# List of medical roots, suffixes and prefixes

This is a list of roots, suffixes, and prefixes used in medical terminology, their meanings, and their etymologies. Most of them are combining forms in Neo-Latin and hence international scientific vocabulary. There are a few general rules about how they combine. First, prefixes and suffixes, most of which are derived from ancient Greek or classical Latin, have a droppable vowel, usually -o-. As a general rule, this vowel almost always acts as a joint-stem to connect two consonantal roots (e.g. arthr- + -o- + -logy = arthrology), but generally, the -o- is dropped when connecting to a vowel-stem (e.g. arthr- + -itis = arthritis, instead of arthr-o-itis). Second, medical roots generally go together according to language, i.e., Greek prefixes occur with Greek suffixes and Latin prefixes with Latin suffixes. Although international scientific vocabulary is not stringent about segregating combining forms of different languages, it is advisable when coining new words not to mix different lingual roots.
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J–K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* Q–R
* S
* T
* U
* V
* W
* X–Z
* Roots of the body
* Roots of color
* Roots of description
* Roots of position
* Prefixes of quantity or amount
* See also

## Prefixes and suffixes

The following is an alphabetical list of medical prefixes and suffixes, along with their meanings, origins, and English examples.

### A

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| a-, an- | not, without (alpha privative) | Greek ἀ-/ἀν- (a-/an-), not, without | analgesic, apathy, anencephaly |
| ab- | from; away from | Latin | abduction, abdomen |
| abdomin- | of or relating to the abdomen | Latin abdōmen, abdomen, fat around the belly | abdomen, abdominal |
| -ac | pertaining to; one afflicted with | Greek -ακός (-akós) | cardiac, celiac |
| acanth- | thorn or spine | Greek ἄκανθα (ákantha), thorn | acanthion, acanthocyte, acanthoma, acanthulus |
| acou- | of or relating to hearing | Greek ἀκούειν (akoúein), ἀκουστικός (akoustikós), of or for hearing | acoumeter, acoustician, hyperacusis |
| acr- | extremity, topmost | Greek ἄκρον (ákron), highest or farthest point | acrocrany, acromegaly, acroosteolysis, acroposthia, acrosome |
| -acusis | hearing | Greek ἀκουστικός (akoustikós), of or for hearing | paracusis |
| -ad | toward, in the direction of | Latin ad, toward, to | dorsad, ventrad |
| ad- | at, increase, on, toward | Latin ad-, to | adduction, addition |
| aden- | of or relating to a gland | Greek ἀδήν, ἀδέν-, (adḗn, adén-), an acorn; a gland | adenocarcinoma, adenology, adenotome, adenotyphus |
| adip- | of or relating to fat or fatty tissue | Latin adeps, adip-, fat | adipocyte |
| adren- | of or relating to the adrenal glands | Latin ad + rēnēs, kidneys | adrenal artery, adrenaline, adrenochrome |
| -aemia, ema, hemat (BrE) | blood condition | Greek ἀναιμία (anaimía), without blood | anaemia |
| aer(o)- | air, gas | Greek ἀήρ, ἀέρος (aḗr, aéros) | aerosinusitis, aerodynamics |
| aesthesi- (BrE) | sensation | Greek αἴσθησις (aísthēsis) | anaesthesia |
| -al | pertaining to | Latin -alis | abdominal, femoral |
| alb- | denoting a white or pale color | Latin albus, white | albino, tunica albica |
| alge(si)- | pain | Greek ἄλγος (álgos) | analgesic |
| -algia, alg(i)o- | pain | Greek | myalgia |
| all- | denoting something as different, or as an addition | Greek ἄλλος (állos), another, other | alloantigen, allopathy |
| ambi- | denoting something as positioned on both sides; describing both of two | Latin ambi-, ambo, both, on both sides | ambidextrous |
| amnio- | Pertaining to the membranous fetal sac (amnion) | Greek ἄμνιον (ámnion) | amniocentesis |
| amph(i)- | on both sides | Greek ἀμφί (amphí) | amphicrania, amphismela, amphomycin |
| amylo- | starchy, carbohydrate-related | Latin amylum, starch | amylase, amylophagia |
| an- | not, without (alpha privative) | Greek | analgesia |
| ana- | back, again, up | Greek ἀνα- (ana-) | anaplasia |
| an- | anus | Latin | anal |
| andr- | pertaining to a man | Greek ἀνήρ, ἀνδρ- (anḗr, andr-), male | android, andrology, androgen |
| angi- | blood vessel | Greek ἀγγεῖον (angeîon) | angiogram, angioplasty |
| aniso- | describing something as unequal | Greek ἄνῑσος (ánīsos), unequal | anisocytosis, anisotropic |
| ankyl-, ancyl- | denoting something as crooked or bent | Greek ἀγκύλος (ankúlos), crooked, curved | ankylosis |
| ante- | describing something as positioned in front of another thing | Latin āntē, before, in front of | antepartum |
| anthropo- | human | Greek ἄνθρωπος (ánthrōpos), human | anthropology |
| anti- | describing something as 'against' or 'opposed to' another | Greek ἀντί (antí), against | antibody, antipsychotic |
| apo- | away, separated from, derived from | Greek ἀπό (apó) | apoptosis, apocrine |
| archi- | first, primitive | Greek ἀρχι- (arkhi-) | archinephron |
| arsen(o)- | of or pertaining to a male; masculine | Greek ἀρσενικός (arsenikós) | arsenoblast |
| arteri(o)- | of or pertaining to an artery | Greek ἀρτηρία (artēría), a wind-pipe, artery (used distinctly versus a vein) | arteriole, artery |
| arthr- | of or pertaining to the joints, limbs | Greek ἄρθρον (árthron), a joint, limb | arthritis |
| articul- | joint | Latin articulus | Articulation |
| -ary | pertaining to | Latin -arius | biliary tract, coronary |
| -ase | enzyme | from Greek διάστασις (δια- (dia-, part, apart) + στάσις (stásis, stand)), division | Lactase |
| -asthenia | weakness | Greek ἀσθένεια (asthéneia), sick, weak | Myasthenia gravis |
| atel(o)- | imperfect or incomplete development | Greek ἀτελής (atelḗs), without end, incomplete | atelocardia |
| ather- | fatty deposit, soft gruel-like deposit | ἀθάρη (athárē) | Atherosclerosis |
| -ation | process | Latin | medication, civilization |
| atri- | an atrium (esp. heart atrium) | Latin | atrioventricular |
| aur- | of or pertaining to the ear | Latin auris, the ear | Aural |
| aut- | self | Greek αὐτός, αὐτο- (autós, auto-) | Autoimmune, autograph, autobiography, automobile, automatic |
| aux(o)- | increase; growth | Greek αὐξάνω, αὔξω (auxánō, aúxō) | Auxocardia: enlargement of the heart, auxology |
| axill- | of or pertaining to the armpit (uncommon as a prefix) | Latin axilla, armpit | Axilla |
| azo(to)- | nitrogenous compound | French azote, nitrogen; from Greek άζωτικός (ázōtikós) ἀ- (a-, no, without) + ζωή (zōḗ, life)), mephitic air | azothermia: raised temperature due to nitrogenous substances in blood |

### B

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| bacillus | rod-shaped | Latin baculus, stick | Bacillus anthracis |
| bacteri- | Pertaining to bacteria | Latin bacterium; Greek βακτήριον (baktḗrion), small staff | bacteriophage, bactericide |
| balan- | of the glans penis or glans clitoridis | Greek βάλανος (bálanos), acorn, glans | balanitis |
| bas- | of or pertaining to base | Greek βάσις (básis), foundation, base | basolateral |
| bi- | twice, double | Latin bi- | binary vision, bicycle, bisexual |
| bio- | life | Greek βίος (bíos) | biology, biological |
| blast- | germinate or bud | Greek βλαστός (blastós) | blastomere |
| blephar(o)- | of or pertaining to the eyelid | Greek βλέφαρον (blépharon), eyelid | blepharoplasty |
| brachi(o)- | of or relating to the arm | Latin bracchium, from Greek βραχίων (brakhíōn), arm | brachium of inferior colliculus |
| brachy- | indicating 'short' or less commonly 'little' | Greek βραχύς (brakhús), short, little, shallow | brachycephalic |
| brady- | slow | Greek βραδύς (bradús), slow | bradycardia, bradyzoite |
| bronch(i)- | of or relating to the bronchus | Latin bronchus; Greek βρόγχος (brónkhos), windpipe | bronchitis, bronchiolitis obliterans |
| bucc(o)- | of or pertaining to the cheek | Latin bucca, cheek | buccolabial |
| burs(o)- | bursa (fluid sac between the bones) | Latin bursa, purse; Greek βύρσα (búrsa), hide, wine-skin | bursa, bursitis |

