The Language of Science
Building Science Vocabulary using common prefixes / root words / suffixes
During your study of science you will encounter many new scientific vocabulary terms. Actually, scientific
vocabulary is just a mix of small words (prefix/root/suffix) that are linked together creating the meaning of the
whole scientific term. Therefore, knowing some Greek and Latin prefixes, root words, and suffixes will help
you to understand the meaning of the individual parts of the scientific term and allow you to “decode” the
meaning of the whole word.
Below is a list of some common prefixes, roots, and suffixes that are used in science.
CalcCapit-
A
without
away
hear
needing oxygen
white
pain
both
pertaining to vessels
against
water
having to do with
arteries
joint
vapor
the act of
hearing, sound
self
B
two, twice, double
life
arm
short
C
stone
head
CarcinCardiCarni-
cancer
heart
flesh
Gastro-gen
CalorCephlaChloroChondroChromo-cide
heat
head
green
cartilage
color
kill, killer
-genesis
-genic
GlossGlycol-gram
-graph
CircumCo-, conContraCornCorpCostaCryptCyto-, cyte-
around
together, with
against, opposite
denoting hardness
body
rib
hidden
cell
GraviGyn-
a, an
AbAcouAeroAlb-algia
AmbiAngiAntiAquaArterioArthroAtom-ation
AudAutoBiBioBrachiBrachy-
DeDecaDendroDent-,dontDermdiDiploDurEctoEchinoEco-ectomy
EdeElectroEndoEpiErythroExoFebrFiss-form
-fuge
HaploHemiHemoHepatHerb-
D
without, remove
ten
tree
tooth
skin
two
double
hard
E
outside
spiny
home
surgical removal
swelling
electricity
internal, within
above
red
outside
F
fever
split
shape
something that
drives away
G
stomach
agent that produces
origin, beginning
produced from
tongue
sugar
a record, recording
instrument for
recording
heavy
female sex
H
sample, single
half
blood
liver
nonwoody plant
HeteroHexaHistoHomeoHydroHypoHyper-ichthy
InterIntra-ion
Iso-ist
-itis
KiloKinLabiLacLacriLaterLeukoLip-logy
-lysis
MacroMalMegaMeso-meter
MicroMilliMitoMonoMorphMultiMykesMyo-
H
other, different
six
tissue
same, alike
water
under, below
excessive
I
fish
between, among
within, inside
process
equal
specialist
inflammation
K
thousands
motion
L
lip
milk
tears
side
white
fat
study of
Split, break apart,
dissolve
M
large
bad
great, large
middle
instrument for
measuring
small
one thousandth
thread
alone, one, single
form, shape
many, much
fungus
muscle
NecroNeoNephrNeuro-oma
ooOphthOrtho-ory
-ose
-osis
OsteoOtoOvoPathPathyPed-penia
PhagPhasePhleb-philia
-phobia
Photo-phyll
-phyte
PinoPlasm-pnea
PneumoPoly-pod, podaPre-, protoPseudoPsychoPteronPulmoPyo-
N
corpse, dead
new, young
kidney
nerve
O
tumor
egg
eye
straight
pertaining to
full of
act, condition
bone
ear
egg
P
disease
abnormality
children
deficiency
eater
stage
vein
like
abnormal fear,
dislike
pertaining to light
leaf
plant
to drink
form, substance
to breathe
Air, gas, or lungs
many
foot
before in time
false, fake
mental
wing
lung
pus
QuadReRectRenal
RetroRhinSaproSclero-scope
-sect
Semi-sis
-sphere
-stasis
-stomy
SubSuper-,
supra
-saccharide
SynTeleTherm-tomy
ToxTransTri-trophy
UltraUni-uria
UroVasViscerViv(o)-vore
Q
four
R
again
straight
kidney
backward, behind
nose
S
rotten
hard
instrument for seeing
cut
half
process
circle
balance, stopping
surgical opening
under, beneath, lesser
above, over
sugar
together
T
far
heat
cut
poison
across
three
nourishment
U
beyond, excessive
one
urine
urinary organs
V
vessels
organs
living
to devour
ZooZygo-
Z
animal
union, join