Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
a-
without or lack of
ab-
away (away from)
abdomin/o-
belly
-able or -ible
capable of
abort/io-
to miscarry or miscarrying (natural or induced)
abrupt/io-
to tear away from
abcess
a going away
-ac (-ac,-al,-ar,-ary,-ic,-ous,-ory,-um,-is,and -us)
refers to or pertains to
acanth/o-
thorny (skin growths)
access/o-
supplemental
acetabul/o-
vinegar cup or hip joint (for femur)
acne
pointed
acoust/i (audi-)
hearing
acr/o- (acrom/i-)
extremities, height, and pointed
actin/o-
sun, ray, radium
acu- (acus-)
sharp
ad-
near or beside
aden/o-
gland
adhes/io-
to stick (together)
adip/o-
fat
aer/o-
air or gas
af-
toward
-age
relates to or pertains to
agglutin/o-
to clump
-agogue
inducing or leading
-agon
walls
-agra (-algia; -dynia)
pain
-al
refers to
alb/o-
white
albumin/o-
egg white
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
alges/i-
pain (algesia, dynia, algia)
-algia
pain
alimento/o-
to nourish
alopec/i-
fox mange or baldness
alveol/i-
cavity
ambi-
both
amblyo-
dull
ambul/o-
to walk
-amine
nitrogen compound
amino-
organic compound
amnesi/o-
forgetful
amnio-
lambs caul ‘small cap’
amphi-
both
amylo-
starch
an-
lack of or without
an/o-
ring
ana-
apart or up
ancone-
elbow
andr/o-
man or male
anecto-
without expansion or dilation
angi/o-
vessel
angin/o-
to choke
anil/i-
old women
anis/o-
unequal
ankyl/o-
fuse or bind
anomal/y
abnormal
ante-
before
anter/o-
before or foremost (in front)
anthr/o- and anthrac/o-
coal or carbuncle
anthrop/o-
human
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
anti-
against
antr/o-
cavity
antr/o- (antr/um)
cavity or cavern
anuerysm-
dilation or ballooning
anxio-
restlessness, uneasy, apprehensive
-apheresis
to remove or separate
apo-
above or upon
aponeur/o-
upon tendon (sheet or sheath around tendon)
append/o-
appendage
aqua- (hydro-)
water
-ar
refers to
ar-
without or lack of
acrachn/o- (arachino-)
Spider
arche/o- (-arche)
First
-aria
Air
arteri/o-
Artery
arthr/o-
Joint
articul/o-
Jointed
-ary
refers to
asbest/o-
Unquenchable
ascar/i- (helminth; vermis)
Worm
asco-
Bag
-ase
enzyme
aspergill/o-
to sprinkle
aster/o-
Star
-asthenia
weakness
asthma-
panting
-ate
refers to or action
atelo-
incomplete, without end, imperfect (ending)
athero-
porridge or yellow fat
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
-ation (-ion; -tion; -ition; -age)
process of or procedure of
atm/o-
vapor or steam
-atresia
closure
atri/o-
chamber
attrit/i-
wearing out
audi-
hearing
aur/i-
Ear
auricul/o-
Ear
auscult/o-
to listen
auto- (aut-)
Self
avuls/i-
to tear
axill/o-
armpit or central
axio- (axo-)
Axle or axis
azoto-
urea nitrogen
azygo-
single
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
bacill/o-
Rod-like
bacteri/o-
Rod
balan/o-
penis (glans penis)
baro-
weight
bary-
heavy
bas/o- and bas/io-
basic or at base
bene-
good or normal
benign/i-
Kind
beri-
weakness
bi-
Two
bil/i- (bil-)
Bile or gall
bin-
Two
bio-
Life
-blast
beginning or young
bleb/o- (bulla-)
blister
blenno-
mucus
blepharo- (palpebro-)
eyelid
bol/o-
lump or ball
-borg
orgasm
brach/i-
Arm
brachy-
short
brady-
slow
brevi-
short
bronch/i-
windpipe or tracea-like
brux-
grinding
brucca-
cheek
bulba- (bula-; bleb-)
blister or vesicle
bulimo-
hunger
burs/o-
Sac, wine-sac, or pouch
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
cac/o-
diseased or bad
cal/o-
heat heated or hot
calcane/o-
heel
calcin/o-
calcium
calco-
pebbles or granules (of calcium mineral)
caligi/o-
Dim vision
calyx- (calix-)
cups
call/o-
hardened skin
calx-
heel or lime
candid/i-
glowing white
canth/o-
corner of eye
capill/o-
Hair-like
capit/o-
head
capn/o-
carbon dioxide
capsulo-
little box