### C

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| capill- | of or pertaining to hair | Latin capillus, hair | capillus |
| capit- | pertaining to the head as a whole | Latin caput, capit-, the head | capitation, decapitation |
| carcin- | cancer | Greek καρκίνος (karkínos), crab | carcinoma |
| cardi- | of or pertaining to the heart | Greek καρδία (kardía), heart | cardiology |
| carp- | of or pertaining to the wrist | Latin carpus < Greek καρπός (karpós), wrist; NOTE: This root should not be confused with the mirror root carp(o)- meaning fruit. | carpal, carpopedal spasm, metacarpal |
| cata- | down, under | Greek κατά (katá) | catabolism, catacombs, cataract |
| -cele | pouching, hernia | Greek κήλη (kḗlē) | hydrocele, varicocele |
| -centesis | surgical puncture for aspiration | Greek κέντησις (kéntēsis) | amniocentesis |
| cephal(o)- | of or pertaining to the head (as a whole) | Greek κεφαλή (kephalḗ), the head | cephalalgia, hydrocephalus |
| cerat(o)- | of or pertaining to the cornu; a horn | Greek κέρας, κερατ- (kéras, kerat-), a horn | ceratoid |
| cerebell(o)- | of or pertaining to the cerebellum | Latin cerebellum, little brain | cerebellum |
| cerebr(o)- | of or pertaining to the brain | Latin cerebrum, brain | cerebrology |
| cervic- | of or pertaining to the neck or the cervix | Latin cervix, cervīc-), neck, cervix | cervical vertebrae, cervicodorsal |
| cheil- | of or pertaining to the lips | Greek χεῖλος (kheîlos), lip, mouth, beak | angular cheilitis |
| chem(o)- | chemistry, drug | Greek χημεία (khēmeía) | chemical, chemistry, chemotherapy |
| chir-, cheir- | of or pertaining to the hand | Greek χείρ, χειρο- (kheír, kheiro-), hand | chiropractor |
| chlor- | denoting a green color | Greek χλωρός (khlōrós), green, yellow-green | chlorophyll |
| bil(i)-, chol(e)- | of or pertaining to bile | Greek χολή (kholḗ), bile | cholaemia (UK) / cholemia (US), cholecystitis |
| cholecyst(o)- | of or pertaining to the gallbladder | Greek χοληκύστις (kholēkústis), gallbladder < χολή (kholḗ), bile, gall + κύστις (kústis), bladder | cholecystectomy |
| chondr(i)o- | cartilage, gristle, granule, granular | Greek χονδρός (khondrós) | chondrocalcinosis |
| chrom(ato)- | color | Greek χρῶμα (khrôma) | hemochromatosis |
| -cidal, -cide | killing, destroying | Latin -cīda, cutter, killer | bacteriocidal, suicide, suicidal |
| cili- | of or pertaining to the cilia, the eyelashes; eyelids | Latin cilium, eyelash; eyelid | ciliary |
| circum- | denoting something as 'around' another | Latin circum, around | circumcision |
| cis- | on this side | Latin cis | cisgender |
| -clast | break | Greek κλαστός (klastós), broken | osteoclast |
| clostr- | spindle | Greek κλωστήρ (klōstḗr), spindle, thread | Clostridium |
| co- | with, together, in association | Latin co- | coenzymes, co-organization |
| -coccus, ‑coccal | round, spherical | Greek κόκκος (kókkos), berry, seed | Streptococcus |
| col-, colo-, colono- | colon | Greek κόλον (kólon) | colonoscopy |
| colp- | of or pertaining to the vagina | Greek κόλπος (kólpos), bosom, womb; hollow, depth | colposcopy |
| com- | with, together | Latin cum | communicate |
| contra- | against | Latin contrā | contraindication |
| cor- | with, together | Latin cor- | corrective |
| cor- | of or pertaining to the eye's pupil | Greek κόρη (kórē), girl, doll; pupil of the eye | corectomy |
| cord(i)- | of or pertaining to the heart (uncommon as a prefix) | Latin cor, heart | commotio cordis, |
| cornu- | applied to describing processes and parts of the body as likened or similar to horns | Latin cornū, horn | greater cornu |
| coron- | pertaining to the heart | Latin corōna | coronary heart disease |
| cortic- | cortex, outer region | Latin cortex, bark of a tree | corticosteroid |
| cost- | of or pertaining to the ribs | Latin costa, rib | costochondral |
| cox- | of or relating to the hip, haunch, or hip-joint | Latin coxa, hip | coxopodite |
| crani(o)- | belonging or relating to the cranium | Latin cranium, from Greek κρᾱνίον (krāníon), cranium, skull, bones enclosing the brain | craniology |
| -crine, crin(o)- | to secrete | Greek κρίνω (krínō), separate, divide, discern | endocrine |
| cry(o)- | cold | Greek κρύος (krúos), cold, frost | cryoablation, cryogenic |
| cutane- | skin | Latin cutis | subcutaneous |
| cyan(o)- | having a blue color | Greek κύανος, κυάνεος (kúanos, kuáneos, blue, of the color blue) | cyanopsia, cyanosis |
| cycl- | circle, cycle | Greek κύκλος (kúklos) | cyclosis, cyclops, tricycle |
| cyph(o)- | denotes something as bent (uncommon as a prefix) | Greek κυφός (kuphós), bent, hunchback | cyphosis |
| cyst(o)-, cyst(i)- | of or pertaining to the urinary bladder | Greek κύστις (kústis), bladder, cyst | cystostomy |
| cyt(o)-, -cyte | cell | Greek κύτος (kútos), a hollow, vessel | cytokine, leukocyte, cytoplasm |

### D

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| dacry(o)- | of or pertaining to tears | Greek δάκρυ, tear | dacryoadenitis, dacryocystitis |
| -dactyl(o)- | of or pertaining to a finger, toe | Greek δάκτυλος (dáktulos), finger, toe | dactylology, polydactyly |
| de- | from, down, or away from | Latin de- | dehydrate, demonetize, demotion |
| dent- | of or pertaining to teeth | Latin dens, dentis, tooth | dentifrice, dentist, dentition, dental |
| dermat(o)-, derm(o)- | of or pertaining to the skin | Greek δέρμα, δέρματος (dérma, dérmatos), skin, human skin | dermatology, epidermis, hypodermic, xeroderma |
| -desis | binding | Greek δέσις (désis) | arthrodesis |
| dextr(o)- | right, on the right side | Latin dexter | dextrocardia |
| di- | two | Greek δι- | diplopia, |
| di-, dif-, dis- | apart, separation, taking apart | Latin dis-, dif-, di- | dilation, distal, dilute, different, dissection |
| dia- | through, during, across | Greek διά (diá), through, during, across | dialysis |
| digit- | of or pertaining to the finger [rare as a root] | Latin digitus, finger, toe | digit |
| diplo- | twofold | Greek διπλόος (diplóos) | diploid, diplosis |
| -dipsia | (condition of) thirst | Greek δίψα (dípsa) | dipsomania, hydroadipsia, oligodipsia, polydipsia |
| dors(o)-, dors(i)- | of or pertaining to the back | Latin dorsum, back | dorsal, dorsocephalad |
| dromo- | running, conduction, course | Greek δρόμος (drómos) | dromotropic, syndrome |
| duodeno- | twelve | Latin duodeni | duodenal atresia, duodenum |
| dura- | hard | Latin durus | dura mater |
| dynam(o)- | force, energy, power | Greek δύναμις (dúnamis) | hand strength dynamometer, dynamics |
| -dynia | pain | Greek ὀδύνη (odúnē) | vulvodynia |
| dys- | bad, difficult, defective, abnormal | Greek δυσ- (dus-) | dysentery, dysphagia, dysphasia |

### E

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| -eal (see -al) | pertaining to | English -al, from Latin -ālis | adenohypophyseal, corneal, esophageal, perineal |
| ec- | out, away | Greek ἐκ (ek), out of, from | ectopia, ectopic pregnancy |
| ect(o)- | outer, outside | Greek ἐκτός (ektós) | ectoblast, ectoderm, ectoplasm |
| -ectasia, -ectasis | expansion, dilation | Greek ἔκτασις (éktasis) | bronchiectasis, telangiectasia |
| -ectomy | denotes a surgical operation or removal of a body part; resection, excision | Greek ἐκτομή (ektomḗ), excision | mastectomy |
| -edema | swelling | Greek οἴδημα (oídēma), swelling | lymphedema, lipedema |
| -emesis | vomiting condition | Greek ἕμεσις (hémesis) | hematemesis |
| -emia | blood condition (Am. Engl.) | Greek αἷμα (haîma), "blood" | anemia |
| encephal(o)- | of or pertaining to the brain; see also cerebro- | Greek ἐγκέφαλος (enképhalos), the brain | encephalogram |
| endo- | denotes something as inside or within | Greek ἔνδον (éndon), inside, internal | endocrinology, endospore, endoskeleton |
| eosin(o)- | having a red color | Greek ἠώς (ēṓs), dawn, daybreak, morning red, goddess of the dawn (Ἠώς, Ēṓs) | eosinophil granulocyte |
| enter(o)- | of or pertaining to the intestine | Greek ἔντερον (énteron), intestine | gastroenterology |
| epi- | on, upon | Greek ἐπι- (epi-), before, upon, on, outside, outside of | epicardium, epidermis, epidural, episclera, epistaxis, epidemic |
| episi(o)- | of or pertaining to the pubic region, the loins | Greek ἐπίσιον (epísion), the pubic area, loins; vulva | episiotomy |
| erythr(o)- | having a red color | Greek ἐρυθρός (eruthrós), red | erythrocyte |
| -esophageal, -esophago- | gullet (AmE) | Greek οἰσοφάγος (oisophágos) | esophagus |
| esthesio- | sensation (AmE) | Greek αἴσθησις (aísthēsis), to perceive | esthesioneuroblastoma, esthesia |
| eu- | true, good, well, normal | εὖ (eû) | eukaryote, euglycemia |
| ex- | out of, away from, to remove | Latin ex- | excision, exsanguination |
| exo- | denotes something as "outside" another | Greek ἔξω (éxō), outside of, external | exophthalmos, exoskeleton, exoplanet |
| extra- | outside | Latin extra, outside of, beyond | extradural hematoma extraordinary, extreme |

