK)/ Cholemia (US), Cholecystitis
cholecyst/o-	Of or pertaining to the gallbladder	Ancient Greek χοληκύστις (cholēkýstis), gallbladder < χολή (cholē), bile, gall + κύστις (kýstis), bladder	Cholecystectomy
chondr/i/o-	cartilage, gristle, granule, granular	χονδρός (chondros)	Chondrocalcinosis
chrom/ato-	color	Ancient Greek χρῶμα (chrōma)	Hemochromatosis
chron/o	time, timing		Chronobiology
-cidal, -cide	killing, destroying	Latin	bacteriocidal
cili-	Of or pertaining to the cilia, the eyelashes; eyelids	Latin (cilium), eyelash; eyelid	Ciliary
circum-	Denoting something as 'around' another	Latin (circum), around	circumcision
cis-	on this side	cis	cisgender
clast	break	Greek κλαστός "broken"	osteoclast
clin/o	to slope, bend		clinocephaly
clostr-	spindle	Greek κλωστήρ (klōstēr)	Clostridium difficile
co-	with, together, in association	Latin	coenzymes
-coimesis	sleeping		dyscoimesis
col-, colo-, colono-	colon	κόλον (kólon)	Colonoscopy
colp/o-	Of or pertaining to the vagina	Ancient Greek κόλπος (kólpos), bosom, womb; hollow, depth	Colposcopy
com-	with, together	Latin cum
-coma	deep sleep		semicoma
consci/o	awareness, aware		unconscious
constrict/o	narrowing, binding		vasoconstriction
contra	against	Latin	Contraindicate
contus/o	to bruise		contusion
cor-	with, together	Latin	corrective
cor-	Of or pertaining to eye's pupil	Ancient Greek κόρη (kórē), girl, doll; pupil of the eye	Corectomy
cord-	Of or pertaining to the heart (uncommon as a prefix)	Latin (cor, cordi-), "heart"	Commotio cordis
cornu-	Applied to processes and parts of the body describing them likened or similar to horns	Latin cornū, "horn"	Greater cornu
coron/o-	pertaining to heart	Latin corōna	coronary heart disease
corpor/o	body		corporeal
cost-	Of or pertaining to the ribs	Latin costa, "rib"	Costochondral
cox-	Of or relating to the hip, haunch, or hip-joint	Latin coxa, hip	Coxopodite
crani/o-	cranium	Latin cranium; Ancient Greek κρᾱνίον (krānion), the cranium, skull, bones enclosing the brain	Craniology
-crine, crin/o	to secrete	εκκρίνει ecrine	Endocrine
critic/o	crisis, dangerous		critical
cry/o-	cold	κρύος	Cryoablation
cutane-	skin	cutis	Subcutaneous
cyan/o-	Denotes a blue color	Ancient Greek κύανος, κυάνεος (kýanos, kyáneos), blue	Cyanopsia
cycl-	circle, cycle	Greek κύκλος (kuklos)
cyph/o-	Denotes something as bent (uncommon as a prefix)	Ancient Greek κυφός (kȳphós), bent, hunchback	Cyphosis
cyst/o-, cyst/i-	Of or pertaining to the urinary bladder	κύστις κύστις (kýstis); bladder, cyst	Cystotomy
cyt/o-, -cyte	cell	κύτος	Cytokine, leukocyte

D

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
dacry/o-	Of or pertaining to tears	δάκρυ, tear	Dacryoadenitis, dacryocystitis
-dactyl/o-	Of or pertaining to a finger, toe	δάκτυλος (dáktylos), finger, toe	dactylology, polydactyly
de-	from, down, or not	Latin de-	dehydrate
dem/o	people		epidemic
dent-	Of or pertaining to teeth	Latin (dens, dentis), tooth	Dentist
dermat/o-, derm/o-	Of or pertaining to the skin	δέρμα, δέρματος (dérma, dérmat-), skin, human skin	Dermatology, epidermis, hypodermic, xeroderma
desicc/o	to dry		electrodesiccation
-desis	binding	Greek δέσις (désis)	arthrodesis
dextr/o-	right, on the right side	Latin dexter	Dextrocardia
di-	two	Greek δι-	Diplopia
di-	apart, separation	Latin	dilation, distal
dia-	through, during, across	διά (diá), through, during, across	dialysis
dif-	apart, separation	Latin	different
digit-	Of or pertaining to the finger [rare as a root]	Latin (digitus), finger, toe	Digit
dilat/o	enlarge, expand		vasodilator
diplo-	twofold	διπλόος (diplóos)	diploid, diplosis
-dipsia	suffix meaning "(condition of) thirst"'	δίψα (dípsa)	dipsomania, hydroadipsia, oligodipsia, polydipsia
dis-	separation, taking apart	Latin dis-	Dissection
dolich/o	long		dolichofacial
dolor/o	pain		dolorogenic
dors/o-, dors/i-	Of or pertaining to the back	Latin (dorsum), back	dorsal, dorsocephalad
dromo-	running, conduction, course	δρόμος (drómos)	Dromotropic, syndrome
duct/o	to lead		conduction
duodeno-	duodenum, twelve: upper part of the small intestine (twelve inches long on average), connects to the stomach	Latin duodeni	Duodenal atresia
dynam/o-	force, energy, power	δύναμις (dúnamis)	Hand strength dynamometer
-dynia	pain		Vulvodynia
dys-	bad, difficult, defective, abnormal	Greek δυσ- (dus-)	dysentery, dysphagia, dysphasia

