STUDYING THE SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGE
Your EXPECTATION is to learn the tools of word analysis that will make the understanding of complex scientific
terminology easier. Do not simply memorize terms; think about dividing terms into component parts. This worksheet
will show you how to separate both complicated and simple terms into understandable word elements. Scientific terms
are very much like individual jigsaw puzzles. They are constructed of small pieces that make each word unique, but the
pieces can be used in different combinations in other words as well. As you become familiar with word parts and learn
what each means, you will be able to recognize those word parts in totally new combinations in other terms. Studying
scientific terminology is very similar to learning a new language. Undeniably the study of scientific language requires
diligence and commitment of time and effort. The words at first sound strange and complicated. The rewards are
many, however, and this worksheet aim at bringing the language alive by making the study interesting, logical, and easy
to follow. Have fun with “THE LANGUAGE OF SCIENCE.”
Your first jobi in learning the language is to understand how to divide words into their component parts. The
language is logical in that most terms, whether complex or simple, can be broken down into basic parts and then
understood. For example, consider the following term:
HEMATOLOGY
HEMAT / O / LOGY
HEMAT = ROOT
O
= COMBINING VOWEL
LOGY = SUFFIX
The ROOT is the foundation of the word, the root hemat means blood.
The SUFFIX is the word ending, the suffix logy means study of
The COMBINING VOWEL (usually o) links the root to the suffix or the root to another root. A combining vowel has no
meaning of its own; it only joins one word part to another. It is useful to read the meaning of terms starting from the
suffix back to the beginning of the term. Thus, the term hematology means study of blood.
Try this one: ELECTROCARDIOGRAM
The root electr means electricity
The root cardi means heart
The suffix gram means record
The entire word means “record of the electricity in the heart.”
Try this one: BIOLOGY
The root bi/ o (bios) means life
The root logy means study of
The entire word means the “_____________ ____________________________
A PREFIX is a small part that is attached to the beginning of a term.
Try one with a prefix, a root, and a suffix: PERICARDIUM
The prefix peri means surrounding.
The root cardi means heart.
The suffix um means a structure
The entire word means: __________________________________________________________.
IN SUMMARY, THE IMPRTANT ELEMENTS OF SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGE ARE:
1. ROOT: foundation of term
2. SUFFIX: word ending
3. PREFIX: word beginning
STUDYING THE SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGE
4. COMBINING VOWEL: vowel (usually o) that links the root to the suffix or the root to another root.
USING YOUR KNOWLEDGE: Your job now is to write the meaning of the following terms in the space provided.
Cytology is the ___________________________________________________________________
cyt means cell
Pathology is the _______________________________________________________________________________
path means disease or disease causing
Pathologist is a person that is a ____________________________________________________.
Pathogenic refers to something that _______________________________________________________________
genic means producing
Microbiology is the ________________ ________ _______________ _____________
Zoology is the ___________________ _________ _________________________.
1. COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES:
Word beginnings are called _____________________________
2. Word endings are called ________________________________
3. The foundation of a word is known as the _______________.
4. A letter linking a suffix and a root, or linking two roots, in a term is called the ____________________
______________
GIVE THE MEANINGS FOR THE FOLLOWING:
1. Logy
________________________
8. cyt
________________________
2. 2. Bi or bios
________________________
9. um
________________________
3. Ist
________________________
10. hemat
________________________
4. Zo
________________________
11. peri
________________________
5. Micro
________________________
12. cardi
________________________
6. genic
________________________
13. gram
________________________
7. path
________________________
14. electr
________________________
STUDYING THE SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGE
Word
aAbAdAnAntiAutoBiBioCyt
Derm
DorsiEc- or ectoEn- or endoEpi-genesis
-genic
-gram
HeteroHomo or homeo
HydroHyperHypoIso-ist
-itis
-logy
MacroMegaMetaMicroMonoMultiPath
PeriPhoto
Pino
Pod
PolyPostPrePro-
COMBINING FORMS, ROOTS, SUFFIXES, OR PREFIXES
Definition
Which is Which?
No; not; without
Away from
Toward
No; not; without
Against
Self; own
Two
Life
Cell
Skin
Back
Out; outside
In; within
Above; upon; on
Producing; forming
Produced by or in
Record
Different
Sameness; constant
Water
Above; excessive
Deficient; below; under
Equal
Specialist
Inflammation
Study of
Large
Large
Middle
Small
One; single
Many
Disease
Surrounding
Light
To drink
Foot
Many
After; behind
Before; in front of
First; before
STUDYING THE SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGE
PseudoQuadRe-scope
Semi-stasis
Strept
SynTele
TransTriTroph
UniZoo
False
Four
Back; again
Instrument for visual examination
Half
Staying
Chain
Together; with
Distant
Across
Three
Nourishment; development
One
Animal life
REVIEW:
TRI
___________________
LOGY
___________________
IST
___________________
BIO
___________________
A
___________________
MONO ___________________
ZOO
___________________
ANTI
___________________
SCOPE ___________________
MICRO ___________________
HYPO ___________________
MACRO ___________________
TROPH ___________________
AUTO ___________________
MULTI ___________________
PERI
___________________
CYT
___________________
HOMO ___________________
HETERO___________________
EPI
___________________
UNI
___________________
HYDRO ___________________
POD
___________________
ECTO
___________________
PRO
___________________
BI
___________________
DERM ___________________
ITIS
___________________
PATH
___________________
POLY
RE
___________________
___________________