### F

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| faci- | of or pertaining to the face | Latin faciēs, the face, countenance | facioplegic, facial |
| fibr- | fiber | Latin fibra, fiber, filament, entrails | fibril, fibrin, fibrinous pericarditis, fibroblast, fibrosis |
| fil- | fine, hair-like | Latin fīlum, thread | filament, filum terminale |
| foramen | hole, opening, or aperture, particularly in bone | Latin forāmen | foramen magnum |
| -form | used to form adjectives indicating "having the form of" | Latin fōrma, form, shape | cruciform, cuneiform, falciform |
| fore- | before or ahead | Old English fōr(e)-, before, in front of | foregut, foreshadow |
| fossa | a hollow or depressed area; a trench or channel | Latin fossa, ditch, pit | fossa ovalis |
| front- | of or pertaining to the forehead | Latin frōns, front-, the forehead | frontonasal |

### G

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| galact- | milk | Greek γάλα, γαλακτ- (gála, galakt-) | galactorrhea, galaxy |
| gastr- | of or pertaining to the stomach | Greek γαστήρ, γαστρ- (gastḗr, gastr-), stomach, belly | gastroenterology, gastropod |
| -gen | *born in, from of a certain kind | Greek -γενής (-genḗs), from γεν-νάειν (gen-náein), to be born | *endogen heterogenous |
| -genic | formative; pertaining to producing | Greek -γενής (-genḗs) | cardiogenic shock |
| genu- | of or pertaining to the knee | Latin genū, knee | genu valgum |
| -geusia | taste | Greek γεῦσις (geûsis) | ageusia, dysgeusia, hypergeusia, hypogeusia, parageusia |
| gingiv- | of or pertaining to the gums | Latin gingīva, gum | gingivitis |
| glauc(o)- | Having a grey or bluish-grey colour | Greek γλαυκός (glaukós), grey, bluish-grey | glaucoma |
| gloss(o)-, glott(o)- | of or pertaining to the tongue | Greek γλῶσσα, γλῶττα (glôssa, glôtta), tongue | glossology |
| gluco- | sweet | Greek γλυκύς (glukús), sweet | glucocorticoid, glucose |
| glyc- | sugar | Greek γλυκύς (glukús), sweet | glycolysis |
| gnath- | of or pertaining to the jaw | Greek γνάθος (gnáthos), jaw | gnathodynamometer |
| -gnosis | knowledge | Greek γνῶσις (gnôsis), inquiry, knowledge | diagnosis, prognosis |
| gon- | seed, semen; reproductive | Greek γόνος (gónos), fruit, seed, procreating | gonorrhea |
| -gram, -gramme | record or picture | Greek γράμμα (grámma), picture, letter, writing | angiogram, gramophone |
| -graph | instrument used to record data or picture | Greek -γραφία (-graphía), written, drawn, graphic interpretation | electrocardiograph, seismograph |
| -graphy | process of recording | Greek -γραφία (-graphía), written, drawn, graphic interpretation | angiography |
| gyno-, gynaeco- (BrE), gyneco- (AmE) | woman | Greek γυνή, γυναικ (gunḗ, gunaik) | gynaecology, gynecomastia, gynoecium |

### H

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| halluc- | to wander in mind | Latin ālūcinor, to wander in mind | hallucinosis, hallucination |
| hem(at)-, haem(ato)- | of or pertaining to blood | Latin hæma, from Greek αἷμα, αἱματ- (grc), blood | hematology, older form haematology |
| hema-, hemo- | blood (AmE) | Greek αἷμα, (grc), blood | hemal, hemoglobin |
| hemangi(o)- | blood vessels | Greek αἷμα, (grc), blood, + ἀγγεῖον (angeîon), vessel, urn | hemangioma |
| hemi- | one-half | Greek ἡμι- (hēmi-), half | cerebral hemisphere |
| hepat-, hepatic- | of or pertaining to the liver | Greek ἧπαρ, ἠπᾰτ- (hêpar, ēpat-), the liver | hepatology, hepatitis |
| heter(o)- | denotes something as "the other" (of two), as an addition, or different | Greek ἕτερος (héteros), the other (of two), another; different | heterogeneous |
| hidr(o)- | sweat | Greek ἱδρώς, ἱδρωτ- (hidrṓs, hidrōt-), sweat, perspiration | hyperhidrosis |
| hist(o)-, histio- | tissue | Greek ἱστός (histós), web, tissue | histology |
| home(o)- | similar | Greek ὅμοιος (homoios), like, resembling, similar | homeopathy |
| hom(o)- | denotes something as "the same" as another or common | Greek ὁμός (homós), the same, common | homosexuality, homozygote, homophobic |
| humer(o)- | of or pertaining to the shoulder (or [rarely] the upper arm) | Latin umerus, shoulder | humerus |
| hydr(o)- | water | Greek ὕδωρ (húdōr), water | hydrophobe, hydrogen |
| hyper- | extreme or beyond normal | Greek ὑπέρ (hupér), over, above; beyond, to the extreme | hypertension, hypertrichosis |
| hyp(o)- | below normal | Greek ὑπό, ὑπο- (hupó), below, under | hypovolemia, hypoxia |
| hyster(o)- | of or pertaining to the womb or the uterus | Greek ὑστέρα (hustéra), womb | hysterectomy, hysteria |

### I

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| -iasis | condition, formation, or presence of | Latin -iasis, pathological condition or process; from Greek ἴασις (íasis), cure, repair, mend | mydriasis |
| iatr(o)- | of or pertaining to medicine or a physician (uncommon as a prefix but common as a suffix; see -iatry) | Greek ἰατρός (iatrós), healer, physician | iatrochemistry, iatrogenesis |
| -iatry | denotes a field in medicine emphasizing a certain body component | Greek ἰατρός (iatrós), healer, physician | podiatry, psychiatry |
| -ic | pertaining to | Greek -ικός (-ikós) | hepatic artery |
| -ics | organized knowledge, treatment | Latin -icus, collection of related things, theme; cognate with Greek -ικός (ikós), of, pertaining to | obstetrics |
| idio- | self, one's own | Greek ἴδιος (ídios), one's own | idiopathic |
| ileo- | ileum | Greek εἰλεός (eileós), to shut in, intestinal obstruction | ileocecal valve |
| infra- | below | Latin īnfrā, below | infrahyoid muscles |
| inter- | between, among | Latin inter | interarticular ligament |
| intra- | within | Latin intrā | intramural |
| ipsi- | same | Latin ipsi- | ipsilateral |
| irid(o)- | of or pertaining to the iris | Latin īrīs, rainbow; from Greek ἶρις (îris), rainbow | iridectomy |
| isch- | restriction | Greek ἴσχω (ískhō), hold back, restrain | ischemia |
| ischio- | of or pertaining to the ischium, the hip-joint | Greek ἰσχίον (iskhíon), hip-joint, ischium | ischioanal fossa |
| -ine | of or pertaining to | Latin -īnus, of or pertaining to; cognate with Greek -ινος, added to form adjectives relating to material, time, and so on | morphine, masculine/feminine |
| -ism | condition, disease | Greek -ισμός (-ismós), suffix forming abstract nouns of state, condition, doctrine | dwarfism |
| -ismus | spasm, contraction | Greek -ισμός | hemiballismus |
| iso- | denoting something as being equal | Greek ἴσος (ísos), equal | isotonic |
| -ist | one who specializes in | Greek -ιστής (-istḗs), agent noun, one who practices | pathologist |
| -ite | the nature of, resembling | Latin -ītēs, those belonging to, from Greek -ίτης (-ítēs) | dendrite |
| -itis | inflammation | Greek -ῖτις (-îtis) fem. form of -ίτης (-ítēs), pertaining to, because it was used with the feminine noun νόσος (nósos, disease), thus -îtis nósos, disease of the, disease pertaining to | tonsillitis |
| -ium | structure, tissue | Latin -ium, aggregation or mass of (such as tissue) | pericardium |

