Biological Terminology (Bio Terms): Latin & Greek Word Parts (Prefixes, Root Words, and Suffixes)
The key to learning biological terms is in learning the origins of those words, which are usually Greek or Latin. You may see
these roots again as extra credit questions on tests or quizzes. I will only include roots related to the unit being tested on!
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Word Part
Meaning of Example
Meaning
Example
a-, an-, non-,
Without light, Without air or oxygen, Not able to replenish
Aphotic, Anaerobic,
unWithout, Not
Nonrenewable
naturally
ab-, efAway from the mouth, nerve cells going away from brain
Away
Aboral, Efferent neuron
ad-, afMuscle movement toward the body, nerve cells going
Toward
Adductor muscle,
toward the brain
Afferent neuron
adi-, lipFat tissue, Removing fat tissue
Fat
Adipose, Liposuction
aeroWithout oxygen
Air, Oxygen
Anaerobic
amphiBoth sides of land and water
Both sides
Amphibian
anaBuild up of larger molecules from smaller molecules
Up
Anabolic
angioVessel, Container Angiosperm, Angiogram Container for seed, Picture of a blood vessel
andro,
Male hormone, Man-like, Man who is wise
Man, Human
Androgen, Anthropoid,
anthro, homo
Homo sapien
(latin)
anti-, contraOpposite of codon, Against conception
Opposite, Against Anticodon,
Contraception
aqua-, hydrOf water, With water
Water
Aquatic, Hydration
arthroJointed foot, Joint inflamation
Joint
Arthropod, Arthritis
-ase
Enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates, Enzyme that
Enzyme
Amylase, Lipase
breaks down lipids
autoSelf feeder (can make their own energy, usually by
Self
Autotroph
photosynthesis)
avi-, orniBird cage, Bird studier
Bird
Aviary, Ornithologist
beneWell Good
Beneficial
Mutualistic relationships benefit both organisms
bi-, di-, diplo- Two
Two feet, Two sets of chromosomes, Two round bacteria
Bipedal, Diploid,
Diplococcus
bio-, vitaWhere life exists on earth, Organic molecules necessary for
Life
Biosphere, Vitamin
life
blastGerminate,
Blastula
Single layer of cells surrounding a cavity formed by
Sprout, Bud
cleavage of the fertilized egg
cardStudy of the heart
Heart
Cardiology
carnMeat-eater
Meat, Flesh
Carnivore
cat-, deBreak down of big molecules into small molecules, Break
Down
Catabolic, Decomposer
down of dead organisms
centi100 grams
100
Centigrams
chelClawed foot (lobster’s big claw), Classification of spiders
Claw
Cheleped, Chelicerata
with small claws
cephHead
Cephalization
Concentration of sense organs at the front of an animal’s
body, its head
cervBones of the neck
Neck
Cervical vertebrae
chloroGreen leaf
Green
Chlorophyl
chromColored body
Color
Chromosome
-cide
Plant killer, Insect killer
Kill
Herbacide, Insecticide
co-, com-,
Both alleles (trait type – size, color) are dominant,
Together, Both,
Codominance,
conOrganisms living together
With
Community,
Conjugation
coel (seel)
Having a true body cavity or hollow space (within the
Space, Cavity,
Eucoelomate
Hollow
mesoderm germ layer)
corp, som
Dead body, Body cell (any cell that is not an egg or sperm)
Body
Corpse, Somatic cell
-cyst
Capsule, Sac,
Nematocyst
A capsule within specialized cells of certain coelenterates
Pouch
(jellyfish) containing a barbed, threadlike tube that delivers a