E

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
-eal	pertaining to	Latin	esophageal, Perineum|perineal
ec-	out, away	Greek ἐκ- (ek-)	Ectopia, ectopic pregnancy
echin/o	spiny, prickly		echinocyte
ect/o-	outer, outside	Greek ἐκτός (ektós)	Ectoblast, ectoderm
-ectasia, -ectasis	dilation	Ancient Greek ἔκτασις (éktasis)	Bronchiectasis, telangiectasia
-ectomy	Denotes a surgical operation or removal of a body part. Resection, excision	Ancient Greek ἐκτομή (ektomḗ), excision	Mastectomy
ectr/o	congenital absence		ectrogeny
ele/o	oil		eleoma
-emesis	vomiting condition	Greek ἕμεσις (émesis)	Hematemesis
-emia	blood condition	Greek ἀν-αιμία, without blood	Anemia
emmetr/o	the correct measure, proportioned		emmetropia
enanti/o	opposite, opposed		enantiobiosis
encephal/o-	Of or pertaining to the brain. Also see Cerebro.	Ancient Greek ἐγκέφαλος (enképhalos), the brain	Encephalogram
endo-	Denotes something as 'inside' or 'within'	ἐνδο- (endo-), inside, internal	Endocrinology, endospore
enter/o-	intestine	Ancient Greek ἔντερον (énteron), intestine	Gastroenterology
eosin/o-	Red	Ancient Greek Eos, the Greek word for 'dawn' and the name of the Greek goddess of the dawn.	Eosinophil granulocyte
epi-	on, upon	Ancient Greek ἐπι- (epi-), before, upon, on, outside, outside of	epidermis, epidural, episclera, epistaxis
episi/o-	Of or pertaining to the pubic region, the loins	Ancient Greek ἐπίσιον- (epísion), the pubic area, loins; vulva	Episiotomy
equi-	equality, equal		equilibrium
erethism/o	irritation		erethismic
erythr/o-	Denotes a red color	Ancient Greek ἐρυθρός (erythrós), red	Erythrocyte
-esophageal, -esophago-	gullet	Greek οἰσοφάγος (oisophágos)	Esophagus
esthesio-	sensation	Greek αἴσθησις (aisthēsis)	Esthesia
eti/o	cause		etiology
eu-	true, good, well, new	εὖ (eû)	Eukaryote
ex-	out of, away from	Latin	Excision
exo-	Denotes something as 'outside' another	Ancient Greek ἐξω- (exo-), outside of, external	Exophthalmos, exoskeleton
extra-	outside	Latin	Extradural hematoma

F

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
faci/o-	Of or pertaining to the face	Latin faciēs, the face, countenance	Facioplegic
-facient	to cause, make happen		liquefacient
febr/i	fever		febriphobia
fibr-	fiber	Latin fibra, fiber, filament, entrails	fibril, fibrin, fibrinous pericarditis, fibroblast
filament/o	thread, threadlike		filamentous
filli-	fine, hair-like	Latin (filum), thread
foramen	hole, opening, or aperature, particularly in bone	Latin	Foramen magnum
-form	Used to form adjectives indicating 'having the form of'	Latin (forma), form, shape	cruciform, cuneiform, falciform
fore-	before or ahead		foregut
fossa	A hollow or depressed area; trench or channel	Latin (fossa), ditch, pit	fossa ovalis
frig/o, frigid/o	cold		frigorism
front-	Of or pertaining to the forehead	Latin (frōns, front-), the forehead	frontonasal
funct/o	performance		dysfunctional

G

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
galact/o-	milk	Greek γάλα, γαλακτ-	Galactorrhea
gastr/o-	Of or pertaining to the stomach	Ancient Greek γαστήρ (gastēr), γαστρ-, stomach, belly	Gastric bypass
gel/o	to freeze, congeal		gelosis
gemell/o	twins		gemellology
-gen	producing, generating, production, formation	Ancient Greek -γενής (-genēs), from γεν-νάειν (gen-náein), to be born	Endogen; Heterogenous
-genic	Formative, pertaining to producing	Greek	Cardiogenic shock
genu-	Of or pertaining to the knee	Latin (genū), knee	Genu valgum
ger/o, geront/o	aged, old age		geriatrics
-geusia	Taste	γεῦσις (geusis)	Ageusia, dysgeusia, hypergeusia, hypogeusia, parageusia
gingiv-	Of or pertaining to the gums	Latin gingīva, gum	Gingivitis
glauc/o-	Denoting a grey or bluish-grey colour	γλαυκός (glaukos), grey, bluish-grey	Glaucoma
gloss/o-, glott/o-	Of or pertaining to the tongue	γλῶσσα, γλῶττα (glōssa, glōtta), tongue	Glossology
gluco-	sweet	Greek γλυκός, sweet	Glucocorticoid
glyc/o-	sugar	Ancient Greek	Glycolysis
gnath/o-	Of or pertaining to the jaw	Ancient Greek γνάθος (gnáthos), jaw	Gnathodynamometer
-gnosis	knowledge	Greek	diagnosis, prognosis
gon/o-	seed, semen; also, reproductive	Ancient Greek γόνος	Gonorrhea
-grade	step		centigrade
-gram, -gramme	record or picture	Greek γράμμα (gramma)	Angiogram
-graph	instrument used to record data or picture	Ancient Greek -γραφία (-graphía), written, drawn, graphic interpretation	Electrocardiograph
-graphy	process of recording	Ancient Greek	Angiography
gyno-, gynaeco- (BrE), gyneco- (AmE)	woman	Greek γυνή, γυναικ-	Gynecomastia

H

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
halluc-	to wander in mind	Classical Latin to wander in mind	Hallucinosis
hapl/o	simple, single		haploid
hemat-, haemato- (haem-, hem-)	Of or pertaining to blood	Latin (hæma) < Ancient Greek αἵμα, αἱματ- (haima, haimat-), blood	Hematology, older form Haematology
hema- or hemo-	blood (AmE)	Greek	Hemal, Hemoglobin
hemangi or hemangio-	blood vessels		Hemangioma
hemi-	one-half	Ancient Greek ἡμι- (hēmi-), "half"	Cerebral hemisphere
hepat- (hepatic-)	Of or pertaining to the liver	Ancient Greek ἥπαρ, ἡπατο- (hēpar, hēpato-), the liver	Hepatology
heredo-	heredity		heredoimmunity
heter/o-	Denotes something as 'the other' (of two), as an addition, or different	Ancient Greek ἕτερος (héteros), the other (of two), another; different	Heterogeneous
-hexia	condition		cachexia
hidr/o-	sweat	Greek ἱδρωτ-	Hyperhidrosis
hist/o-, histio-	tissue	Greek ἱστός	Histology
home/o-	similar	Ancient Greek ὅμοιος (homoios)	Homeopathy
hom/o-	Denotes something as 'the same' as another or common	Ancient Greek ὁμο- (homo-), the same, common	Homosexuality
humero-	Of or pertaining to the shoulder (or [rarely] the upper arm)	Latin (umerus), shoulder	Humerus
hydr/o-	water	Greek ὕδωρ	Hydrophobe
hyper-	Denotes something as 'extreme' or 'beyond normal'	Ancient Greek ὑπέρ (hyper), over, above; beyond, to the extreme	Hypertension
hyp/o-	Denotes something as 'below normal'	Ancient Greek ὑπ(ο)- (hypo-), below, under	Hypovolemia,
hyster/o-	Of or pertaining to the womb, the uterus	Ancient Greek ὑστέρα (hystéra), womb	Hysterectomy, Hysteria

