The Language of Science
In science, as in other subjects, you should always try to find ways you can learn best and work
on improving your study skills. As is the case of other subjects, you will need to learn the language
if you are to understand science. Science is a language with a technical vocabulary. Some life
science terms may be hard to understand the first time you encounter them. Where do all these
strange sounding terms come from? Many of these words are based upon Latin and Greek. For
example, the word biology comes from the Greek words bios and logos. Bios is the Greek word for
life, and the Greek word logos means the study. Biology, then, is the study of life. Approximately,
80% of all the words in an English dictionary are formed from Greek and Latin parts. Knowledge
of these will help you break down unfamiliar words and remember their meanings.
Therefore, the language of science can be developed through the use of word analysis. In word
analysis, you can see that many scientific terms are built from prefixes, suffixes, and root words
that have been derived from Latin and Greek words. To decode the meaning of a new vocabulary
term, simply look at the meaning of the PREFIX (beginning of the word) and the SUFFIX (the end
of the word). Here is a list of the most popular prefixes and suffixes used in science.
The main reason students find it difficult to understand science is because of all the hard to
write, spell and read words. Actually, scientific vocabulary is a hodge podge of little words that are
linked together to have different meanings. If you learn the meanings of the little words, you'll find
scientific vocabulary much easier to understand.
Use this LIST (BELOW) to guess the MEANING of each of the TERMS.
Place the MEANINGS in the BLANKS next to the TERMS
*** TERMS are on the LAST page ***
Prefix & Suffix LIST
Word
a or an
auto
aero
endo
entero
aero
anti
amphi
aqua
arthro
auto
bi
bio
carne
cephal
chloro
chromo
cide
cyto
derm
di
ecto (exo)
endo
epi
gastro
genesis
herba
hetero
homo
hydro
Meaning
not, without, lacking
self
air
inner, inside
intestine
needing oxygen or air
against
both, doubly
water
joint
self
two, twice, double
life, living
flesh
head
green
color
killer, kill, killing
cell
skin
two, double
outer, external
internal
above
stomach
origin, beginning
plants
different
alike, similar
water
Word
hemo
hyper
hypo
intra
itis
lateral
logy
lys
meter
meso
mono
morph
micro
macro
multi
pod
phage
phobia
philia
plasm
proto
photo
poly
sclera
synthesis
sub
troph
therm
vore
zoo, zoa
Meaning
blood
above
below
within, inside
disease, inflammation
side
study of
break down
measurement
middle
one, single
form
small
large
many
foot
to eat
dislike, fear
like
form
first
light
many
harden
to make
lesser, below
eat, consume
heat
swallow, devour
animal
*** TERMS are on the NEXT page ***
TERMS
1. Hydrology ________________________________________________
2. Cytology _________________________________________________
3. Protozoa ________________________________________________
4. Epidermis _______________________________________________
5. Spermatogenesis __________________________________________
6. Cytoskeleton ______________________________________________
7. Abiotic __________________________________________________
8. Dermatitis _______________________________________________
What scientific words can you create
or think of from the list?
(Come up with at least 4)
9. Hypodermic _____________________________________________
________________________________
10. Hemophilia _____________________________________________
________________________________
11. Endocytosis ____________________________________________
________________________________
12. Insecticide _____________________________________________
________________________________
13. Anaerobic _____________________________________________
________________________________
14. Bilateral _______________________________________________
________________________________
15. Endotherm _____________________________________________
16. Subspecies ____________________________________________
17. Arthropod _____________________________________________
18. Micrometer ____________________________________________
19. Hypothermia ___________________________________________
20. Polymorph ____________________________________________
21. Photosynthesis ________________________________________
22. Amphibios (amphibian) __________________________________
23. Heterotroph __________________________________________
24. Encephalitis __________________________________________
25. Monochrome _________________________________________
26. Autolysis _____________________________________________
27. Herbivore ____________________________________________
28. Homology ____________________________________________
29. Macrophage _________________________________________
30. Carnivore ____________________________________________
31. Gastroenterologist _____________________________________
32. Scleroderma __________________________________________
33. Autotroph __________________________________________
34. Autolysis __________________________________________
35. Podiatrist __________________________________________
Apatasaurus, or "deceptive lizard"