paralyzing sting
-cyte
Red blood cell, Bone cell
Cell
Erythrocyte, Osteocyte
deca-, decideciddendro-,
arbordent, dont
10
Cut Off
Tree
derm
Skin
Decameter, Deciliter
Deciduous
Dendrochronology,
Arboretum
Dental plaque,
Orthodontist
Epidermis, Ectoderm
deutero-
Second
Deuterostome
dia-, dif-,
dissdors-, noto-
Through, Apart,
Across
The Back
Diarrhea, Dissect,
Diffusion
Dorsal fin, Notochord
echineco-
Echinoderm, Echidna
Ecology
ecto-, exo-
Spiny
Where one lives,
Home
Out, Outside
-emia
Blood Condition
entomo-,
insect
epi-
Insect
Equ-, iso-
Equal, Same
Hyperglycemia, Sickle
cell anemia
Entomologist,
Insectivore
Epidermis, Epicardium,
Epiphytes
Isotonic, Equilibrium
erthreu-
Red
True
ex-, extra-,
exogastrgeo
hapl-, mono-,
uni-
Out, Outside,
Beyond
Stomach
Earth
One
herb-, -phyte
homo (greek)
hyper-
Plant
Same
More, Excessive
hypo-, sub-
Less, Below
lingu
gnath (nath)
gram, -graph
Tongue
Jaw
Written or Picture
helix
hemhepato-
Spiral, Coil
Blood
Liver
herphetero-
Reptile
Different, Other
ichthyes
Fish
interintra-, endo-itis
Tooth or Teeth
Upon, Over, Atop
Ectoderm, Exoskeleton
Erythrocyte
Eukaryote,
Eucoelomate
Extinct, Extracellular,
Extrapolation
Gastrointestinal (GI)
Geotropim
Haploid,
Monosaccharide,
Unicellular
Herbivore, Epiphyte
Homozygous
Hypertonic,
Hypertension
Hypotonic,
Hypotension,
Subatomic
Sublingual
Agnathan
Electrocardiogram,
Sonography
Double helix
Hemorrhage
Hepatitis
10 meters, 10 liters
Deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall
Counting tree rings to determine its age, Place where many
different trees grow
Teeth with patches of bacterial growth, Dr. who straightens
teeth
Top skin layer, Outer layer of tissue/skin during embryo
development
Mouth develops second (the anus develops first)
Flow through, Cut apart, Across (cell membrane)
Fin on the back of a fish, A embryonic structure that will
become vertebrae
Spiny skin (sea star), (spiny anteater)
Study of where organisms live
Outer layer of tissue during embryo development, Skeleton
on outside of body
High blood sugar levels, Sickle shaped red blood cells
(should be circular)
Insect studier, Insect eater
Upon the dermis (skin), Over the heart, Atop a plant
Solute levels are equal on both sides of a membrane (inside
& outside the cell)
Red blood cell
True nucleus (protective membrane around DNA), True
body cavity
Died out, Outside the cell, Beyond known values (on a
graph)
Stomach and intestines
A plant’s response to the earth’s gravity
One set of chromosomes, One unit of sugar (glucose), one
celled organism
Plant eater, Atop a plant
Same alleles (form of a gene);
More solute (something dissolved in water), Excessive
blood pressure
Less solute, Below normal blood pressure, Below atoms
(protons, neutrons, electrons)
Under the tongue
A fish without a jaw
Print out of the heart’s electrical activity, Taking pictures
using sound waves
Two strands in a spiraled shape
Bleed heavily
Inflammation of the liver
Study of reptiles (lizards, croc’s, turtles, and snakes)
Offspring gets different forms of same trait (Tt), Other feeder
(ex. herbivore)
Fish with a cartilage skeleton, Fish with a bony skeleton
Between
Inside
Herpetologist
Heterozygous,
Heterotroph
Chondrychthyes,