I

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
-i-asis	condition, formation, or presence of	Greek -ίασις	Mydriasis
iatr/o-	Of or pertaining to medicine, or a physician [uncommon as a prefix; common as a suffix, see -iatry]	Ancient Greek ἰᾱτρός (iātrós), healer, physician	Iatrochemistry
-iatry	Denotes a field in medicine of a certain body component	Ancient Greek ἰᾱτρός (iātrós), healer, physician	Podiatry, Psychiatry
-ic	pertaining to	Greek -ικός (-ikos)	Hepatic artery
-ician	specialist		clinician
-icle	small	Latin	Ovarian follicle
-ics	organized knowledge, treatment	Latin -ica < Greek < -ικά	Obstetrics
idio-	self, one's own	Greek ἴδιος, idios, "one's own"	Idiopathic
ileo-	ileum	Greek ἰλεός	Ileocecal valve
infra-	below	Latin	Infrahyoid muscles
inter-	between, among	Latin	Interarticular ligament
intra-	within	Latin	intramural
ion/o	ion		ionophoresis
ipsi-	same	Latin	Ipsilateral
irid/o-	iris	Greek ἴρις	Iridectomy
isch-	restriction	Greek ἴσχω	Ischemia
ischio-	Of or pertaining to the ischium, the hip-joint	Ancient Greek ἰσχιόν (ischión), hip-joint, ischium	Ischioanal fossa
-ism	condition, disease		Dwarfism
-ismus	spasm, contraction	Greek -ισμός	Hemiballismus
iso-	Denoting something as being 'equal'	Ancient Greek ἴσος (ísos), equal	Isotonic
-ist	one who specializes in	Greek -ιστής (-istes)	Pathologist
-ite	the nature of, resembling	Greek -ίτης	Hermaphrodite
-itis	inflammation		Tonsillitis
-ium	structure, tissue		pericardium

J

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
juxta (iuxta)	Near to, alongside or next to	Latin	Juxtaglomerular apparatus

K

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
kal-	potassium		Hyperkalemia
karyo-	nucleus	Greek κάρυον, "nut"	Eukaryote
kel/o	tumor, fibrous growth		keloid
kerat/o-	cornea (eye or skin)	Greek	Keratoscope
kin/e-, kin/o, kinesi/o-	movement	Greek κινέω	Kinesthesia
koil/o-	hollow	Greek κοῖλος (koilos)	Koilocyte
kraur/o	dry		kraurosis
kym/o	waves		kymography
kyph/o-	humped	Greek κυφός	Kyphoscoliosis

L

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
labi/o-	Of or pertaining to the lip	Latin (labium), lip	Labiodental
-labile	unstable, perishable		frigolabile
lacrim/o-	tear	Latin	Lacrimal canaliculi
lact/i-, lact/o	milk	Latin	Lactation
lapar/o-	Of or pertaining to the abdomen-wall, flank	Ancient Greek λαπάρᾱ (lapárā), flank	Laparotomy
laryng/o-	voice box is	Ancient Greek λάρυγξ, λαρυγγ- (lárynx, laryng-), throat, gullet	Larynx
latero-	side, lateral	Latin	Lateral pectoral nerve
lei/o-	smooth	Greek λεῖος	Leiomyoma
-lepsis, -lepsy	attack, seizure	Greek λῆψις	Epilepsy, narcolepsy
lept/o-	light, slender	Greek λεπτός (leptos)	Leptomeningeal
leuc/o-, leuk/o-	Denoting a white color	Ancient Greek λευκός (leukos), white, bright	Leukocyte
lingu/a-, lingu/o-	Of or pertaining to the tongue	Latin (lingua), tongue	Linguistics
ligat/o	binding, tying		ligature
lim/o	hunger		bulimia
lip/o-	fat	Greek λίπος (lipos)	Liposuction
lith/o-	calculus	Greek λίθος (lithos)	Lithotripsy
log/o-	speech	Greek λόγος (logos)
-logist	Denotes someone who studies a certain field: _____-logy; a specialist; one who treats	Ancient Greek λογιστής (logistēs), studier, practitioner	Oncologist, pathologist
-logy	Denotes the academic study or practice of a certain field; The study of	Ancient Greek λόγoς (logos) study	hematology, urology
lord-
-lucent	light-admitting		radiolucent
lumb/o-, lumb/a-	Of or relating to the part of the trunk between the lowest ribs and the pelvis.	Latin (lumbus or lumbaris) loin	Lumbar vertebrae
lumin/o	light		luminescence
ly/o	dissolve, loosen		lyoenzyme
lymph/o-	lymph	Greek λέμφος, λύμφη	Lymphedema
lys/o-, -lytic	dissolution	Greek	Lysosome
-lysis	Destruction, separation	Greek λύσις	Paralysis

M

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
macr/o-	large, long	Greek μακρός	Macrophage
-malacia	softening	μαλακία	Osteomalacia
mamm/o-	Of or pertaining to the breast	Latin (mamma), breast; udder	Mammogram
mammill/o-	Of or pertaining to the nipple	Latin mammilla, nipple	mammillaplasty, mammillitis
manu-	Of or pertaining to the hand	Latin (manus), hand	Manufacture
-masesis	mastication, chewing		dysmasesis
mast/o-	Of or pertaining to the breast	Ancient Greek μαστός (mastós), breast, women's breast; man's pectoral muscle	Mastectomy
medi/o	middle		medial
medic/o	heal, healing		medical
meg/a-, megal/o-, -megaly	enlargement, million	Greek μέγας	Splenomegaly, megameter
melan/o-	black color	Ancient Greek μέλας, μελανο- (melas, melano-), black; dark	Melanin
melos	extremity	Ancient Greek μέλος	erythromelalgia
mening/o-	membrane	Greek μῆνιγξ, μηνιγγ-	Meningitis
men/o-	month, menstrual cycle	μήν (mḗn), month	menopause, menorrhagia,
mero-	part	Greek μέρος (meros), part	merocrine, meroblastic
mes/o-	middle	Ancient Greek μέσος (mesos), "middle"	Mesoderm
meta-	after, beyond or change	Greek μετά	Metacarpus
-meter	instrument used to measure or count	Greek μέτρον	Sphygmomanometer
method/o	procedure, technique		methodology
-metry	process of measuring	Greek -μετρία	Optometry
metr/o-	Pertaining to conditions or instruments of the uterus	Ancient Greek μήτρᾱ (mētrā), womb, uterus	Metrorrhagia
micro-	denoting something as small, or relating to smallness, millionth	Ancient Greek μικρός (mikros), small	Microscope
milli-	thousandth	Latin mille, thousand	milliliter
-mimesis	imitation, simulation		pathomimesis
mon/o-	single	Greek μονός (monos)	Infectious mononucleosis
morph/o-	form, shape	Greek μορφή (morphē)	Morphology
mort/o	death		mortician
muscul/o-	muscle	Latin	Musculoskeletal system
my/o-	Of or relating to muscle	Ancient Greek μῦς, μυ- (mys, my-), muscle; mouse; mussel	Myoblast
myc/o-	fungus	Greek μύκης, μυκητ-	Onychomycosis
myel/o-	Of or relating to bone marrow or spinal cord	Ancient Greek μυελόν (myelon), marrow; bone-marrow	Myeloblast
myl/o-	Of or relating to molar teeth or lower jaw	Greek (myle)	Mylohyoid nerve
myri-	ten thousand	Ancient Greek μύριοι (mýrioi), myriad	myriad
myring/o-	eardrum	Latin myringa	Myringotomy
myx/o-	mucus	Greek μύξα	Myxoma