caput (cephal/o-)
head
carb/o-
carbon atoms, coal, or charcoal
carbun/o- (carbuncul/o-)
glowing ember
carcin/o-
crab-like
cardi/o-
heart
carp/o-
wrist
cata-
breakdown or down
cataract
waterfall or cloudiness
catarrh-
to flow down
catheter/o-
to let down into
caud/o-
Tall or toward tall
caust/o- (cau- and caus-)
burn or heat
cav-
hollow
cebo-
meal (food)
cec/o-
blind pouch
-cece
navel
-cele
swelling or tumor
cell/o-
abdomen or belly
cellul/o-
chambers
cement/o-
hard
ceno- (keno-)
empty or common
-centesis
surgical puncture to drain fluid
centi-
one-hundredth part
centr/i- (centro-)
center
cephal/o-
head
-cept-
receiver
cerbr/o-
brain
ceru-
wax
cerv/i-
neck
chalas/i-
relaxation
chalaz/io-
hailstone (eyelid sebaceous cyst)
chancr/o-
ulcer (sore)
cheil/o- (chilo-)
Lip
chiasma
a crossing
chiro-
hand
chlamyd/i-
to cloak or cover
chlor/o-
green
cholangio-
Bile duct
chole-
Bile or gall (ingredient of)
cholecyst/o-
gallbladder
choledoch/o- (choleducto-)
gallbladder duct (canal)
cholera
billary acute diarrhea
chondr/o-
cartilage
chordo- (cordo-)
cord
chorea
dancing (shaking)
chrom/o-
colored
chyme- *chyle-)
juice
-cicatrix
scar (typical looking healed scar)
-cid
to kill
cil/i-
eyelash-like
cili-
eyelash or eyelash-like
cimex
Bug
cine/o-
movement filming
circum-
around
cirrh/o-
yellow-orange (jaundiced)
-cis
Cut or to cut
cistern/o-
cavity
-clalasia
relaxation
-clast (-clas)
breakdown
clavicul/o-
collar bone (little key shape)
cleido-
hook, clavicle or collar bone
clino-
bent
clon/o-
turmoil
clubb/o-
rounding
-clysis
irrigation or injection
co- (bi-, bin-, di-, diplo-, duo-, dyo-)
Two
coagulo/o-
clotting or to clot
-coccus
berry
coccyg/o-
tailbone
cochle/o-
snail-like
coel-
hollow belly (cavity)
coit/o-
to come together (sexual union; inter/course “between/a
flowing”)
col/o- (colon/o-)
colon big or large intestine
colla/o-
glue
-collis
twisted
colob/o-
to mutilate
colpo-
vagina
com-
together
comato-
deep sleep
com- (con-, sym-, syn-)
together
conch/a-
shell
concuss/i-
violent shaking
condylo-
knuckle (nob)
coni/o-
dust
-conis
cone shaped
conjuctiv/o-
together joined (united)
-continence
contained
contra-
against
contrecoup
counter blow
contus/i-
bruise
convolo-
to roll together
convuls/i-
Pull violently
corac/o-
crows beak (shape)
cord- (chord/o-)
vocal chords cord
core/o-
pupil or iris (rainbow)
cori/o-
Skin
corne/o-
cornea or horn (shape)
cornu-
horn or horny
coron/o-
crowning
coronal plane (aka: frontal plane)
crowning frontal body cut
corp/o-
body
cortic/o-
bark, outer bark, rind, or cortex
cost/o- (pleuro-)
Rib
cox/a- (cox/o-)
Hip, hip joint (pelvis and femur)
crani/o-
skull
cras/o-
mixture
-creas
fleshy or flesh
crenat/o-
notched
cric/o-
Ring
-crine (crin-)
secrete
-crit
separate
cruc/i-
cross or cross-like
crur/o- (crus/o-)
leg thigh or femur
crust/-
scab or outer coat
cryo-
Cold
crypto-
hidden
cub/o-
cube or cube-shaped
cubit/o-
elbow
culd/o-
blind pouch
-cule, -icle, -ioles
little
cune/i-
wedge
currett/o-
scooping or scraping
-cusis
hearing
cusp/i-
pointed
cuti/o- (cut-, corio-, dermo-, -cutis, -pelas)
Skin
cyan/o-
blue
cycl/o-
circle
-cyesis
pregnancy
cyst/o- (cyst-, cysti-, cystido-)
bladder or sac
cyte- (cyt- and cyth-)
Cell or chamber
-cytosis
increase (in numbers)
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
dacryo- (lacrimo-)
tear
dactylo-
digits (fingers and toes)
de-
away
debride-
removal
deca- (decem-)
one/tenth (1/10)
decub/o-
to lie down
deep
most inward
deka- and dek-
ten
delta
fan shaped or triangular
dem/o-
people
demi- semi- hemi-
half
dendr/o-
tree-shaped
dent/o- (don’t/o-)
tooth or teeth
depress-
lower
derm/o-
skin
dermat/o- cuti/o- -pelas
skin
-desis
binding to bind or a band