Osteichthyes
Intercellular
Intracellular, Endoderm
Inflammation of
Dermatitis, Laryngitis
Inflammation of the skin, Inflammation of the larynx
Between cells
Inside a cell, Inside layer of a developing embryo
karyo, caryo
kilo-, millleuco-, leukoloc
logy
Cell Nucleus
1000
White
Place
Study or Science
of
To break
Prokaryote, Procaryotic
Kilogram, Milliliter
Leucocyte
Locus
Mycology, Virology
macro-,
megaMal, dis, dys
Large
marmedi-, mesometa-
Sea
Middle
Change
meter
Measurement
micro-
Small
morph
Shape, Form
multi, myria,
polymutamyo-
Many
Macromolecule,
Megafauna
Malnutrition, Disease,
Dystrophy
Marine Biology
Medial, Mesoderm
Metamorphosis,
Metastasis
Spirometer,
Sphygmomanometer
Microsporangia,
Microbiology
Mesomorph,
Metamorphosis
Multicellular, Myriapod,
Polysaccharide
Mutation
Myofibril, Fibromyalgia
nasal, rhin,
probosc
neonephr-, renal
Nose
New
Kidney
Nasal septum,
Rhinoplasty, Proboscis
Neonatal
Nephron, Renal vein
nomoct-
Name
8
Binomial nomenclature
Octopus
oma
omni-, toti-
Tumor, Swelling
All
Carcinoma, Lymphoma
Omnivore, Totipotent
oo-, ov-
Egg
orth-
Straight
Oogonia, Oviduct,
Oviparous
Orthoptera, Orthodontist
ose, gly,
sacchar
-osis
oste-
Sugar
Glucose
Act, Condition
Bone
paleo-,
archeoparapatho-
Old, Ancient
Acidosis
Osteoarthritis,
Osteocyte
Paleontology,
Archeology
Parallel, Parapodia
Pathogens
ped, pod
pentperiphago, troph,
vore
phore
Feet, Foot
5
Around
To Feed or Eat
lys-
Bad or Ill
Change
Muscle
Beside
Disease
Carry, To Bear
Lyses, Cytolysis
Centipede, Tetrapod
Pentradial, Pentose
Pericardium
Phagocyte, Autotroph,
Carnivore
Chromatophore
(voicebox)
Cells without a nucleus
1000 grams, 1000th of a liter
White blood cell
Place on a chromosome where a specific gene is found
Study of Fungi, Study of Viruses
Process of breaking up or digesting a cell membrane
causing cell death
Large molecules (lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic
acids), Big animals
The tumor was malignant.
Study of life in the Sea or Ocean
Middle, Middle layer of tissue during embryo development
Change in shape or location; Cancer cells that change
location (spread),
Measures inhalation & exhalation, Measures blood pressure
Small spore carriers (male), Study of microbes (bacteria,
viruses, etc.)
Middle form, Change in shape (tadpole to frog)
Organism made of many cells, Organism w/many feet,
Many monosaccharides
Change in the # or sequence of DNA
Muscle cell, Muscle pain
Wall dividing nasal cavity, Surgery of reshaping the nose,
Elephant’s trunk
Newborn
Part of the kidney that filters/cleans blood, Vessel taking
blood to the kidney
Two-name naming system (Homo sapien = Humans)
8 feet
Cancer-causing tumor, Tumor of the lymphatic system
Eats all – plants & animals, All important cell (zygote) –
becomes all cells
Egg stem cells, Egg carrying tube, Eggs that are hatched
outside the mother
Straight-winged insect order (grasshoppers), Dr. who
straightens teeth
A simple sugar or monosaccharide made by photosynthesis
in autotrophs
Too much acid in body fluids
Inflammation where bones meet (joint), Bone cell
Study of fossils and the history of earth, Study of ancient
civilizations
Side by Side, Feet to the side
Disease-causing organisms (some bacteria, some viruses,
etc.)