N

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
narc/o-	numb, sleep	Greek νάρκη	narcolepsy
nas/o-	nose	Latin (nāsum), nose	nasal
necr/o-	death	Greek νεκρός	Necrosis, necrotizing fasciitis
neo-	new	Greek νέος	Neoplasm
nephr/o-	Of or pertaining to the kidney	Ancient Greek νεφρός (nephrós), kidney	Nephrology
nerv-	Of or pertaining to nerves and the nervous system [Uncommon as a root: neuro- mostly always used]	Latin (nervus), tendon; nerve; Cognate with the Greek νευρον (neuron) (see below)	Nerve, nervous system
neur/i-, neur/o-	Of or pertaining to nerves and the nervous system	Ancient Greek νεῦρον (neuron), tendon, sinew; nerve	Neurofibromatosis
noci-	pain, injury, hurt	Latin (noceo)	Nociception
nom/o	custom, law		nomotopic
nomen-	name		nomenclature
normo-	normal	Latin	Normocapnia
nos/o	disease		nosology
nucle/o	nucleus		nucleoplasm
nutri/o, nutrit/o	nourish		nutrition

O

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
ocul/o-	Of or pertaining to the eye	Latin (oculus), the eye	Oculist
odont/o-	Of or pertaining to teeth	Ancient Greek ὀδούς, ὀδοντ- (odoús, odont-), tooth	orthodontist
odyn/o-	pain	Greek ὀδύνη	stomatodynia
-oesophageal, oesophago- (BrE)	gullet	Greek οἰσοφάγος	oesophagus
-oid	resemblance to	Greek -οειδής	Sarcoidosis
ole	small or little	Latin
ole/o	oil		oleovitamin
olig/o-	Denoting something as 'having little, having few'	Ancient Greek ὀλίγος (oligos), few	Oligotrophy
om/o-	shoulder	Ancient Greek ὠμός (ōmos), shoulder	Omoplate
-oma (singular), -omata (plural)	tumor, mass, fluid collection	Greek -ωμα	Sarcoma, teratoma
omphal/o-	umbilicus	Ancient Greek ὀμφαλός (omphalós), navel, belly-button	Omphalotomy
onco-	tumor, bulk, volume	Greek ὄγκος	Oncology
-one			hormone
onych/o-	Of or pertaining to the nail (of a finger or toe)	Ancient Greek ὄνυξ, ὀνυχο- (ónyx, ónycho-), nail; claw; talon	Onychophagy
oo-	Of or pertaining to the an (egg), a woman's egg, the ovum	Ancient Greek ᾠόν, ᾠο- (ōón, ōo-), egg, ovum	Oogenesis
oophor/o-	Of or pertaining to the woman's (ovary)	Neoclassical Greek ᾠοφόρον (ōophóron), ovary, egg-bearing	Oophorectomy
ophthalm/o-	Of or pertaining to the (eye)	Ancient Greek ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmós), the eye	Ophthalmology
optic/o-	Of or relating to chemical properties of the eye	Middle French (optique) < Greek ὀπτικός (optikós); ώψ (opsi), vision. Cognate with Latin oculus, relating to the eye	Opticochemical, biopsy
or/o-	Of or pertaining to the mouth	Latin (ōs, or-), mouth	Oral
-or	one who		doctor
orchi/o-, orchid/o-, orch/o-	testis	Greek ὀρχις (orkhis, orkhi-)	Orchiectomy, orchidectomy
organ/o	organ		organomegaly
orth/o-	Denoting something as straight or correct	Ancient Greek ὀρθός (orthós), straight, correct, normal	Orthodontist
-osis	a condition, disease or increase	Greek -ωσις	Harlequin type ichthyosis, psychosis, osteoporosis
osse-	bony	Latin	Osseous
ossi-	bone	Latin	Peripheral ossifying fibroma
ost/e-, oste/o-	bone	Greek ὀστέον	Osteoporosis
ot/o-	Of or pertaining to the ear	Ancient Greek οὖς, ὠτ- (ous, ōt-), the ear	Otology
-ous	pertaining to	Latin -osus
ovari/o-	Of or pertaining to the ovaries	Latin (ōvarium), ovary	Ovariectomy
ovo-, ovi-, ov-	Of or pertaining to the eggs, the ovum	Latin (ōvum), egg, ovum	Ovogenesis
oxo-	addition of oxygen	Greek ὀξύς
oxy-	sharp, acid, acute, oxygen	Greek ὀξύς(oxus)