### J–K

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| juxta- | near to, alongside, or next to | Latin iuxta | juxtaglomerular apparatus |
| kal- | potassium | New Latin kalium, potassium | hyperkalemia |
| kary- | nucleus | Greek κάρυον (káruon), nut | eukaryote |
| kerat- | cornea (eye or skin) | Greek κέρας (kéras), horn | keratoscope |
| kine- | movement | Greek κινέω (kinéō), to move, to change | akinetopsia, kinesthesia |
| koil- | hollow | Greek κοῖλος (koîlos) | koilocyte |
| kyph- | humped | Greek κυφός (kuphós), bent forward, stooping, hunchbacked | kyphoscoliosis |

### L

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| labi- | of or pertaining to the lip | Latin labia, labium, lip | labiodental |
| lacrim(o)- | tear | Latin lacrima, tear from crying | Lacrimal canaliculi |
| lact(i)-, lact(o) | milk | Latin lac, milk | lactation, lactose |
| lapar(o)- | of or pertaining to the abdominal wall, flank | Greek λαπάρα (lapára), flank | laparotomy |
| laryng(o)- | of or pertaining to the larynx, the lower throat cavity where the voice box is | Greek λᾰ́ρυγξ, (lárunx), throat, gullet | larynx |
| latero- | lateral | Latin laterālis, lateral, of or belonging to the side | lateral pectoral nerve |
| lei(o)- | smooth | Greek λεῖος (leîos), smooth | leiomyoma |
| -lepsis, -lepsy | attack, seizure | Greek λῆψις (lêpsis), seizure | epilepsy, narcolepsy |
| lept(o)- | light, slender | Greek λεπτός (leptós), thin, lean | leptomeningeal |
| leuc(o)-, leuk(o)- | denoting a white color | Greek λευκός (leukós), white, bright, pale | leukocyte |
| lingu(a)-, lingu(o)- | of or pertaining to the tongue | Latin lingua, tongue, speech, language | linguistics |
| lip(o)- | fat | Greek λίπος (lípos), fat, lard | liposuction |
| liss(os)- | smooth | Greek Λισσός (Lissós), smooth | lissencephaly |
| lith(o)- | stone, calculus | Greek λῐ́θος (líthos) | lithotripsy |
| log(o)- | speech | Greek λόγος (lógos) | dialog, catalog, logos |
| -logist | denotes someone who studies a certain field (the field of _____-logy); a specialist; one who treats | Greek λογιστής (logistḗs), studier, practitioner (lit., accountant) | oncologist, pathologist |
| -logy | denotes the academic study or practice of a certain field; the study of | Greek -λογῐ́ᾱ (-logíā) base noun for the study of something | hematology, urology |
| lumb(o)-, lumb(a)- | of or relating to the part of the trunk between the lowest ribs and the pelvis. | Latin lumbus or lumbaris, loin | lumbar vertebrae |
| lymph(o)- | lymph | Latin lympha, water | lymphedema |
| lys(o)-, -lytic | dissolution | Greek λῠ́σῐς (lúsis), loosen, release, + -ic | lysosome |
| -lysis | destruction, separation | Greek λῠ́σῐς (lúsis), loosen, release | paralysis |

### M

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| macr(o)- | large, long | Greek μᾰκρός (makrós), long, tall | macrophage |
| -malacia | softening | Greek μαλακία (malakía), soft, weak, self-indulgent | osteomalacia |
| mamm(o)- | of or pertaining to the breast | Latin mamma, breast, udder | mammogram |
| mammill(o)- | of or pertaining to the nipple | Latin mammilla, nipple | mammillaplasty, mammillitis |
| manu- | of or pertaining to the hand | Latin manus, hand | manufacture |
| mast(o)- | of or pertaining to the breast | Greek μαστός (mastós), breast, woman's breast, man's pectoral muscle | mastectomy |
| meg(a)-, megal(o)-, -megaly | enlargement, million | Greek μέγᾰς (mégas), big, large, great, mighty | splenomegaly, megameter |
| melan(o)- | having a black color | Greek μέλᾱς, μελανο- (mélās, melano-), black, dark | melanin |
| melos | extremity | Greek μέλος (mélos), part of a body, limb, member | erythromelalgia |
| mening(o)- | membrane | Greek μῆνῐγξ (mêninx) | meninges, meningitis |
| men- | month, menstrual cycle | Greek μήν (mḗn), month | menopause, menorrhagia |
| mer(o)- | part | Greek μέρος (méros), part, component, region | merocrine, meroblastic |
| mes- | middle | Greek μέσος (mésos), middle, between, half | mesoderm, mesothelium |
| met, meta- | after, beside, beyond or change | Greek μετᾰ́ (metá), with, among, along with, in common with | metacarpal, metacarpus, metacromion, metanephros, metatheria |
| -meter | instrument used to measure or count | Greek μέτρον (métron), measure or property, something used to measure | sphygmomanometer, thermometer |
| -metry | process of measuring, -meter + -y (see -meter) | Greek μέτρον (métron) | optometry |
| metr- | pertaining to conditions or instruments of the uterus | Greek μήτρᾱ (mḗtrā), womb, uterus | metrorrhagia |
| micr- | millionth; denoting something as small, relating to smallness | Greek μῑκρός (mīkrós), small | microscope |
| milli- | thousandth | Latin mille, thousand | milliliter |
| mon- | single | Greek μονός (monós) | infectious mononucleosis |
| morph- | form, shape | Greek μορφή (morphḗ) | morphology |
| muscul(o)- | muscle | Latin mūsculus, muscle (lit. mouse-like, due to mouse-shaped appearance of some muscles; loanword from Greek μῦς (mûs), mouse, + Latin -culus, diminutive suffix) | musculoskeletal system |
| my(o)- | of or relating to muscle | Greek μῦς, μυ- (mûs, mu-), muscle, mouse, mussel | myoblast |
| myc(o)- | fungus | Greek μύκης, μυκητ- (múkēs, mukēt-), mushroom or fungus | onychomycosis, otomycosis |
| myel(o)- | of or relating to bone marrow or the spinal cord | Greek μυελός (muelós), marrow, bone-marrow | myelin sheath, myeloblast |
| myl(o)- | of or relating to molar teeth or the lower jaw | Greek μῠ́λη (múlē, mill, grind, molars | mylohyoid nerve |
| myri- | ten thousand | Greek μῡρῐ́ος (mūríos), innumerable, countless, infinite | myriad |
| myring(o)- | eardrum | Latin myringa, eardrum | myringotomy |
| myx(o)- | mucus | Greek μύξᾰ (múxa), mucus, nasal discharge | myxoma |

### N

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| nan(o)- | dwarf, small | Greek νᾶνος (nânos), dwarf | nanogram, nanosecond |
| narc(o)- | numb, sleep | Greek νάρκη (nárkē), numbess, torpor | narcolepsy |
| nas(o)- | of or pertaining to the nose | Latin nāsus, nose | nasal |
| nat(o)- | birth | Latin nātus, born, arisen, made | neonatology |
| necr(o)- | death | Greek νεκρός (nekrós), dead body, corpse, dying person | necrosis, necrotizing fasciitis |
| neo- | new | Greek νέος (néos), young, youthful, new, fresh | neoplasm |
| nephr(o)- | of or pertaining to the kidney | Greek νεφρός (nephrós), kidney | nephrology |
| nerv- | of or pertaining to nerves and the nervous system (uncommon as a root: neuro- mostly always used) | Latin nervus, tendon, nerve; cognate with Greek νεῦρον (neûron), tendon, string, nerve | nerve, nervous system |
| neur- | of or pertaining to nerves and the nervous system | Greek νεῦρον (neûron), tendon, sinew, nerve | neurofibromatosis |
| noci- | pain, injury, hurt | Latin noceō | nociception |
| norm-, normo- | normal | Latin nōrma, norm or standard; lit. carpenter's square | normocapnia |