desmo-
ligament (also tendons)
deuter/o-
second or secondary
dextr/o-
right
di-
two
dia-
across, through, total or complete, or between
diaphor/o-
excessive sweating
-didymis
testis or teste
different - (-deferens)
to separate or apart
digit- (digit/o-)
finger or toe
diplo-
double or two
dips/o-
thirst or thirsty
dipther/i-
membrane
dis-
away from or reversed
dist/o-
farther from
diverticul/o-
outpouching
doch/o-
duct or canal
doct/o-
to teach or teacher
dol/o-
pain
dolich/o-
long, separation, or dislocation
dors/o-
back
dos/e- (dose)
a giving
-dote
what is given
dracuncul/o-
little dragon (worm)
dromo-
running
du/o-
two
duct/o-
to draw or to lead (motion) away
duoden/o-
twelve
dura-
hard
dwarf/o-
small
dy/o-
two or a pair
dynam/o-
work or strength
-dynia (-algesia, -algia, dolo-)
pain
dys-
difficult, faulty, or painful
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
-e (suffix)
instrument
e- (prefix)
out or remove
-eal
refers to
ec- ect- ecto-
outside, outward, outer, or out
ecchymo/-
juice out
eccrine-
secreting or to secrete
echin/o-
prickly, spiny, or notched
echo- (sono-)
sound
-ectasis -estasy
dilation
-ectomy
excision or removal
eczema
to boil out
edema-
swelling
ef- effer- effus-
away or out
electr/o-
electrical
-ellum
lesser or smaller
em-
in
emac/i-
to grow thin
embryo-
early
-emesis
vomit
emia
blood
emmetr/o-
normal or correct
emphysema
puffed up
en-
in
enamel
hard
encephal/o-
within head brain
-enchyma
anything poured in (essential organ part)
endo-
within or inside
enema
injection
entero-
intestine (usually refers to small intestine)
enuresis
to void (expel) urine
eosin/o-
rose red (color)
epi-
upon
episi/o-
pubic region
-er (-or)
one who
ergo-
work or labor
eruct/o-
belching
erythermat/o-
red or flushed
erthr/o-
red
eschar
scab
eso-
toward
esthes/i-
feeling (physical)
estr/o-
female
ethm/o-
sieve
eti/o-
cause
eu-
good or normal
ex- exo- extra-
out; outside; outward
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
facet fac- faci/o-
face
-facient
making
fasc/i-
Band
febr/o-
Fever
fec/o- (scato- and sterco-)
stool, fecal matter, or dung
femor/o-
Thigh
fenestr/o-
Window
-ference
to carry
ferro-
Iron
fet/o-
Young
fibrill/o-
to quiver
fibrin/o-
fiber-like
fibro-
Fiber
fibul/o-
to clasp
fil- (fila-, fili- filar/i-)
Thread
fimbri/o-
Fingers
fiss-
to split or splitting
fistul/o-
pipe or pipe-stem
flacci/o-
Soft
flagell/o-
Whip
flat/o-
to blow
flex- (-flect)
to bend
flu-
Flowing
-flux
to flow
foc/o-
center or hearth
fontan/o-
little fountain
formamen/o-
Opening
fore-
Before
-form
shaped shape or form
fossa-
furrow or shallow depression
fract/o-
to break
front/o-
forehead or before
-fuge
to flee
fulgur/o-
to lighten (with sparks burning tissue)
fulv/o-
Brown
fund/o-
base or large part (organ body)
fungi-
Mushroom
furc/o-
branch or fork
furun/o-
Boil
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
galact/o-
Milk
gamet/o- (gam/o-)
to marry, unite, or sexual union
gangli/o-
knot swelling or collection knot
gangren/o-
eating sore
gastr/o-
Stomach
gelat/o- (gelatino-)
freeze or congeal
-gen (-genesis; -genes; -genic)
origin, develop, to produce, to form, or to make
gen/o-
Race
geni/o-
Chin
genit/o-
reproductive or birth
genu-
Knee
ger/o-
old or old age
gest-
to bear or separate
gibb/o-
Hunchback
gig/a-
one billion or one billionth
gingiv/o- (ulo-)
Gum
glandul/o-
little acorn or gland
glauc/o-
waterfall or gray
gli/o- (-glia)
glue or glue-like
-globin
Protein
glomerul/o-
small round mass or little ball
gloss/o-
Tongue
glott/o-
back of tongue
glut-
buttocks (rear-end)
-glutition
to swallow
glyco-
Sugar
gnath-
jaw or cheek
-gnosis
Knowledge
goiter
swelling (throat)
gon/o- (gonado-)