P

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Examples
pachy-	thick	Greek παχύς	pachyderma
palliat/o	soothe, relieve		palliative
palpebr-	Of or pertaining to the eyelid (uncommon as a root)	Latin (palpebra), eyelid	palpebra
pan-, pant/o-	Denoting something as 'complete' or containing 'everything'	Ancient Greek πᾶς, παν- (pas, pan-), all, every	panophobia, panopticon
papill-	Of or pertaining to the nipple (of the chest/breast)	Latin (papilla), nipple; diminutive of papula (see below)	papillitis
papul/o-	Indicates papulosity, a small elevation or swelling in the skin, a pimple, swelling	Latin (papula), pimple, pustle; a small elevation or swelling in the skin	papulation
para-	alongside of	Ancient Greek παρά (para)	paracyesis
-paresis	slight paralysis	Greek πάρεσις	hemiparesis
parvo-	small	Latin parvus	Parvovirus
path/o-	disease	Greek πάθος	Pathology
-pathy	Denotes (with a negative sense) a disease, or disorder	Ancient Greek πάθος (pathos), suffering, accident	sociopathy, neuropathy
pauci-	Few	Latin paucus	Pauci-immune
pector-	breast or chest	Latin pectus	pectoralgia, pectoriloquy, pectorophony
ped-, -ped-, -pes	Of or pertaining to the foot; -footed	pēs, pēd-, foot	Pedoscope
ped-, pedo-	Of or pertaining to the child	Ancient Greek παιδός, child	pediatrics. pedophilia
pelv/i-, pelv/o-	hip bone	Latin	Pelvis
-penia	deficiency	Greek πενία	osteopenia
peo-	Of or pertaining to the penis	Greek πέος (peos)	Peotomy
-pepsia	Denotes something relating to digestion, or the digestive tract.	Ancient Greek πεπτός (peptós) cooked, digested < πέσσω (péssō) I boil, cook; digest	Dyspepsia
per-	through	Latin	percutaneous
peri-	Denoting something with a position 'surrounding' or 'around' another	Ancient Greek περί (peri), around	Periodontal
-pexy	fixation	Greek πῆξις	Nephropexy
phaco-	lens-shaped	Greek φακός	phacolysis, phacometer, phacoscotoma
-phage, -phagia	Forms terms denoting conditions relating to eating or ingestion	Ancient Greek φαγία (phagía) eating < φαγεῖν (phagein) to eat	Sarcophagia
-phago-	eating, devouring	Greek -φάγος	phagocyte
phagist-	Forms nouns that denote a person who 'feeds on' the first element or part of the word	Ancient Greek φαγιστής (phagistēs) eater; see -phagia	Lotophagi
-phagy	Forms nouns that denotes 'feeding on' the first element or part of the word	Ancient Greek φαγία (phagia) eating; see -phagia	hematophagy
phallo-	phallus	Greek φαλλός (phallos)	Aphallia
pharmaco-	drug, medication	Greek φάρμακον	pharmacology
pharyng/o-	pharynx, the upper throat cavity	Ancient Greek φάρυγξ, φαρυγγ- (phárynx, pháryng-), throat, windpipe; chasm	Pharyngitis, Pharyngoscopy
-phil/ia	attraction for	Greek φιλία	Hemophilia
phleb/o-	Of or pertaining to the (blood) veins, a vein	Ancient Greek φλέψ, φλεβ- (phleps, phlebo-), blood-vessel, vein	Phlebography, Phlebotomy
-phobia	exaggerated fear, sensitivity, aversion	Greek φόβος	arachnophobia
phon/o-	sound	Greek φωνή	phonograph, symphony
phos-	Of or pertaining to light or its chemical properties, now historic and used rarely. See the common root phot(o)- below.	Ancient Greek φῶς, φωτ- (phōs, phōt-), light	Phosphene
phot/o-	Of or pertaining to light	Ancient Greek φῶς, φωτ- (phōs, phōt-), light	Photopathy
phren/i-, phren/o-, phrenico	the mind	φρήν, φρεν-	diaphragm
phyl/o	race, species, type		phylogenesis
physi/o	nature		physiologist
physic/o	physical, natural		physicochemical
phyt-	to grow		hydrophyte
phyt/o, -phyte	plant		phytotoxin
piri-	Pear	Latin pirum, pear	Piriformis muscle
-plasia	formation, development	Greek πλάσις	Achondroplasia
-plasty	surgical repair, reconstruction	Greek πλαστός	rhinoplasty
-plegia	paralysis	Greek πληγή	paraplegia
pleio-	more, excessive, multiple	Greek pleion	pleiomorphism
pleur-	Of or pertaining to the ribs	Latin (pleura) from Ancient Greek πλευρόν (pleurón), rib, side of the body	Pleurogenous
-plexy	stroke or seizure	Greek πλῆξις	Cataplexy
pne-, pneum-	air, breath, lung	Ancient Greek πνεῖν (pneîn), πνεῦμα, πνεύματος (pneûma), πνεύμων (pneúmōn)	apnea, pneumatology, pneumonocyte, pneumonia
pod-, -pod-, -pus	Of or pertaining to the foot, -footed	Ancient Greek πούς, ποδ- (poús, pod-), foot	podiatry
-poiesis	production		hematopoiesis
polio-	Denoting a grey color	Ancient Greek πολιός (poliós), "grey"	poliomyelitis
poly-	Denotes a 'plurality' of something	Ancient Greek πολυς (polys), "much, many"	Polymyositis
por/o-	pore, porous	πόρος (póros)	pore
porphyr/o-	Denotes a purple color	Ancient Greek πορπύρα (porphýra), purple	Porphyroblast
post-	Denotes something as 'after' or 'behind' another	Latin (post), after, behind	Postoperation, Postmortem
pre-	Denotes something as 'before' another (in [physical] position or time)	Medieval Latin (pre-) < (Classical) Latin (præ), before, in front of	Premature birth
presby/o-	old age	Greek	Presbyopia, presbycusis
prim-	Denotes something as 'first' or 'most-important'	prīmus, first, most important	Primary
pro-	Denotes something as 'before' another (in [physical] position or time)	Ancient Greek προ (pro), before, in front of	Procephalic
proct/o-	anus, rectum		proctology
prosop/o-	face	Greek (prosopon), face, mask	Prosopagnosia
prot/o-	Denotes something as 'first' or 'most important'	πρωτος (prōtos), first; principal, most important	Protoneuron
pseud/o-	Denotes something false or fake	Ancient Greek	Pseudoephedrine
psych/e-, psych/o	Of or pertaining to the mind	ψυχή (psyché), breath, life, soul	Psychology, psychiatry
pterygo-	Pertaining to a wing	Greek	Lateral pterygoid plate
psor-	Itching		Psoriasis
-ptosis	falling, drooping, downward placement, prolapse		Apoptosis, nephroptosis
-ptysis	(a spitting), spitting, hemoptysis, the spitting of blood derived from the lungs or bronchial tubes		hemoptysis
pulmon-, pulmo-	Of or relating to the lungs	pulmo, pulmōn-, usually used in plural), a lung	pulmonary
pyel/o-	pelvis	Ancient Greek (pyelos)	Pyelonephritis
pykno-	to thicken (as the nucleus does in early stages of cell death)	Greek πυκνωνω, to thicken/condense	Pyknosis
py/o-	pus	Greek πύον	Pyometra
pyr/o-	fever	Greek πῦρ, πυρετός	Antipyretic