100 feet, 4 feet
5 spokes or rays (sea star has 5 rays/arms); 5 carbon sugar
Around the heart
Eating cell (white blood cells), Self-Feeders
(photosynthesizers), Meat eater
Color or pigment carrying cell
photo-, lumin
Light
Using light to make glucose, Organisms that can create light
Plant
Photosynthesis,
Bioluminescence
Epiphyte
phyte, phyto
pinn-, plum-,
-pter
pino-
Wing, Feather,
Fin
Drink
Pinnepedia, Plummage,
Hymenoptera
Pinocytosis
platyploid
Flat
Chromosome
Platyhelminthes
Haploid, Diploid
Using fins for feet (seals), Feather shape & patterns,
Straight membraned wings
Process of a cell engulfing/drinking liquids or dissolved
substances
Flatworm, Flat foot
One set of chromosomes, Two sets of chromosomes
pneumo-,
pulmopost-
Lungs
Pneumonia, Pulmonary
artery
Post mortem
Infection of the lungs, Vessel taking blood from the heart to
the lungs
After death
pre-, pro
prim-, prot-
Before, Forward
First
Before birth
1st organisms to eat producers (herbivores), 1st animal
pseudo-
False
quat-, quad,
tetrarerhea, rrhea
4
Again
Flow/Discharge
Prenatal
Primary consumer,
Protozoa
Pseudocoelomate,
Pseudopodium
Quarternary,
Quadiceps, Tetrapod
Reproduce
Diarrhea
sal
sapr-
Salt
Rotten
Saline
Saprotroph
schizo-
Split
scope
View, See
sect, -tom
semi-, hemi-
Cut
One-Half
sperm
spir
Seed
Breathe
Schizocoely,
Schizophrenia
Microscopic,
Macroscopic
Bisect, Anatomy
Semipermeable,
Hemisphere
Spermacide, Spermatid
Inspire, Spiracle
stas, stat
stom-, ora
Unchanging
Mouth
Homeostasis
Stomata, Oral cavity
sym-, syn,sys
tax-
With, Together
Symbiosis, Synthesize,
System
Taxonomy
teloterr
tert-, tritherm
End
Land
3
Heat
toxic
trans-, per-
Poison
Across, Through
trop, volv
Turn, Change
Telophase, Telomeres
Terrestrial ecosystem
Tertiary, Trisomy
Thermophile,
Thermometer
Neurotoxin, Hemotoxin
Transport, Transdermal,
Permeable
Phototropism, Evolution
Full of salt or salt containing
Feeds on Rotting organic matter/dead organisms (also
called decomposers)
Cavity formed at the split of the endo- & ectoderm
(protostomes), Split mind
To see or view something small, To see or view something
w/o using a scope
Cut in two, To cut up
Allows some (1/2), but not all things through, One-half a
sphere (ball-shape)
Sperm killer, A small or immature sperm
To breathe in, Hole found on insects for air to enter and
leave (breathing)
Unchanging chemical conditions in healthy organisms
Hole or mouth in leaves allowing gas exchange (O2 & CO2),
Mouth space
Organisms living with each other, Put together, Working
together
A system used to arrange or classify a large number of
organisms
End of mitosis, End or tip of chromosomes
All living and nonliving things in a designated area on land
3rd, 3 bodies (chromosomes)
Bacteria that live in hot areas, Heat measuring instrument
troph
ventr-
To feed, eat
Belly
Autotroph, Heterotroph
Ventral
vore
zo
zyg
Devour
Animal
Yoke (egg +
sperm)
Carnivore
Zoology
Zygote, Homozygous
After
Arrange
A plant that grows atop of another plant
False body cavity (between ecto- & endoderm), False foot
(found in amoeba’s)
4th, 4 heads, 4 feet
Produce again
Frequent passage of loose, watery, soft stools
Poison to the nervous system, Poison in the blood
Across a cell membrane, Through the skin, Through a cell
membrane
Plant’s response of turning toward light, How organisms
change over time
Self feeders (Autotrophs); Other feeder (Heteroptroph)
Belly portion of an organism (portion of a worm that touches
the ground)
Carnivores devour meat or flesh
Study of animals
Union of egg & sperm