seed or seed producer
goni/o-
Angle
gout
to drop
gracil/o-
Slender
-grade
backward or behind
-graft
to probe with knife
-gram
to record
granulo-
little grain
-graph
Instrument
-graphy
procedure of using instrument ‘to do recording’
gravid/o-
heavy or pregnant
groin
inguinal (region)
gryphy/o-
crooked or bent
gummo-
gum or gum-like
gust/o-
tasting or to taste
gynec/o- (gyn/o-)
Woman
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
halit/o-
Breath
hallux
great or big toe
halo-
salt (white color_
hamat/o-
hooked (shape)
haplo-
half or single
health
Wholeness
hect/o-
one hundred
helico-
Spiral
helio-
Sun
helminth/o-
worms or worm
hem/o- (hemato-)
Blood
heme-
Iron
hemi- (semi-)
half or one half
hepat/o-
Liver
hept/a-
Seven
herni/o-
rupture or protrusion
herpes
to creep
heter/o-
other or opposite
hex/a-
Six
hiat-
an opening
hidr/o-
Sweat
hirsut-
hairy or profound hair
-hiscence
to gape (open)
histo-
web-like or tissue
holist/o- (holo-)
Whole
homeo-
same or constant unchanged same
homo-
Same
hormon/o-
to urge on
humer/o-
arm (upper)
hyal.o-
glassy or glass-like
hydro-
Water
hygro-
Moisture
hymen/o-
Membrane
hyper-
increase or above
hypn/o-
Sleep
hypo-
under or below
hyster/o-
Uterus
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
-ia (-a)
refers to, condition, or state of
-iac
pertains to
-ial
refers to
iatr/o-
treat or cure
-iatr/y
treat or cure
-ible
ability to
-ic
refers to
-ical
refers to
ichor/o-
serum or watery pus
ichthy-
fish or fish-like
-ician
one who
-icle (-cle)
small or tiny
icter/o-
Jaundice
-icy
Inflamed
-id
state of
-ide
specific quality of
ide/o-
idea, thoughts, or emotions
idio-
unique to or unknown cause
-ile
state of
ile/o-
Twisted
ilio-
Flank
im-
into or not
immun/o-
safe, protect, or immune
-in (-ine)
substance or chemical
in situ
in: position or location (original or first)
in-
not or into
incus
Anvil
infarct-
to stuff into
infect/o-
to invade
inflam/o-
flame within
infra-
under or below
infundill/o-
funnel shape
-ing
procedure of or process of
inguin/o-
Groin
integu-
Covering
inter-
Between
intra-
Within
intro-
Within
intus-
Within
-iole (-ole, -icle)
smaller, lesser, or diminutive
-ion
procedure of or process of
ion/o- (iont/o-)
going (of ions)
-ior
one who (is)
-ious
state of
ipsi-
Equal
ir-
not or lack of
ir/o- (irid/o-)
Rainbow
-is
refers to
isch/o-
deficiency, blockage, or hold back
ischi/o-
hip joint or hip
-ish
resembling or related to
-ism
state of or condition of
iso-
equal or same
-ist
Specialist
-ites
dropsy or drooping
-it is
inflamed or inflammation
-ity
state of
-ium
refers to
-ize
state of or acts like
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
jejuno-
to empty (2nd part of small intestine)
junctiv/o-
joining or to join
juxta-
near, close by, or adjoining
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
kako-
Calcium
kali-
Potassium
kary/o-
Nucleus
kel/o-
scar (raised hard reddened scar)
kerat/o-
cornea or horny
ket/o-
sour or acid
kil/o-
one thousand
kine- (kym/o-, kinesi/o-)
movement or motion
kraur/o-
Dryness
kyph/o-
Hunchback
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
labio-
Lip
labrynitho-
Maze
lacer/o-
to tear
lacrim/o-
tearing or tear
lact/o-
Milk
-lalia
talk or talking
lamin/o-
thin flat plate or layer
lapar/o-
abdominal wall
lap/i- (petro-; litho-)
Stone
-lapse
falling or slippage
larva-
Mask
laryngo-
voice box
lat- (later/o-)
Side
lax (laxat/o-)
to loosen or loosening
lei/o-
Smooth
-lemma
Sheath
lepr/o- (lepros-)
Scaly
-lepsy
seizure (convulsion)
lepto-
thin or slender
leth/o-
Sluggish
leuk/o- (leuc/o-)
White
levat/o-
lift up
levo-
Left
lex/i-
diction or word
libid/o-
Desire
lichen/i-
Plant
lieno-
Spleen
liga-
to bind
lingu-
Tongue