Q

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
quadr(i)-	four	Latin	quadriceps

R

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
radi-	radiation	Latin	radiowave
radic-	referring to the beginning, or the root, of a structure, usually a nerve or a vein	Latin (radix) root	radiculopathy
re-	again, back	Latin	relapse
rect-	rectum	Latin
ren-	Of or pertaining to the kidney	Latin (rēnes), kidney	renal
reticul(o)-	net	Latin	reticulocyte
retro-	backward, behind	Latin	retroversion, retroverted
rhabd(o)-	rod shaped, striated	Greek ῥάβδος	rhabdomyolysis
rhachi(o)-	spine	Greek ῥάχις	rachial, rachialgia, rachidian, rachiopathy
rhin(o)-	Of or pertaining to the nose	Ancient Greek ῥίς, ῥῑνο- (rhīs, rhīno-), nose	rhinoceros, rhinoplasty
rhod(o)-	Denoting a rose-red color	Ancient Greek ῥόδον (rhódon), rose	rhodophyte
-rrhage	burst forth	Greek -ρραγία	Hemorrhage
-rrhagia	rapid flow of blood	Greek -ρραγία	menorrhagia
-rrhaphy	surgical suturing	Greek ῥαφή
-rrhea (AmE)	flowing, discharge	Greek -ρροια	Galactorrhea, Diarrhea
-rrhexis	rupture	Greek ῥῆξις	Karyorrhexis
-rrhoea (BrE)	flowing, discharge	Greek -ρροια	diarrhoea
rubr(o)-	Of or pertaining to the red nucleus of the brain	Latin (ruber), red	Rubrospinal
-rupt	Break or burst	Latin	Erupt, Interrupt

S

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
salping(o)-	Of or pertaining to tubes e.g. fallopian tubes	Ancient Greek σάλπιγξ, σαλπιγγ-, (sálpinx, salpingo-) trumpet (literally)	Salpingectomy, salpingopharyngeus muscle
sangui-, sanguine-	Of or pertaining to blood	Latin (sanguis, sanguin-), blood	Sanguine
sarco-	muscular, fleshlike	Greek σάρξ, σαρκ-	sarcoma, sarcoidosis
schist(o)-	split, cleft	Greek σχιστός (schistos)	schistocyte
schiz(o)-	Denoting something 'split' or 'double-sided'	Ancient Greek σχιζω; irregular formation of the verb σχίζειν (schizein), to cut, split	Schizophrenia
scler(o)-	hard	Greek σκληρός	Scleroderma
-sclerosis	hardening	Greek σκλήρωσις	Atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis
scoli(o)-	twisted	Greek σκολιός (skolios)	scoliosis
-scope	instrument for viewing	Greek -σκόπος	stethoscope
-scopy	use of instrument for viewing	Greek -σκοπία	endoscopy
scoto-	darkness	Greek σκότος (skotos)	scotopic vision
semi-	one-half, partly	Latin	semiconscious
sial(o)-	saliva, salivary gland	Greek σίαλος (sialos)	sialagogue
sigmoid(o)-	sigmoid, S-shaped curvature	Greek σιγμοειδής	sigmoid colon
sinistr(o)-	left, left side	Latin
sinus-	Of or pertaining to the sinus	Latin (sinus), a curve, bend, bay	Sinusitis
sito-	food, grain	Greek σῖτος (sitos)	Sitophobia
somat(o)-, somatico-	body, bodily	Greek σῶμα (sōma)	somatic
-spadias	slit, fissure	Greek σπάδων	hypospadias, epispadias
spasmo-	spasm	Greek σπασμός	Spasmodic dysphonia
sperma-, spermo-, spermato-	semen, spermatozoa	Greek σπέρμα (sperma)	Spermatogenesis
splanchn(i)-, splanchn(o)-	viscera	Greek σπλάγχνον	splanchnology
splen(o)-	spleen	Greek σπλήν, σπλην-	Splenectomy
spondyl(o)-	Of or pertaining to the spine, the vertebra	Greek σπόνδυλος / σφόνδυλος, (spóndylos, sphóndylos), the spine	Spondylitis
squamos(o)-	Denoting something as 'full of scales' or 'scaly'	Latin sqāmōsus, full of scales; scaly	Squamous cell
-stalsis	contraction	Greek στάλσις	Peristalsis
-stasis	stopping, standing	Greek στάσις	Cytostasis, homeostasis
-staxis	dripping, trickling	Greek στάξις, στακτός
sten(o)-	Denoting something as 'narrow in shape' or pertaining to narrowness	Ancient Greek στενός (stenos); narrow, short	Stenography
-stenosis	abnormal narrowing in a blood vessel or other tubular organ or structure	Ancient Greek στένωσις (stenōsis)	Restenosis, stenosis
steth(o)-	Of or pertaining to the upper chest, chest, the area above the breast and under the neck	Ancient Greek στῆθος (stēthos), chest, cuirass	Stethoscope
stheno-	strength, force, power	Greek σθένος
stom(a)	mouth; an artificially created opening	Greek στόμα
stomat(o)-	Of or pertaining to the mouth	Ancient Greek στόμα, στοματ- (stóma, stomat-), mouth	Stomatogastric, stomatognathic system
-stomy	creation of an opening	Greek -στομία	colostomy
sub-	beneath, under	Latin	subcutaneous tissue
super-	in excess, above, superior	Latin	superior vena cava
supra-	above, excessive	Latin	supraorbital vein
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-.	Ancient Greek συν- (syn), with, together	Symptom, synalgia, synesthesia, syssarcosis