### O

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| ocul- | of or pertaining to the eye | Latin oculus, the eye | Oculist |
| odont- | of or pertaining to teeth | Greek ὀδούς, ὀδοντ- (odoús, odont-), tooth | orthodontist |
| odyn- | pain | Greek ὀδύνη (odúnē) | stomatodynia |
| -oesophageal, oesophago- (BrE) | gullet | Greek οἰσοφᾰ́γος (oisophágos) | oesophagus |
| -oid | resemblance to | Greek -ειδής (-eidḗs), like, connected to, pertaining to | Sarcoidosis |
| ole | small or little | Latin -olus, suffix to form a diminutive of the noun | arteriole |
| olig- | having little, having few | Greek ὀλῐ́γος (olígos), few | oligotrophy |
| om(o)- | shoulder | Greek ὦμος (ômos), shoulder | omoplate |
| -oma (singular), -omata (plural) | tumor, mass, fluid collection | Greek -μα (-ma), suffix added to verbs to form nouns indicating the result of a process or action; cf. English -tion | sarcoma, teratoma, mesothelioma |
| omphal(o)- | of or pertaining to the navel, the umbilicus | Greek ὀμφαλός (omphalós), navel, belly-button | omphalotomy |
| onco- | tumor, bulk, volume | Greek ὄγκος (ónkos) | oncology |
| -one | | | hormone |
| onych(o)- | of or pertaining to the nail (of a finger or toe) | Greek ὄνυξ, ὀνυχο- (ónux, onukho-), nail; claw; talon | onychophagy |
| oo- | of or pertaining to an (egg), a woman's egg, the ovum | Greek ᾠόν, ᾠο- (ōión, ōio-), egg, ovum | oogenesis |
| oophor(o)- | of or pertaining to the woman's (ovary) | Neoclassical Greek ᾠοφόρον (ōiophóron), ovary, egg-bearing | oophorectomy |
| ophthalm(o)- | of or pertaining to the (eye) | Greek ὀφθαλμός (ophthalmós), the eye | ophthalmology |
| opistho- | back, behind, rear | Greek ὄπῐσθεν (ópisthen), behind, at the back | opisthotonus |
| -opsy | examination or inspection | Greek ὄψῐς (ópsis), view | biopsy, autopsy |
| optic(o)- | of or relating to chemical properties of the eye | Middle French optique; from Greek ὀπτῐκός (optikós); cognate with Latin oculus, relating to the eye | opticochemical, biopsy |
| or(o)- | of or pertaining to the mouth | Latin ōs, ōris, mouth | oral |
| -or | one who, agent noun–forming suffix | generally appended where Latin would do it—to the root of a Latin-type perfect passive participle. Cf. -er | doctor |
| orchi(o)-, orchid(o)-, orch(o)- | testis | Greek ὄρχις (órkhis), testicle, ovary | orchiectomy, orchidectomy |
| orth(o)- | denoting something as straight or correct | Greek ὀρθός (orthós), straight, correct, normal | orthodontist |
| -osis | a condition, disease, process or increase | Greek -ωσις (-ōsis), state, abnormal condition, action | Harlequin type ichthyosis, psychosis, osteoporosis, phagocytosis |
| ossi-, osse- | bone, bony | Latin os, bone | peripheral ossifying fibroma, osseous |
| ost(e)-, oste(o)- | bone | Greek ὀστέον (ostéon), bone | osteoporosis, osteoarthritis |
| ot(o)- | of or pertaining to the ear | Greek οὖς, ὠτ- (oûs, ōt-), the ear | otology, otosclerosis |
| -ous | pertaining to | Latin -ōsus, full of, prone to | porous |
| ovari(o)- | of or pertaining to the ovaries | Latin ōvarium, ovary | ovariectomy |
| ovo-, ovi-, ov- | of or pertaining to the eggs, the ovum | Latin ōvum, egg, ovum | ovogenesis, ovoviviparity |
| oxo-, ox/i | addition of oxygen | | |
| oxy- | sharp, acid, acute; oxygen | borrowed from French oxygène (originally principe oxigine, 'acidifying principle', referring to oxygen's role in the formation of acids, from Greek ὀξύς (oxús), sharp, pointed + γένος (génos), birth) | oxytocin, oxygenated, oxycodone |

### P

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| pachy- | thick | Greek πᾰχῠ́ς (pakhús), thick, large, stout | pachyderma, pachyderm |
| -pagus | Indicates conjoined twins, with the first part denoting the organs fused | Greek πάγος (págos), fixed, set, fastened | xiphopagus, parapagus dicephalus, craniopagus parasiticus |
| palpebr- | of or pertaining to the eyelid (uncommon as a root) | Latin palpebra, eyelid | palpebra |
| pan-, pant(o)- | denoting something as 'complete' or containing 'everything'; "all" | Greek πᾶς, παν- (pâs, pan-), all, every | panophobia, panopticon, pancytopenia (deficiency in all blood cell types - erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes) |
| papill- | of or pertaining to the nipple (of the chest/breast) | Latin papilla, nipple; diminutive of papula (see below) | papillitis |
| papul(o)- | Indicates papulosity, a small elevation or swelling in the skin, a pimple, swelling | Latin papula, pimple, pustle; a small elevation or swelling in the skin | papulation |
| para- | alongside of | Greek πᾰρᾰ́ (pará) | paracyesis |
| -paresis | slight paralysis | Greek πάρεσις (páresis) | hemiparesis |
| parvo- | small | Latin parvus, small, little, unimportant | Parvovirus |
| path(o)- | disease | Greek πᾰ́θος (páthos), pain, suffering, condition | Pathology |
| -pathy | denotes (with a negative sense) a disease, or disorder | Greek πᾰ́θος (páthos), suffering, accident | sociopathy, neuropathy |
| pauci- | Few | Latin paucus | Pauci-immune |
| pector- | breast or chest | Latin pectus | pectoralgia, pectoriloquy, pectorophony |
| ped-, -ped-, -pes | of or pertaining to the foot; -footed | Latin pēs, pēd-, foot | Pedoscope |
| ped-, pedo- | of or pertaining to the child | Greek παῖς, παιδός (paîs, paidós), child | pediatrics. pedophilia |
| pelv(i)-, pelv(o)- | hip bone | Latin pelvis, basin | Pelvis |
| -penia | deficiency | Greek πενῐ́ᾱ, poverty, indigence | osteopenia |
| peo- | of or pertaining to the penis | Greek πέος (péos) | Peotomy |
| -pepsia | denotes something relating to digestion, or the digestive tract. | Greek πεπτός (peptós), cooked, digested < πέσσω (péssō), I boil, cook; digest | dyspepsia |
| per- | through | Latin per, through, by means of | percutaneous |
| peri- | denoting something with a position 'surrounding' or 'around' another | Greek περῐ́ (perí), around, about, concerning | periodontal |
| -pexy | fixation | Greek πῆξις (pêxis), fixing in place, fastening | nephropexy |
| phaco- | lens-shaped | Greek φᾰκός (phakós), lentil-bean | phacolysis, phacometer, phacoscotoma |
| -phagia, -phage | Forms terms denoting conditions relating to eating or ingestion | Greek φαγία (phagía) eating < φᾰγεῖν (phageîn), to eat | Trichophagia |
| -phago- | eating, devouring | Greek -φᾰ́γος (-phágos), eater of, eating | phagocyte |
| phagist- | Forms nouns that denote a person who 'feeds on' the first element or part of the word | Greek φαγιστής (phagistḗs) eater; see -phagia | Lotophagi |
| -phagy | Forms nouns that denotes 'feeding on' the first element or part of the word | Greek φαγία (phagia) eating; see -phagia | hematophagy |
| phall- | phallus | Greek φαλλός (phallós), penis | Aphallia |
| pharmac- | drug, medication | Greek φάρμᾰκον (phármakon), witchcraft, drug | pharmacology |
| pharyng- | of or pertaining to the pharynx, the upper throat cavity | Greek φᾰ́ρῠγξ, φαρυγγ- (phárunx, pharung-), throat, windpipe; chasm | pharyngitis, pharyngoscopy |
| -phil(ia) | attraction for | Greek φῐλῐ́ᾱ (philíā), friendship, love, affection | hemophilia |
| phleb- | of or pertaining to the (blood) veins, a vein | Greek φλέψ, φλεβ- (phléps, phleb-), blood-vessel, vein | phlebography, phlebotomy |
| -phobia | exaggerated fear, sensitivity, aversion | Greek φόβος (phóbos), terror, fear, flight, panic | arachnophobia |
| phon- | sound | Greek φωνή (phōnḗ) | phonograph, symphony |
| phos- | of or pertaining to light or its chemical properties, now historic and used rarely. See the common root phot- below. | Greek φῶς, φᾰ́ος, φωτ- (phôs, pháos), light | phosphene |
| phot- | of or pertaining to light | Greek φωτω- (phōtō-), < φῶς (phôs), light | photopathy |
| phren-, phrenic- | the mind | Greek φρήν (phrḗn), intellect, wits, mind | phrenic nerve, schizophrenia |
| phyllo- | leaf-like | Greek φῠ́λλον (phúllon), leaf, foliage, plant | phyllodes tumour, phyllotaxis |
| -phyte, phyto- | to grow | Greek φῠτόν (phutón), plant, tree | hydrophyte |
| pia | soft | Medieval Latin pia mater, tender mother, from Latin pia, pius, pious, dutiful, good | pia mater |
| piri- | Pear | Latin pirum, cognate with Greek ἄπιον (ápion), pear | Piriformis muscle |
| -plasia | formation, development | Greek πλᾰ́σῐς (plásis), moulding, conformation | Achondroplasia |
| -plasty | surgical repair, reconstruction | Greek πλαστός (plastós), molded, formed | rhinoplasty |
| -plegia | paralysis | Greek πληγή (plēgḗ), stroke (from a sword), from πληγή (plēgḗ), to strike or smite | paraplegia |
| pleio- | more, excessive, multiple | Greek πλεῖον (pleîon), more | pleiomorphism |
| pleur- | of or pertaining to the ribs | Greek πλευρᾱ́ (pleurā́), rib, side of the body | Pleurogenous |
| -plexy | stroke or seizure | Greek πλήσσω, πλήσσειν (plḗssō, plḗssein), to strike or smite | Cataplexy |
| pne-, pneum- | air, breath, lung | Greek πνεῖν (pneîn), πνεῦμα, πνεύματος (pneûma, pneúmatos), πνεύμων (pneúmōn) | apnea, pneumatology, pneumonocyte, pneumonia |
| pod-, -pod-, -pus | of or pertaining to the foot, -footed | Greek πούς, ποδ- (poús, pod-), foot | podiatry |
| -poiesis | production | Greek ποίησις (poíēsis), poetry, poem, creation | hematopoiesis |
| polio- | having a grey color | Greek πολῐός (poliós), grey, grizzled | poliomyelitis |
| poly- | denotes a 'plurality' of something | Greek πολῠ́ς (polús), many, a lot of, large, great | polymyositis |
| por- | pore, porous | Greek πόρος (póros), passage, passageway | pore |
| porphyr- | denotes a purple color | Greek πορφύρα (porphúra), Tyrian purple, royal purple | porphyroblast |
| post- | denotes something as 'after (time)' or 'behind (space)' another | Latin post, after, behind | postoperation, postmortem |
| pre- | denotes something as 'before' another (in [physical] position or time) | Middle English pre-, from Medieval Latin pre- < (Classical) Latin prae-, before, in front of | premature birth |
| presby- | old age | Greek πρέσβυς (présbus), old man, elder | presbyopia, presbycusis |
| prim- | denotes something as 'first' or 'most-important' | Latin prīmus, first, most important | primary |
| pro- | denotes something as 'before' another (in [physical] position or time) | Greek πρό- (pró-), before, in front of | procephalic |
| proct- | anus, rectum | Greek πρωκτός (prōktós), anus | proctology |
| prosop- | face | Greek πρόσωπον (prósōpon), face, visage, mask | prosopagnosia |
| prot- | denotes something as 'first' or 'most important' | Greek πρωτος (prōtos), first; principal, most important | protoneuron |
| pseud- | denotes something false or fake | Greek ψεύδω (pseúdō), to lie or deceive | pseudoephedrine |
| psor- | Itching | Greek ψώρα (psṓra), itch, mange, scurvy | psoriasis |
| psych- | of or pertaining to the mind | Greek ψυχή (psukhḗ), breath, life, soul | psychology, psychiatry |
| ptero-, ptery- | Pertaining to a wing; 'pterygo-', wing-shaped | Greek πτερόν (pterón), wing, feather | lateral pterygoid plate |
| -ptosis | falling, drooping, downward placement, prolapse | Greek πτῶσῐς (ptôsis), falling | apoptosis, nephroptosis |
| -ptyal-, ptyalo | saliva, salivary glands, sialaden | | ptyalolithiasis |
| -ptysis | spitting | Greek πτῡ́ω (ptū́ō), to spit up, disgorge; + -σις (-sis), added to verb stems to form abstract nouns or nouns of action, result or process | hemoptysis, the spitting of blood derived from the lungs or bronchial tubes |
| pulmon-, pulmo- | of or relating to the lungs | Latin pulmō, a lung | pulmonary |
| py- | pus | Greek πύον (púon), pus | pyometra |
| pyel- | pelvis | Greek πύελος (púelos), pelvis, wash basin | pyelonephritis |
| pykno- | to thicken (as the nucleus does in early stages of cell death) | Greek πύκνωσις (púknōsis), thickening | pyknosis |
| pylor- | gate | Greek πυλωρός (pulōrós), gate keeper; lower orifice of the stomach | pyloric sphincter |
| pyr- | fever | Greek πῦρ, πυρετός (pûr, puretós), fire, heat, fever | antipyretic |