lip/o-
Fat
-listhesis
Slippage
-liter (-litre - europe)
liter or litre
lith/o-
stone (calculus or rock)
livid/o-
Blue
lob/o-
Lobe
loco-
place (object)
logo-
speech or words
loin
Lumbar
long/o-
Long
lord/o-
swayback (to bend)
-lucent
to shine or shining
lumb/o-
Loin
lump-
small mass
luna-
moon or crescent shaped
lupus
Wolf
lute/o-
Yellow
lux-
to dislocate
lymph/o-
Watery
-lysis
destruction, breakdown, or declining
lysso- (lyssa-)
frenzy (hysteria) or rabies
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
macer/o-
to make soft
macro-
large or huge
macul/o-, macule
flat skin freckle (lentile)
magni-
large or greater
mal-
bad, harm, or injury
malac/o-
soft or softening
malle/o-
hammer or little hammer
mamm/o-
Breast
man/o-
hand (also handle or thin)
mand/i-
chew or chewer
-mania (mani/o-)
madness theft or steal
masset/o-
chew or to chew
masseur and masseuse
male massager and female massager
mast/o-
Breast
mastic/o-
to chew or chewing
-mata
multiple (many)
maxill/o-
upper jaw
measles
rubella or reddish
meat/o-
Opening
meconi/o-
poppy juice
medi-
Middle
mega-
great (big)
megalo-
huge (large)
mei/o- (mi/o-)
lesser, smaller, or fewer
mel-
sweet, honey, cheek, or limb
melan/o-
Black
men/o-
monthly or month
mening/o-
Membrane
menisc/o-
crescent (‘C’ shaped)
ment/o-
Mind
-mentum
Chin
mero- (-mer, mere-)
part, part of, partly, or to separate
mes/o-
Middle
-mester
Month
meta-
beyond or change
-meter (-metre)
Measurement
metr/a-
uterus or womb
-mentry
measurement procedure or process
micro-
Small
mictur/o- (micturit/o)
to make water or urinate
mili/o-
millet seed
milli-
one-thousandth
minimus-
Smallest
minute
Small
-miss
to send or sending
mit/o-
threat or thread-like
-mitr/e (mitr/o-)
head band or mitre box
mnem-
Memory
mogi-
Difficult
mol/o-
to mill or grind
mollusc/o-
Soft
mon/o- (uni-)
One
morph0-
Shape
mort/o-
Death
morul/o-
Mulberry
-motor
movement or motion
muc/o-
Slime
multi- (poly- and pluri-)
many, multiple, several, excessive, or more
mumps
Swelling
my/o- (my-, myos-)
Muscle
myc/o-
Fungus
mydri/o-
to widen
myel/o-
spinal cord or bone marrow
myria-
numberless or numerous
myring/o-
Eardrum
myx/o-
Mucus
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
narc/o-
Sleep
nares
nose opening
nas/o-
Nose
nat/o (nat-)
Birth
natri-
sodium or salt
navicul/o-
boat (shape)
necr/o-
death, dead, or dying
neo-
New
nephelo-
cloudiness or mistiness
nephr/o-
Kidney
neur/o-
Nerve
neutr/o-
neither or neutral
nev/o-
Birthmark
nigra-; nigri-; nigro-
Black
nin/o- (novem-, nov-, ennea-)
nine (9)
noct/i- (nyct/i- or nycto-)
night or blind
-noia
Mind
noto-
back, the back (part)
nuch/a-
back of neck
nucle/o-
Nut
null/i-
none or no
nutri/o-
to nourish
nystagm/o-
to nod
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
-o/pexy
to fixate, attach, or sew
-o/plasty
repair or plastic surgery
-o/rrhagia
bursting forth (heavy flow)
-o/rrhea
discharge or flow (slow)
-o/rrhexis
rupture (protrusion)
Oblique
side-long or slanted
obstetr/i-
Midwife
occipit/o-
back of head
occulsi/o-
closure or blockage
occult/o-
Hidden
oct/o- (octa- and octi-)
Eight
ocul/o-
Eye
odont/o-
Tooth
-oid
Resembling
olecran/o-
around the point of the elbow
oleo-
Oil
-oleum
Oil
olfact/o- (osmio-)
smelling or smell
olig/o-
few, scanty, slight, or little
-ology
science of or study of
-oma
tumor or swelling
omo- (omi-)
Shoulder
omphal/o-
navel or umbilicus
onc/o-
Tumor
onych/o- (unguin/o- or ungu/o-)
Nail
oophor/o-
Ovary
opaq/u-
obscure, dark, or darkness
ophthalm/o-
eye or eyeball
opisth/o-
backwards (bending)
opto- (-op-, -opt-, opia-, -opsy, -opsia)
vision, sight, and occasionally eye
-or (-er)
one who
ora-
Mouth
orb- (orbit/o-)
circle or dish
orchi/o- (orchid/o-)