T

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
tachy-	Denoting something as fast, irregularly fast	Ancient Greek ταχύς (tachys), fast, quickly	Tachycardia
-tension, -tensive	pressure	Latin	Hypertension
terato-	Monster	Ancient Greek teras(s) terata(pl)	teratoma, teratogen
tetan-	rigid, tense	Ancient Greek tetanos	tetanus
thec-	sheath	Ancient Greek θήκη (thēkē)	Intrathecal
thel-	Of or pertaining to a nipple (uncommon as a prefix)	Ancient Greek θηλή (thēlē), a teat, nipple	Theleplasty, thelarche
thely-	Denoting something as 'relating to a woman, feminine'	Ancient Greek θῆλυς (thēlys), female, feminine	Thelygenous
therap-	treatment	Ancient Greek (therapeía)	hydrotherapy, therapeutic
therm(o)-	heat	Ancient Greek θερμός (thermós)
thorac(i)-, thorac(o)-, thoracico-	Of or pertaining to the upper chest, chest; the area above the breast and under the neck	Latin (thōrāx) < Ancient Greek θώραξ (thōrax), chest, cuirass	thoracic, thorax
thromb(o)-	Of or relating to a blood clot, clotting of blood	Ancient Greek θρόμβος (thrómbos), lump, piece, clot of blood	Thrombus, thrombocytopenia
thyr(o)-	thyroid	Greek θυρεο-ειδής
thym-	emotions	Greek: "thymos", spirit, soul; courage; breath, mind, emotions	dysthymia
-tic	pertaining to	Greek -τικός
toco-	childbirth	Greek τόκος
-tome	cutting instrument	Greek τομή (tomē)
-tomy	act of cutting; incising, incision	Greek -τομία	Gastrotomy
ton-	tone, tension, pressure	Greek τόνος (tonos)
-tony	tension	Greek -τονία
top(o)-	place, topical	τόπος (topos)	Topical anesthetic
tort(i)-	twisted	tortus	Torticollis
tox(i)-, tox(o)-, toxic(o)-	toxin, poison	Greek τοξικόν	Toxoplasmosis
trache(a)-	trachea	Greek τραχεία	Tracheotomy
trachel(o)-	Of or pertaining to the neck	Ancient Greek τράχηλος (tráchēlos), neck	tracheloplasty
trans-	Denoting something as moving or situated across or through	trāns, "across, through"	Transfusion
tri-	three	Latin	triangle, triceps
trich(i)-, trichia, trich(o)-	Of or pertaining to hair, hair-like structure	Ancient Greek θρίξ, τριχ(ο)- (thríx, trich(o)-), hair	Trichocyst
-tripsy	crushing	Greek τρίψις	Lithotripsy
-trophy	nourishment, development	Greek -τροφία, τροφή	Pseudohypertrophy
tympan(o)-	eardrum	Greek τύμπανον	Tympanocentesis

U

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
-ula, -ule	small	Latin	Nodule
ultra-	beyond, excessive	ultra	Ultrasound, ultraviolet
umbilic-	umbilicus	Latin umbilīcus, navel, belly-button	Umbilical
ungui-	Of or pertaining to the nail, a claw	Latin unguis, nail, claw	Unguiform, Ungual
un(i)-	one	Latin unus	Unilateral hearing loss
ur-	Of or pertaining to urine, the urinary system	Ancient Greek οὐρεῖν (oureîn); οὖρον (oûron), urine; οὐρητήρ (ourētḗr); οὐρήθρα (ourḗthra)	uraemia/uremia, uremic, ureter, urethra, urology
uric-	uric acid	Greek οὐρικός
urin-	Of or pertaining to urine, the urinary system	Latin ūrīna, urine < Ancient Greek ουρον (ouron), see above.	Uriniferous
uter(o)-	Of or pertaining to the uterus or womb	Latin (uterus), womb, uterus	Uterus

V

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Examples
vagin-	Of or pertaining to the vagina	Latin (vāgīna), sheath, scabbard	Vagina
varic(o)-	swollen or twisted vein	Latin varix	varicose
vas(o)-	duct, blood vessel	Latin	vasoconstriction
vasculo-	blood vessel	vāsculum
ven-	Of or pertaining to the veins, venous blood, and the vascular system	Latin vēna, blood-vessel, vein	Venule, Venospasm
ventr(o)-	Of or pertaining to the belly; the stomach cavities	Latin (venter), the belly, the stomach; the womb	Ventrodorsal
ventricul(o)-	Of or pertaining to the ventricles; any hollow region inside an organ	Latin (venter), the ventricles of the heart, the ventricles of the brain	Cardiac ventriculography
-version	turning	versiō	anteversion, retroversion
vesic(o)-	bladder	Latin (vēsīca), bladder; blister	vesical arteries
viscer(o)-	Of or pertaining to the internal organs, the viscera	viscus, pl. viscera), internal organ(s)	Viscera

X

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
xanth(o)-	Denoting a yellow color, an abnormally yellow color	ξανθός (xanthós), yellow	Xanthopathy
xen(o)-	Foreign, different	ξένος (xénos), stranger	Xenograft
xer(o)-	dry, desert-like	ξηρός (xērós), dry	Xerostomia, xeroderma
xiph-	sword	ξίφος (xíphos), sword	xiphoid, xiphoidalgia

Y

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
-y	condition or process of	Latin -ia < Greek -ία	Surgery

Z

Affix	Meaning	Origin language and etymology	Example(s)
zo(o)-	animal, animal life	Greek ζῷον	zoology
zym(o)-	fermentation	Greek ζύμη	enzyme, lysozyme

English meanings

This section contains lists of different root classification (e.g. body components, quantity, description, etc.). Each list is alphabetized by English meanings, with the corresponding Greek and Latin roots given.

Roots of the body

Roots of bodily concepts

Bodily concept	Greek root in English	Latin root in English	Other root in English
Digestion	-pepsia	-	-
Disease	-pathy	-	-
Eating	-phagia	-vory	-

Roots of body parts and components

(Internal anatomy, external anatomy, body fluids, body substances)