### Q–R

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| quadr(i)- | four | Latin quattuor | quadriceps |
| radi- | radiation | Latin radiō, I radiate, emit beams; from radius, ray of light, spoke of a wheel | radiowave |
| radic- | referring to the beginning, or the root, of a structure, usually a nerve or a vein | Latin rādīx, root | radiculopathy |
| re- | again, back | Latin re- | relapse |
| rect- | rectum | abbr. of New Latin rectum intestinum ('straight intestine') < Latin rēctus, straight | rectal, rectum, rectus femoris |
| ren(o) | of or pertaining to the kidney | Latin rēn, rēnes, kidney | renal |
| reticul(o)- | net | Latin rēticulum | reticulocyte |
| retro- | backward, behind | Latin retro | retroversion, retroverted |
| rhabd(o)- | rod shaped, striated | Greek ῥᾰ́βδος (rhábdos), wand, stick, stripe | rhabdomyolysis |
| rhachi(o)- | spine | Greek ῥάχις (rhákhis), spine or backbone | rachial, rachialgia, rachidian, rachiopathy |
| rhin(o)- | of or pertaining to the nose | Greek ῥίς, ῥῑνο- (rhís, rhīno-), nose | rhinoceros, rhinoplasty |
| rhod(o)- | denoting a rose-red color | Greek ῥόδον (rhódon), rose | rhodophyte |
| -rrhage, -rrhagia | burst forth, rapid flow (of blood, usually) | Greek -ραγία (-ragía), to break, to burst | hemorrhage, menorrhagia |
| -rrhaphy | surgical suturing | Greek ῥαφή (rhaphḗ) | hymenorrhaphy, neurorrhaphy |
| -rrhea (AmE) | flowing, discharge | Greek ῥοίᾱ (rhoíā), flow, flux | galactorrhea, diarrhea |
| -rrhexis | rupture | Greek ῥῆξῐς (rhêxis), breaking, bursting, discharge | karyorrhexis |
| -rrhoea (BrE) | flowing, discharge | Greek ῥοίᾱ (rhoíā), flow, flux | diarrhoea |
| rubr(o)- | of or pertaining to the red nucleus of the brain | Latin ruber, red | rubrospinal |
| -rupt | break or burst | Latin rumpō | erupt, interrupt |

### S

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| salping(o)- | of or pertaining to tubes, e.g. fallopian tubes | Greek σᾰ́λπῐγξ, σαλπιγγ-, (sálpinx, salping-), trumpet | salpingectomy, salpingopharyngeus muscle |
| sangui-, sanguine- | of or pertaining to blood | Latin sanguis, blood | sanguine |
| sapro- | relating to putrefaction or decay | Greek σαπρός (saprós), rotten, putrid | saprogenic |
| sarco- | muscular, flesh-like | Greek σάρξ (sárx), flesh | sarcoma, sarcoidosis |
| scapul(o)- | of or pertaining to the scapula | Latin (scapula), shoulder | scapulothoracic, facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy |
| schist(o)- | split, cleft | Greek σχῐστός (skhistós), cloven, divided | schistocyte |
| schiz(o)- | denoting something "split" or "double-sided" | Greek σχῐ́ζω (skhízō), I split, cleave, part; irregular formation of the verb σχῐ́ζειν (skhízein), to cut, split | schizophrenia |
| scler(o)- | hard | Greek σκληρός (sklērós) | scleroderma |
| -sclerosis | hardening | Greek σκληρός (sklērós), hard, harden; + -σῐς (-sis), added to verb stems to form abstract nouns or nouns of action, result or process | atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis |
| scoli(o)- | twisted | Greek σκολιός (skoliós), curved, bent | scoliosis |
| -scope | instrument for viewing | Greek σκόπος (skópos), watcher | stethoscope |
| -scopy | process of viewing | Greek σκοπέω (skopéō), to look at, behold, examine | endoscopy |
| scoto- | darkness | Greek σκότος (skótos) | scotopic vision |
| semi- | one-half, partly | Latin semi- | semiconscious |
| sial(o)- | saliva, salivary gland | Latin salīva, saliva. | sialagogue |
| sigmoid(o)- | sigmoid, S-shaped curvature | Greek σιγμοειδής (sigmoeidḗs), crescent-shaped, lunate sigma-shaped | sigmoid colon |
| sinistr(o)- | left, left side | Latin sinister | sinistrocardia |
| sinus- | of or pertaining to the sinus | Latin sinus, a curve, bend, hollow cavity, bosom | sinusitis |
| sito- | food, grain | Greek σῖτος (sîtos) | sitophobia |
| somat(o)-, somatico- | body, bodily | Greek σῶμα (sôma) | somatic |
| somn(o) | Sleep | Latin somnus, sleep, drowsiness | insomniac |
| -spadias | slit, fissure | Greek σπάω (spáō), break, split | hypospadias, epispadias |
| spasmo- | spasm | Greek σπασμός (spasmós) | Spasmodic dysphonia |
| sperma-, spermo-, spermato- | semen, spermatozoa | Greek σπέρμα (spérma), seed, semen | spermatogenesis |
| splanchn(i)-, splanchn(o)- | viscera | Greek σπλᾰ́γχνον (splánkhnon), bowels, guts | splanchnology |
| splen(o)- | spleen | Greek σπλήν, σπλην- (splḗn, splēn-), spleen, milt | splenectomy |
| spondyl(o)- | of or pertaining to the spine, the vertebra | Greek σφόνδῠλος / σπόνδυλος (sphóndulos, spóndulos), the spine | spondylitis |
| squamos(o)- | denoting something as "full of scales" or "scaly" | Latin squāmōsus, full of scales, scaly | squamous cell |
| -stalsis | contraction | Greek στέλλω (stéllō), I dispatch, place, set | peristalsis |
| -stasis | stopping, standing | Greek στᾰ́σῐς (stásis), to stand, place, set | cytostasis, homeostasis |
| -statin | maintain cholesterol | Latin (stare), to remain or instill | Statin |
| -staxis | dripping, trickling | Greek στάζω, στακτός (stázō, staktós), drip, leak, trickle | epistaxis |
| sten(o)- | denoting something as narrow in shape or pertaining to narrowness | Greek στενός (stenós), narrow, short | stenography |
| -stenosis | abnormal narrowing of a blood vessel or other tubular organ or structure | Greek στενός (stenós), narrow, short; + -σῐς (-sis), added to verb stems to form abstract nouns or nouns of action, result or process | restenosis, stenosis |
| steth- | of or pertaining to the upper chest, the area above the breast and under the neck | Greek στῆθος (stêthos), chest, cuirass | stethoscope |
| stheno- | strength, force, power | Greek σθένος (sthénos) | |
| stom-, stomat- | of or pertaining to the mouth; an artificially created opening | Greek στόμᾰ, στοματ- (stóma, stomat-), mouth | stomatogastric, stomatognathic system |
| -stomy | creation of an opening | New Latin stoma, opening; from Greek στόμᾰ (stóma) | colostomy |
| sub- | beneath, under | Latin sub | subcutaneous tissue |
| super- | in excess, above, superior | Latin super | superior vena cava |
| supra- | above, excessive | Latin supra | supraorbital vein |
| sy, syl-, sym-, syn-, sys- | indicates similarity, likeness, or being together; assimilates before some consonants: before l to syl-, s to sys-, before a labial consonant to sym- | Greek σῠν- (sun-), with, together | symptom, synalgia, synesthesia, syssarcosis |