teste or seed producer
-orexia
Appetite
organ/o-
viscera (organ) or cell parts
-orrhagia
bursting forth
-orrhaphy
suturing or repair
-orrhea
flow or discharge
-orrhexia
Rupture
orth/o-
straight, normal, or correct
os-
mouth-like opening mouth
oscill/o-
to swing
-ose
Sugar
-osis (-sis; -asia; -esis; -iasis)
condition of or disease
osmo- (olfacto-)
Smell
oss/eo-
bony or bones
oste/o-
Bone
-ostomy
opening (mouth like)
ot/o- (-otia)
Ear
-otomy
cutting, to cut, or cut into
-otripsy
crushing or to crush
-ous
state of or refers to
ov/o- (ova-, ovi-, ov/u-, o/o-)
Egg
ox/y- (ox/o-)
sharp or oxygen (molecules)
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
pachy-
Thick
palat/o-
palate plate or plate of mouth roof
pall/o-
pale or lack of color
palm/a-
palm or palm of hand
palpat/o-
touching or to touch
palpebra-
Eyelid
palpit-
quivering or fluttering
palsey
Paralysis
pan-
all, total, or complete
papilla-
Nipple
para- (par-)
near, beside, beyond, around, similar, or abnormal
-paresis
paralysis (slight)
-pareunia
sexual intercourse
pariet/o- (pariet-)
wall or partition
part/o-
birth or labor
patell/o-
little dish or knee cap
path/o-
Disease
paus/o-
Stoppage
pect/o- (pectero-)
Chest
pectin/o-
Comb
ped- or pod- (pedo and podo-)
feet or foot
pedi- (pedia-)
Child
pedicul/o-
Lice
peli-
livid ‘purplish’ or purple
pell- (-pelas)
Skin
pelvi/o- (pelv/o-)
base, basin, or pelvis
pemphigo-
blister or blistering
pen/o-
tall, organ of copulation, or penis (member)
-penia
decrease in number (cells)
pent/a-
five (5)
peps/o- (pep-; pept/o- pepsi-)
Digestion
per-
Through
peri-
Around
perine/o-
base or floor
periton/e-
that which holds the lower viscera
pero-
Maimed
peroneo-
pin or concerning the fibula lower leg bone
pes
Foot
petech/i-
small (usually refers to hemorrhages)
petit
little illness
petro-
rock, stone, or hard
phago- (-phagy)
eat, eating, or perverse appetite
phak,o- (phac/o-)
Lens
phalang/o- (phalanx-)
close knit row (fingers and toes)
pharmac/o-
drug relationship to drug or medicine
pharyng/o-
Throat
phas/o- (phas-)
speech or speaking
-phase
Stage
pheno-
to appear (climates effect on health)
pheo-
dusty or dark
-pheresis
to separate
-phile (-phil or -philia)
love of, to love, or love for
phim/o-
to muzzle or muzzling
phleb/o- (veno-)
Vein
phob/o-
Fear
phoc/o-
Seal
phon/o-
voice or sound
phor/o-
feeling (mental)
-phoresis (phores/i-)
migration, transport, move, carry
phot/o-
Light
phrag/o-
wall or partition
phraso-
speech or talk
-phraxia
stoppage or obstruction
phren/o-
mind or diaphragm
-pthisis
Wasting
-phlaxis
protection or guard
physi/o-
function of or nature of
-physis (-physic)
growth or nature of
phyto-
Plant
pia-
Gentle
pica-
magpie (eating) or perverse appetite
picr/o-
Bitter
pil/o- (thel/e-)
Hair
pin/o-
to drink
pine-
pinecone-like (gland)
pinn/a-
feather feather-like
pip/o-
pipe or tube like
pis/i-
Pea
pituit/o-
phlegm or glue-like mucus
pityr/i-
bran (cereal like scales on skin)
placenta
Cake
-plakia
plate or plate like
plan/o-
flat or a plain
plant/o-
sole of foot
plas/o- (plas-, plast-, -plasty, -plasm, -plasia)
growth, development, or formation
platy-
broad or flat
-pleg/ia
Paralysis
pleur/o-
side or rib (membrane covering lungs)
-plexy
Paralysis
plic/o-
fold, to fold, or to tuck
-pnea
breathe or breathing
pneum/o-, pneuma-, pneumat/o, and pneumon/o-
lung, air, or gas, respiration
-poe/sis
to make, form, or produce
poikil/o-
irregular or varied (shape)
poli/o-
Gray
pollex-
Thumb
poly-
Many
pons (pont/o-)
Bridge
poples-
back of knee
por/o-
cavity or passage (porous)
porphyr/o-
Purple
post-
after or behind
-pox
Pits
prand/i-
meal or breakfast
-prax/ia
movement or action
pre-
Before
prepuce
