Decoding Strategies for Medical / Health Terminology
Adapted from: Henry, M.K. (2003). Unlocking Literacy: Effective decoding and spelling instruction. Maryland, USA: Brookes Publishing.
Use your knowledge of Latin and Greek prefixes, suffixes and stems of words to understand
new medical terminology.
Prefixes – added to the front of the base or root of the word
a- (absence of, not)
ante- (before)
anti- (opposite/ against)
aphasic
antenatal
antibiotic
asepsis
antidepressant
aero- (air)
aerobic
anaerobic
auto- (self)
autopsy
autoimmune
brady- (slow)
bradycardia
bradypnoea
dys- (difficulty)
dysfunctional
dysentery
hyper- (over, excessive)
hypertension
hyperthyroidism
hypo- (under, low)
hypodermis
hypothermia
intra- (within)
intracellular
intravenous
macro- (large, long, great)
macrophage
macronutrient
mal- (bad, abnormal)
malnutrition
malpractice
micro- (small, minute)
microscope
microsurgery
Mon-, mono- (one)
monogamy
monounsaturated
multi- (many / much)
multivitamin
multisensory
poly- (many)
polytendinitis
polyunsaturated
polyclinic
tachy- (rapid)
tachycardia
trans- (across / beyond)
transmission
transfer
Suffixes – added to the end of the base or root of the word
-cide (kill)
febris (Gk. fever) / -febrile
-ism (system, doctrine)
suicide
afebrile
organism
fungicide
subfebrile
hypnotism
-itis (inflammation)
pancreatitis
neuritis
-osis (condition,
disease)
necrosis
myosis
-ography (picture of)
radiography
audiography
cardiography
-pnoea (to breathe)
apnoea
tachypnoea
-logy, -ology (science /
study of)
immunology
radiology
Roots or Stems- from Latin and Greek that contain specific meanings
aud (hear / listen)
audiogram
auditory
audiovisual
arthro (joint)
arthroscopic
osteoarthritis
angi (vessel)
angina
angioplasty
angiotensen
bio (life)
biopsy
biology
bioethics
algia (pain)
neuralgia
myalgia
chiro/a (Gk. hand)
chiropractor
chiropractic
cise (to cut)
incision
precision
scissors
cogn (to know)
cognitive
recognize
metacognition
cyst (bladder)
cystogram
cystology
dent (tooth)
dental
denture
dentofacia
dem, demo (people)
endemic
pandemic
democratic
derm (skin)
hyperdermic
dermatologist
dermatitis
ecto (external, outside)
ectoderm
ectomy (cut out)
hysterectomy
gram (recorded, written)
electrocardiogram
cystogram
haem (blood)
haemorrhoids
haemoglobin
haemophilia
immun- (Gk. immunis,
exempt)
immunology
immunization
hydra, hydro (water)
hydrotherapy
dehydration
hypn, hypno (sleep)
hypnotherapy
hypnosis
autohypnosis
mania (madness, obsession)
schizomania
maniac
meta (after, beyond)
metazoa
metatarsal
metabolism
oma (growth, tumour)
carcinoma
seroma
neuroma
neo (new, recent)
neonatal
neocortex
path (feeling, suffering,
disease)
pathogen
pathology
phages (Gk. phagein, eat)
macrophages
ped (Greek= child)
pediatrician
orthopedics
pedagogy
phobia, phobic (fear, hatred)
claustrophobia
xenophobia
pneumo (breath or lung)
pneumonia
pneumotherapy
psych (mind or soul)
psychosocial
psychologist
psychotherapist
tend, tens, tent (to stretch or
strain)
tendon
hypertension
spir, spire (to breathe)
expiration
respiration
aspirate
lipo (fat)
liposuction
lipolosis
ortho (straight, correct)
orthodontist
orthopedics
orthopsychiatry
cardio, cardia (heart)
cardiogram
cardiac arrest
neuro (nerve)
neurology
neuron
neurotransmitter
osteo (bone)
osteoclast
osteoporosis
osteoblast
ped (foot –Latin) pod (footGreek)
podiatrist
pedicure
pur (Gk. Fire) purexis Gk (to
have a fever)
pyrexia
hyperpyrexia
sepsis (Gk, sepein, to become
putrid, infection)
aseptic
antiseptic
therm, thermo (heat, hot)
thermal
thermometer
hyperthermic