### T

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| tachy- | denoting something as fast, irregularly fast | Greek τᾰχῠ́ς (takhús), fast, quickly | tachycardia, tachypnea |
| -tension, -tensive | pressure | Latin tēnsiō, stretching, extension, tension | hypertension |
| terato- | Monster | Greek τέρᾰς (téras) | teratoma, teratogen |
| tetan- | rigid, tense | Greek τέτανος (tétanos) | tetanus |
| thec- | case, sheath | Greek θήκη (thḗkē) | intrathecal |
| thel- | of or pertaining to a nipple (uncommon as a prefix) | Greek θηλή (thēlḗ), a teat, nipple | Theleplasty, thelarche |
| thely- | denoting something as relating to a woman, feminine | Greek θῆλῠς (thêlus), female, feminine | Thelygenous |
| therap- | treatment | Greek θερᾰπείᾱ (therapeíā) | hydrotherapy, therapeutic |
| therm(o)- | heat | Greek θερμός (thermós) | hypothermia, thermoregulation |
| thorac(i)-, thorac(o)-, thoracico- | of or pertaining to the upper chest, chest; the area above the breast and under the neck | Latin thōrāx < Greek θώρᾱξ (thṓrāx), chest, cuirass | thoracic spine, thorax |
| thromb(o)- | of or relating to a blood clot, clotting of blood | Greek θρόμβος (thrómbos), lump, piece, clot of blood | thrombus, thrombocytopenia |
| thyr(o)- | thyroid | Greek θῠρεός (thureós), large oblong shield; + εἶδος (eîdos), a form or shape | |
| thym- | emotions | Greek θῡμός (thūmós), spirit, soul; courage; breath, mind, emotions | dysthymia |
| -tic | pertaining to | Greek -τῐκός (-tikós), adjective-forming suffix denoting: relating to, able to, suited to | |
| -tide | bound to, forming a noun from an adjective by dropping -ic and adding -tide. | Greek - πεπτός (- peptós), adjective-forming suffix denoting: bound to, relating to, able to, suited to | Glycopeptide Nucleotide Peptide |
| toco- | childbirth | Greek τόκος (tókos) | tocolytic, dystocia |
| -tome | cutting instrument | Greek τομή (tomḗ), intersection | osteotome |
| -tomy | act of cutting; incising, incision | Greek τομία (-tomía) | Gastrotomy, Phlebotomy |
| ton- | tone, tension, pressure | Greek τόνος (tónos), rope, cord; tension | Tonicity, Isotonic saline |
| -tony | tension | Greek -τονία (-tonía) | Hypotonia |
| top(o)- | place, topical | Greek τόπος (tópos) | Topical anesthetic |
| tort(i)- | twisted | Latin tortus | Torticollis, Testicular torsion |
| tox(i)-, tox(o)-, toxic(o)- | toxin, poison | Greek τοξικόν (toxikón), bow (archery), bow-related; from Greek τοξικόν φάρμᾰκον (toxikón phármakon), poison for smearing arrows with | Toxoplasmosis, Toxidrome |
| trache(a)- | trachea | Greek τραχεῖα (trakheîa), windpipe | Tracheotomy |
| trachel(o)- | of or pertaining to the neck | Greek τρᾰ́χηλος (trákhēlos), neck | Tracheloplasty |
| trans- | denoting something as moving or situated across or through | Latin trāns, across, through | Transfusion |
| tri- | three | Latin tri- | Triceps, Trisomy |
| trich(i)-, trichia, trich(o)- | of or pertaining to hair, hair-like structure | Greek θρῐ́ξ (thríx), hair | Trichocyst |
| -tripsy | crushing | Greek τρῖψις (trípsis), rubbing, friction | Lithotripsy |
| -trophy | nourishment, development | Greek τροφή (trophḗ), food, nourishment | Pseudohypertrophy |
| -trop | turned toward, with an orientation toward, having an affinity for, affecting | Greek τρόπος (trópos), a turn, way, manner, style | Geotropic, Phototropic |
| tympan(o)- | eardrum | Greek τῠ́μπᾰνον (túmpanon), drum, eardrum | Tympanocentesis, Tensor tympani |

### U

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| -ula, -ule | small | Latin | Nodule |
| ultra- | beyond, excessive | Latin ultra | ultrasound, ultraviolet |
| umbilic- | of or pertaining to the navel, the umbilicus | Latin umbilīcus, navel, belly-button | umbilical |
| ungui- | of or pertaining to the nail, a claw | Latin unguis, nail, claw | unguiform, ungual |
| un(i)- | one | Latin ūnus | unilateral hearing loss |
| ur- | of or pertaining to urine, the urinary system | Greek οὐρέω, οὐρεῖν (ouréō, oureîn); οὖρον (oûron), urine | antidiuretic, diuresis, diuretic, dysuria, enuresis, polyurea, polyuria, uraemia/uremia, uremic, ureter, urethra, urology |
| urin- | of or pertaining to urine, the urinary system | Latin ūrīna, urine < Greek οὖρον (oûron), see ur- above. | uriniferous |
| uter(o)- | of or pertaining to the uterus or womb | Latin uterus, womb, uterus | uterus |

### V

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| vagin- | of or pertaining to the vagina | Latin vāgīna, sheath, scabbard; vagina | vaginal epithelium |
| varic(o)- | swollen or twisted vein | Latin varix | varicose, esophageal varices |
| vas(o)- | duct, blood vessel | Latin vās, vessel, dish, vase | vasoconstriction |
| vasculo- | blood vessel | Latin vāsculum | cardiovascular |
| ven- | of or pertaining to the veins, venous blood, and the vascular system | Latin vēna, blood-vessel, vein | venule, venospasm |
| ventr(o)- | of or pertaining to the belly, the stomach cavities | Latin venter, belly, stomach, womb | ventrodorsal |
| ventricul(o)- | of or pertaining to the ventricles; any hollow region inside an organ | Latin ventriculus, the ventricles of the heart, the ventricles of the brain | cardiac ventriculography, atrioventricular node |
| -version | turning | Latin versiō | anteversion, retroversion |
| vesic(o)- | of or pertaining to the bladder | Latin vēsīca, bladder, blister | vesical arteries |
| viscer(o)- | of or pertaining to the internal organs, the viscera | Latin viscus (pl. viscera), internal organ(s) | viscera |

### X–Z

| Affix | Meaning | Origin language and etymology | Example(s) |
| xanth(o)- | having a yellow color, especially an abnormally yellow color | Greek ξᾰνθός (xanthós), yellow | xanthopathy xanthelasma |
| xen(o)- | foreign, different | Greek ξένος (xénos), foreign, stranger | xenograft |
| xer(o)- | dry, desert-like | Greek ξηρός (xērós), dry | xerostomia, xeroderma |
| xiph- | sword | Greek ξῐ́φος (xíphos), sword | xiphisternum, xiphoid, xiphoidalgia |
| -y | condition or process of | Latin -ia, from Greek -ῐ́ᾱ, -ειᾰ (-íā, -eia), suffixes used to form abstract nouns | surgery |
| ze- | boil | Greek ζέω (zéō), to boil, seethe, bubble | eczema |
| zo(o)- | animal, animal life | Greek ζῷον (zôion) | zoology |
| zym(o)- | fermentation | Greek ζύμη (zúmē), leaven, yeast | enzyme, lysozyme |

## English meanings

This section contains lists of different root classification (e.g. body components, quantity, description, etc.). Each list is alphabetized by English meanings, with the corresponding Greek and Latin roots given.