foreskin or hood
prebyo-
Old
prim/i-
First
pro-
Before
proct/o-
rectum and/or anus
prone- (pronat/o-)
to bend forward (face down)
propri/o-
property (nerve stimuli or information)
pros/o- and prosop/o-
face, facial, early, or forward
prostat/o-
one who lies before
prot/o- (prot-, primi-)
First
proxim/o-
close or closest
prur/i- (prurit/o-)
itch or itching
pseud/o-
False
psoas
loin (lumbar)
psor/i-
to itch
psych/o-
Mind
pteryg/o-
Winged
-ptosis
to droop, drop, fall, displace, or prolapse
ptyal/o-
mucus saliva
-ptysis
spitting or spit
pub/o-
private parts
pudend/o-
external genitalia and female vulva (posterior to mons)
puerper-
after childbirth
pulmon/o- (pulm/o-)
Lung
pulp/o-
solid flesh
punct/o-
to pierce or a point
pupill/o-
pupil (eye)
purpur/o-
Purple
pyel/o-
pelvis (kidney usually)
pykn/o- (pycn/o-)
thick, dense, or compact
pyl/o-
gate keeper
pyo (py=)
Pus
pyret/o- (pyrex- pyro-)
Fever
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
quad/i- quad-
four (4)
quint/i-
five (5)
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
radi/o-
ray/ spoke, x-ray, or radio-activity
radic/o- (radicul/o-)
nerve root or spinal nerve
rales
to rattle
ray-
spoke or wave length
re-
Again
rect/o-
rectum or straight
ren/o-
Kidney
reticul/o-
Network
retina
net or net-like
retr/o-
back of, behind, backward, or after
rhabd/o-
rod or rod-shaped
rhachi/o- (rachi-, rachis, and rachio-)
vertebra(e) “jointed”, spine, or spinal column
rheumat/o-
discharge or flow through
rhin/o-
Nose
rhiz/o-
Root
rhod/o-
rosey red (purple red)
rhomb/o-
parallelogram (diamond shaped)
rhytid/o-
Wrinkles
richetts/ia
rickets-like ‘symptoms’ (name of researcher)
rig/o-
stiff or hard
roet/o-
x-ray
rosace/o-
rosy, pin, or red
rotat/o-
to turn or swing around
-rrhythm
rhythm or contraction
ruber/o- (rubello- and rubeol-)
Red
rug/a-
Folds
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
sacchar/o-
Sugar
sacr/o-
saucer or sacred bone
sagitt/o-
arrow or arrow-like
saliv/o-
Spit
salping/o-
tube, duct, or canal
sangu/i-
blood (bloody)
sarc/o-
Fleshy
sartor/i-
Patcher
scab/o-
to itch
scaph/o-
skiff or boat-shaped
scapul/o-
shoulder blade
schiz/o- (schist/o-, sciss/i-)
split or splitting
scintill/o-
Spark
scirrh/o-
Hard
scler/o-
hardening yellow fat or porridge
scoli/o-
crooked or twisted
-scope
to view or examine
-scopy
to examine or view
scot/o-
Darkness
scrot/o-
sac or pouch
scurvy
to scratch
seb/o-
Oil
secreto-
separating or to separate
sect/o-
to cut (several times)
secund/i- (second/o-, duet-, duetro-, duet/o-)
Second
semi-
Half
semin/o- (sem/o- and semen/o-)
seed or seed producer
senil/e-
Old
sept/a-
partion or wall
sept/i-
Seventh
sept/o- (seps/o-)
poison (from organism), infection, decay, or putrefy
ser/o-
whey or watery portion of blood
sesqu/i-
one and one-half (1 1/2)
sext/i- (sex-)
six (6)
shunt
to turn away or divert
sial/o-
saliva or spit
sider/o-
Iron
sigmoid/o-
s-shaped
silic/o-
silicon carbon particles
sin/o-
Cavity
sinistr/o-
to the left or left
skelat/o-
dried up or to attach
-sol
in solution or solution
sole-
the sole of the foot
som/o- (somat/o-, -some)
Body
somn/o-
Sleep
son/o-
Sound
spad/i-
to tear
-spasm
contraction (usually involuntary)
sperm/o- (spermat/o-)
sperm, (seed or gamete ‘germ cell’)
sphen/o-
wedge-shaped
spher/o-
ball, globe, or round
sphinct/o-
that which binds together
sphygm/o-
Pulse
sphyxi/o-
Pulse
spin/o-
thorn or thorny
spir/o-
breathe or breathing
splanchin/o-
organ (viscera)
splen/o-
Spleen
spondyl/o-
Vertebra
sprain
to wring out or press out
squam/o-
Scaly
-stalsis
to contract
staped/o- (stapes)
Stirrup
staphyl/o-
grape or grape-like clusters
-stasis (-stasia)
stoppage, standing, or location
-stat (stat.)