Body part or component	Greek root	Latin root	Other root
abdomen	lapar(o)-	abdomin-	-
aorta	aort(o)-	aort(o)-	-
arm	brachi(o)-	-	-
armpit	maschal-	axill-	-
artery	arteri(o)-	-	-
back	-	dors-	-
big toe	-	allic-, hallic-	-
bladder	cyst(o)-	vesic(o)-	-
blood	haemat-, hemat- (haem-, hem-)	sangui-, sanguine-	-
blood clot	thromb(o)-	-	-
blood vessel	angi(o)-	vascul-, vas-	-
body	somat-, som-	corpor-	-
bone	oste(o)-	ossi-	-
bone marrow, marrow	myel(o)-	medull-	-
brain	encephal(o)-	cerebr(o)-	-
breast	mast(o)-	mamm(o)-	-
chest	steth(o)-	pector-	-
cheek	parei-	bucc-	-
ear	ot(o)-	aur(i)-	-
eggs, ova	oo-	ov-	-
eye	ophthalm(o)-	ocul(o)-	optic(o)- [French]
eyelid	blephar(o)-	cili-, palpebr-	-
face	prosop(o)-	faci(o)-	-
fallopian tubes	salping(o)-	-	-
fat, fatty tissue	lip(o)-	adip-	-
finger	dactyl(o)-	digit-	-
forehead	-	front(o)-	-
gallbladder	cholecyst(o)-	fell-	-
genitals, sexually undifferentiated	gon(o)-, phall(o)-	-	-
gland	aden(o)-	-	-
glans penis or clitoridis	balan(o)-	-	-
gums	-	gingiv-	-
hair	trich(o)-	capill-	-
hand	cheir(o)-, chir(o)-	manu-	-
head	cephal(o)-	capit(o)-	-
heart	cardi(o)-	cordi-	-
hip, hip-joint	-	cox-	-
horn	cerat(o)-	cornu-	-
intestine	enter(o)-	-	-
jaw	gnath(o)-	-	-
kidney	nephr(o)-	ren-	-
knee	gon-	genu-	-
lip	cheil(o)-, chil(o)-	labi(o)-	-
liver	hepat(o)-, (hepatic-)	jecor-	-
loins, pubic region	episi(o)-	pudend-	-
lungs	pneumon-	pulmon(i)-, (pulmo-)	-
marrow, bone marrow	myel(o)-	medull-	-
mind	psych-	ment-	-
mouth	stomat(o)-	or-	-
muscle	my(o)-	-	-
nail	onych(o)-	ungui-	-
navel	omphal(o)-	umbilic-	-
neck	trachel(o)-	cervic-	-
nerve; the nervous system	neur(o)-	nerv-	-
nipple, teat	thele-	papill-, mammill-	-
nose	rhin(o)-	nas-	-
ovary	oophor(o)-	ovari(o)-	-
pelvis	pyel(o)-	pelv(i)-	-
penis	pe(o)-	-	-
pupil (of the eye)	cor-, core-, coro-	-	-
rib	pleur(o)-	cost(o)-	-
rib cage	thorac(i)-, thorac(o)-	-	-
shoulder	om(o)-	humer(o)-	-
sinus	-	sinus-	-
skin	dermat(o)-, (derm-)	cut-, cuticul-	-
skull	crani(o)-	-	-
stomach	gastr(o)-	ventr(o)-	–
testis	orchi(o)-, orchid(o)-	-	–
throat (upper throat cavity)	pharyng(o)-	-	–
throat (lower throat cavity/voice box])	laryng(o)-	-	–
thumb	-	pollic-	–
tooth	odont(o)-	dent(i)-	–
tongue	gloss-, glott-	lingu(a)-	–
toe	dactyl(o)-	digit-	–
tumour	cel-, onc(o)-	tum-	–
ureter	ureter(o)-	ureter(o)-	–
urethra	urethr(o)-, urethr(a)-	urethr(o)-, urethr(a)-	–
urine, urinary system	ur(o)-	urin(o)-	–
uterine tubes	salping(o)-	salping(o)-	–
uterus	hyster(o)-, metr(o)-	uter(o)-	–
vagina	colp(o)-	vagin-	–
vein	phleb(o)-	ven-	–
vulva	episi(o)-	vulv-	–
womb	hyster(o)-, metr(o)-	uter(o)-	–
wrist	carp(o)-	carp(o)-	–

Roots of color

Color	Greek root in English	Latin root in English	Other root
black	melan-	atr-, nigr-	–
blue	cyan-	cerule-	–
gray, grey	poli-	can-	–
green	chlor-	vir-	–
purple	porphyr(o)-	purpur-, purpureo-	–
red	erythr(o)-, rhod(o)-	rub-, rubr-	–
red-orange	cirrh(o)-	–	–
white	leuc-, leuk-	alb-, cand-	–
yellow	xanth-	flav-	French)

Roots of description

(Size, shape, strength, etc.)

Description	Greek root in English	Latin root in English	Other root
bad, incorrect	cac(o)-, dys-	mal(e)-	mis-
bent, crooked	ankyl(o)-	prav(i)-	–
big	mega-, megal(o)-	magn(i)-	–
biggest	megist-	maxim-	–
broad, wide	eury-	lat(i)-	–
cold	cry(o)-	frig(i)-	–
dead	necr(o)-	mort-	–
equal	is(o)-	equ(i)-	–
false	pseud(o)-	fals(i)-	–
female, feminine	thely-	-	–
flat	platy-	plan(i)-	–
good, well	eu-	ben(e)-, bon(i)-	–
great	mega-, megal(o)-	magn(i)-	–
hard	scler(o)-	dur(i)-	–
heavy	bar(o)-	grav(i)-	–
hollow	coel(o)-	cav(i)-	–
huge	megal(o)-	magn(i)-	–
incorrect, bad	cac(o)-, dys-	mal(e)-	mis-
irregular	poikil(o)	–	–
large; extremely large	mega-	magn(i)-	–
largest	megist-	maxim-	–
long	macr(o)-	long(i)-	–
male, masculine	arseno-	vir-	–
narrow	sten(o)-	angust(i)-	–
new	ne(o)-	nov(i)-	–
normal, correct	orth(o)-	rect(i)-	–
old	paleo-	veter-	–
sharp	oxy-	ac-	–
short	brachy-	brev(i)-	–
small	micr(o)-	parv(i)- (rare)	–
smallest	-	minim-	–
slow	brady-	tard(i)-	–
fast	tachy-	celer-	–
soft	malac(o)-	moll(i)-	–
straight	orth(o)-	rect(i)-	–
thick	pachy-	crass(i)-	–
varied, various	poikilo-	vari-	–
well, good	eu-	ben(e)-	–
wide, broad	eury-	lat(i)-	–

Roots of position

Description	Greek root in English	Latin root in English	Other root
around	peri-	circum-	–
left	levo-	laev(o)-, sinistr-	–
middle	mes(o)-	medi-	–
right	dexi(o)-	dextr(o)-	–
surrounding	peri-	circum-	–

Prefixes of quantity

(Amount, quantity)

Description	Greek root in English	Latin root in English	Other root
double	diplo-	dupli-	–
equal	iso-	equi-	–
few	oligo-	pauci-	–
half	hemi-	semi-	demi- (French)
many, much	poly-	multi-	–
twice	dis-	bis-	–

See also

Glossary

References

1. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=fibra&la=la
2. Stedman's Online
3. Stanfield, P. Essential Medical Terminology, 4th Edition, P. 154
4. "Root Words: Quick Reference." LearnThatWord. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 March 2013.