### Roots of the body
#### Roots of bodily concepts

| Bodily concept | Greek root in English | Latin root in English | Other root in English |
| digestion | -pepsia | – | – |
| disease | -pathy | – | – |
| eating | -phagia | -vory | – |

#### Body parts and substances

| Body part or component | Greek root in English | Latin root in English | Other root in English |
| abdomen | lapar- | abdomin- | – |
| aorta | aort- | – | – |
| arm | brachi- | arm- | – |
| armpit | maschal- | axill- | – |
| artery | arteri- | – | – |
| back | not- | dors- | – |
| big toe | – | allic-, hallic- | – |
| bladder | cyst- | vesic- | – |
| blood | haem(at)- (Br. English); hem(at)- (Am. English) | sangui-, sanguin- | – |
| blood clot | thromb- | – | – |
| blood vessel | angi- | vas-, vascul- | – |
| body | soma-, somat- | corpor- | – |
| bone | oste- | ossi- | – |
| bone marrow, marrow | myel- | medull- | – |
| brain | encephal- | cerebr- | – |
| breast | mast- | mamm- | – |
| chest | steth- | pector- | – |
| cheek | parei- | bucc- | – |
| ear | ot(o)- | aur(i)- | – |
| eggs, ova | oo- | ov- | – |
| eye | ophthalm(o)- | ocul(o)- | optic(o)- (French) |
| eyelid | blephar(o)- | cili-, palpebr- | – |
| face | prosop(o)- | faci(o)- | – |
| fallopian tubes | salping(o)- | – | – |
| fat, fatty tissue | lip(o)- | adip- | – |
| finger | dactyl(o)- | digit- | – |
| forehead | – | front(o)- | – |
| gallbladder | cholecyst(o)- | fell- | – |
| genitals, sexually undifferentiated | gon(o)-, phall(o)- | – | – |
| gland | aden(o)- | – | – |
| glans penis or clitoridis | balan(o)- | – | – |
| gums | – | gingiv- | – |
| hair | trich(o)- | capill- | – |
| hands | cheir(o)-, chir(o)- | manu- | – |
| head | cephal(o)- | capit(o)- | – |
| heart | cardi(o)- | cordi- | – |
| hip, hip-joint | – | cox- | – |
| horn | cerat(o)- | cornu- | – |
| intestine | enter(o)- | – | – |
| jaw | gnath(o)- | – | – |
| kidney | nephr(o)- | ren- | – |
| knee | gon- | genu- | – |
| lip | cheil(o)-, chil(o)- | labi(o)- | – |
| liver | hepat(o)- | jecor- | – |
| loins, pubic region | episi(o)- | pudend- | – |
| lungs | pneumon- | pulmon(i)-, (pulmo-) | – |
| marrow, bone marrow | myel(o)- | medull- | – |
| mind | psych- | ment- | – |
| mouth | stomat(o)- | or- | – |
| muscle | my(o)- | – | – |
| nail | onych(o)- | ungui- | – |
| navel | omphal(o)- | umbilic- | – |
| neck | trachel(o)- | cervic- | – |
| nerve; the nervous system | neur(o)- | nerv- | – |
| nipple, teat | thele- | papill-, mammill- | – |
| nose | rhin(o)- | nas- | – |
| ovary | oophor(o)- | ovari(o)- | – |
| pelvis | pyel(o)- | pelv(i)- | – |
| penis | pe(o)- | – | – |
| pupil (of the eye) | cor-, core-, coro- | – | – |
| rib | pleur(o)- | cost(o)- | – |
| rib cage | thorac(i)-, thorac(o)- | – | – |
| shoulder | om(o)- | humer(o)- | – |
| sinus | – | sinus- | – |
| skin | derm-, dermat(o)- | cut-, cuticul- | – |
| skull | crani(o)- | – | – |
| stomach | gastr(o)- | ventr(o)- | – |
| testis | orchi(o)-, orchid(o)- | – | – |
| throat (upper throat cavity) | pharyng(o)- | – | – |
| throat (lower throat cavity/voice box) | laryng(o)- | – | – |
| thumb | – | pollic- | – |
| tooth | odont(o)- | dent(i)- | – |
| tongue | gloss-, glott- | lingu(a)- | – |
| toe | dactyl(o)- | digit- | – |
| tumour | cel-, onc(o)- | tum- | – |
| ureter | ureter(o)- | ureter(o)- | – |
| urethra | urethr(o)-, urethr(a)- | urethr(o)-, urethr(a)- | – |
| urine, urinary system | ur(o)- | urin(o)- | – |
| uterine tubes | salping(o)- | salping(o)- | – |
| uterus | hyster(o)-, metr(o)- | uter(o)- | – |
| vagina | colp(o)- | vagin- | – |
| vein | phleb(o)- | ven- | – |
| vulva | episi(o)- | vulv- | – |
| womb | hyster(o)-, metr(o)- | uter(o)- | – |
| wrist | carp(o)- | carp(o)- | – |

### Roots of color

| Color | Greek root in English | Latin root in English | Other root in English |
| black | melan- | atr-, nigr- | – |
| blue | cyan- | cerule- | – |
| gold | chrys- | aur- | – |
| gray, grey | poli- | can- | – |
| green | chlor- | vir- | – |
| purple | porphyr- | purpur-, purpureo- | – |
| red | erythr-, rhod- | rub-, rubr-, ruf- | – |
| red-orange | cirrh- | – | – |
| silver | – | argent- | – |
| white | leuc-, leuk- | alb-, cand- | – |
| yellow | xanth- | flav- | jaun- (French) |

### Roots of description

| Description | Greek root in English | Latin root in English | Other root in English |
| bad, incorrect | cac-, dys- | mal- | mis- |
| bent, crooked | ankyl- | prav- | – |
| big | mega-, megal(o)- | magn(i)- | – |
| biggest | megist- | maxim- | – |
| broad, wide | eury- | lat(i)- | – |
| cold | cry(o)- | frig(i)- | – |
| dead | necr(o)- | mort- | – |
| equal | is(o)- | equ(i)- | – |
| false | pseud(o)- | fals(i)- | – |
| fast | tachy- | celer- | – |
| female, feminine | thely- | – | – |
| flat | platy- | plan(i)- | – |
| good, well | eu- | ben(e)-, bon(i)- | – |
| great | mega-, megal(o)- | magn(i)- | – |
| hard | scler(o)- | dur(i)- | – |
| heavy | bar(o)- | grav(i)- | – |
| hollow | coel(o)- | cav(i)- | – |
| huge | megal(o)- | magn(i)- | – |
| irregular | poikil(o) | – | – |
| large; extremely large | mega- | magn(i)- | – |
| largest | megist- | maxim- | – |
| long | macr(o)- | long(i)- | – |
| male, masculine | arseno- | vir- | – |
| narrow | sten(o)- | angust(i)- | – |
| new | ne(o)- | nov(i)- | – |
| normal, correct | orth(o)- | rect(i)- | – |
| old | paleo- | veter- | – |
| sharp | oxy- | ac- | – |
| short | brachy- | brev(i)- | – |
| small | micr(o)- | parv(i)- (rare) | – |
| smallest | – | minim- | – |
| slow | brady- | tard(i)- | – |
| soft | malac(o)- | moll(i)- | – |
| straight | orth(o)- | rect(i)- | – |
| thick | pachy- | crass(i)- | – |
| varied, various | poikilo- | vari- | – |

### Roots of position

| Description | Greek root in English | Latin root in English | Other root in English |
| around, surrounding | peri- | circum- | – |
| internal, within | endo- | intra- | – |
| left | levo- | laev-, sinistr- | – |
| middle | meso-, mes- | medi- | – |
| right | dexi- | dex-, dextr-, dextro- | – |

### Prefixes of quantity or amount

| Description | Greek root in English | Latin root in English | Other root in English |
| double | diplo- | dupli- | – |
| equal | iso- | equi- | – |
| few | oligo- | pauci- | – |
| half | hemi- | semi- | demi- (French) |
| many, much | poly- | multi- | – |
| twice | dis- | bis- | – |