to stop or immediately
-staxia
dripping or trickling
steat/o-
Fat
sten/o-
Narrowing
stereo-
three dimensional or solid
stern/o-
chest sternum or breastbone
steth/o-
Chest
stigmat/o-
a point (spot)
-stole
Contract
stomat/o-
Mouth
strabism/o-
to squint or squinting (wandering eye)
strain
to draw tight
strat/i-
Layer
strept/o-
twisted chain or chains
stri/a-
stripes or threads
strict/o-
drawing or binding
sty/e (sty; hordeol/o-)
Raised
styp/e-
Contract
sub-
under, less or lesser, beneath
suderifer/o- (sudor-)
Sweat
sulc/o-
furrow, fissure, or split depression
sulf/o- (thio-)
Sulfur
super-
above or upon
supinat/o-
to throw backward (or face up)
supra-
above or upon
sur/a-
on calf of leg
surg/i-
working by hand
-susception
to receive
suture
sewing together
syco-
fig or fig-like
sym-
Together
syn- (sy-)
Together
syncope
to faint or fainting
system/o-
to classify or arrange
systol/o-
to draw together or contract
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
tachy-
fast or swift
tal/o-
Ankle
tars/o-
broad flat surface (foot instep)
tart/o-
dregs (sediment or particles)
tax/o-
arrange to order, to organize, or locate
-taxia
muscle coordination
tect-
Shield
tel/o- (tele-)
end or outward
tempor/o-
Temple
ten/o- (tend/o-, tendin/o-, tendon-, tenonto-)
tendon (attaches muscles to bone)
tens/o- (tent/o-)
to stretch or stretches
terat/o- (tera-)
Monster
teres
Round
term (termin/o-)
places at the end or boundary
tert/i- (tert- trit-, trito-)
third (in order)
test/e-
shell or seed producer
tetan/o-
spasm or spasms
tetr/a-
four (4)
thanat/o-
Death
thec/o-
Sheath
thel/o-
Nipple
then/o-
palm of hand (or sole of foot)
theo-
GOD
therap/o-
treating or curing
therm/o-
heat (hot or warm)
thorac/o-
Chest
thromb/o-
clot (to clump together or curdle)
thym/o-
soul, emotion, or flowery (smell)
thyr/o-
shield or shield-shaped
tibia-
Shinbone
-tic
capable of or state to
tinea-
Fungus
tinnitus
jingling, tinkling, or ringing (in ear ‘sound’)
-tion (-ion, -ation, -iaton, -y,-ing)
process of or procedure of
-tive (-ive)
nature of or quality of
toci/o- (toc-)
birth or giving birth, or birthing
-tom/e
cutting instrument (cut/instrument)
ton/o-
tension, tone, or pressure
tonsill/o-
almond (shape)
top/o-
Location
torsi- (torti-)
Twisted
tox/o-
Poison
trache/o- (trachy-)
Rough
trachel/o-
neck (neckline)
tract/o-
to draw (pull)
trans-
across (though)
trapezi/o-
little table (shape)
trauma
Wound
-tresia
perforation or opening
tri-
Three
triage
to sort or classify
trich/o- (pilo- and -thrix)
Hair
trigo-
Rubbing
trochle/o-
pulley or pulley-like
trop/o-
to turn or turning
troph/o-
development or nourishment (nutrition)
-tropin (trop/o)
stimulate or to turn
trypan/o- (trepan/o- and trephine)
borer to bore (drill)
tub/o-
canal or tube
tubercul/o-
swelling (small), nodule, or tubercle
tum/o-
swelling or tumor (growth)
turgur
swelling (skin test for hydration)
-tussis
Cough
tympan/o-
eardrum (drum)
typh/o-
Stupor
typhl/o-
cecum (blind pouch or first part of big colon)
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
ulcer-
Sore
-ule (-ula, -ole)
small or lessor
uln/a-
Elbow
ultra-
Beyond
ulul/o-
to howl (scream)
-um (-eum, -ium)
state of or refers to
umbilic/o-
navel (region of belly button)
unguin/o-
Nail
ur/o- (ur-, ura-, ure-, uri-, urin/o- or uron/o-)
Urine
ureter/o-
small canal
urethero-
Canal
urticari/o-
hives or nettles (skin condition)
utero-
Womb
uve/a- (uv-, uvul/o-, uve/o-, and staphylo-)
Grape
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
vag/o-
Wanderer
vagin/o-
Sheath
valgu- (val/us or valg/um)
Inward
valvul/o-
tiny fold or small valve
var/u- (varus or varum)
Outward
varic/u-
Twisted
varicella
a tiny spot
vas/o- (vascul/o- and angio-)
Vessel
vect/o-
carries or a carrier
ven/o- and phlebo-
Vein
ventr/o-
belly (anterior portion)
vera-
True
vermi- (ascar/is and helminth/o-)
Worm
verruca/e-
Wart
-version (vers-, vert/o-)
turn, turns, to turn
vertebr/o-
Jointed
vertigo
Whirling
vesic/o- (vesicul/o-)
sac or small blister
vestibulo-
belly, small space or cavity
vill/i-
shaggy hair
vir/o-
poison
virg/o-
uncontaminated or a maiden
viscer/a-
organ
vit/o- (viv/o- and viv/i-)
alive, life, or living
vitilig/o-
to corrupt
vitre/o-
glassy, glass, or jelly
volv/o-
to twist, twisting, or rolling
vomer
plough-shaped
vox
voice
vulv/o-
covering
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
wheal
round or circle
whitlow (felon)
white flow
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
xanth/o-
yellow
xen/o-
strange or foreign
xero-
dry
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
-y
procedure of or process of
yaws
raspberry (lesion appearance)
Prefix/Suffix
Meaning
zo/a- (zoo-, zoae-, zoon-)
animal
zygo-
union