English prefixes

A small dictionary for personal use.

A

a-

1. in, on, at, toward
2. in the state of
3. at such time as
4. in the process of
5. ab-
6. an- (definition 1)

ab- / abs-

1. from
2. away from
3. outside of

ac-

1. to, toward
2. near
3. tendency
4. addition

acantho-

having thorns

acousto-

acoustic

acro-

1. sharp
2. tip
3. extreme
4. peak

actino-

1. radial
2. ray
3. actinic radiation

ad-

1. to, toward
2. near
3. tendency
4. addition

adipo-

1. fat
2. relating to fat

aeolo-

1. in continuous change
2. musical instruments with vibrating reeds

aequi-

1. equal
2. balanced
3. identical

aero-

1. air
2. aircraft

aesthesio-

1. sensation
2. perception

aft-

at or near the back or rear

after-

1. coming after or later
2. having contrary or remote effect
3. having a hindrance or inferiority

again-

1. again
2. against
3. back
4. in return

agri- / agro-

agriculture

ailuro-

cats

akro-

1. sharp
2. tip
3. extreme
4. peak

al-

(Arabic) definite article

aleuro-

wheat flour

algo-

1. pain
2. algae

all-

1. completely
2. absolutely
3. generally

allo-

other, variant

alt- / alter-

1. alternative, other
2. (Germanic) old, ancient

alto-

high

ambi-

1. both
2. around

amelo-

relating to tooth enamel

ammo-

sand

ampelo-

1. vine
2. grape

amphi- / ampho-

1. both
2. near

amylo-

starch

an-

1. not
2. opposite
3. without
4. (Scots) on, at, toward, upon

ana-

1. up
2. on
3. again
4. excessive
5. backward
6. each by itself

andro-

male

anemo-

wind

aniso-

unequal

ankylo-

1. bent, crooked
2. stiff
3. fused

ant-

1. ante-
2. anti-

ante- / antero-

1. prior to
2. in front of
3. anterior

anti-

1. against
2. hostile to
3. contrasting
4. opposite to
5. counter to

antho-

flowers

anthro- / anthropo-

1. human
2. humanity

anxio-

anxiety

apeiro-

infinite

apico-

1. apex
2. the tip of the tongue
3. the root of a tooth

apo-

1. away from
2. separate
3. without
4. derived from
5. related to

après-

after

aqua- / aque-

water

arachno-

1. spiders
2. arachnids

archi- / archo-

1. chief, primary
2. first, original
3. highest
4. extremely, intensely

archaeo- / archaio-

1. ancient
2. primitive

areno-

sand

areo-

Mars

argento-

silver

argyro-

silver

aristo-

best

arithmo-

1. numbers
2. arithmetic

arterio-

arteries

arthro-

1. joints
2. articulations

as-

away from

astheno-

weakness

astragalo-

the anklebone

astro-

1. stars
2. celestial bodies
3. space

at-

1. at, close to
2. away, off

audio-

sound

auri-

gold

auro-

1. noise
2. gold

auto-

1. relating to oneself
2. automatic

auxo-

growth, increase

avi-

bird, flight

avo-

grandfather

axi- / axo-

relating to an axis

B

back-

1. back
2. rear
3. behind
4. reverse
5. in return
6. again
7. false

bacterio-

bacteria

balneo-

relating to baths or bathing

baro- / bary-

1. pressure
2. weight

baryo-

baryons

basi- / baso-

1. positioned at the base
2. forming a base
3. relating to bases (as opposed to acids)

batho- / bathy-

deep, depth

be-

1. by, near, around, close to
2. about, regarding, concerning
3. on, upon
4. at
5. in contact with
6. off, away
7. over
8. across
9. completely, utterly
10. to make
11. to become
12. to cause

bi-

1. bis-
2. bio-

bis-

1. two
2. both
3. pair
4. half

bio-

life

biblio-

1. books
2. the bible

bili-

bile

blasto-

1. buds
2. budding
3. germinating

blenno-

mucus

blepharo-

1. eyelid
2. resembling an eyelid

boreo-

northern

brachio-

arm

brachy-

1. short
2. small
3. brief

brady-

slow

branchio-

gills

brepho-

baby

brevi-

short

bronchi- / broncho-

trachea

bronto-

thunder

bryo-

moss

bucco-

1. cheek
2. oral

bur-

fortified

by-

1. town or city (e.g. “bylaw”)
2. near, around
3. secondary
4. incidental
5. parallel to

C

caco-

1. bad
2. defective

caeno-

1. new
2. recent

calli-

beautiful

capno-

smoke

carcino-

1. cancer
2. Cancer
3. crabs, crustaceans

cardi- / cardio-

heart

carpo-

1. hand
2. wrist

carto-

1. paper
2. cards

cata- / cath-

1. down
2. reverse, backward
3. degenerative

caudo-

tail

ceno-

1. new
2. recent

centi-

1. one hundred
2. one-hundredth

centri- / centro-

1. center
2. central

cephalo-

1. brain
2. head

cerauno-

1. thunder
2. lightning

cerebello-

cerebellum

cerebro-

cerebrum

cero-

wax

chalco-

1. copper
2. brass
3. ore

cheilo-

lip

cheiro-

1. the hands
2. sign language
3. chiropractics

cheli-

claw

chemi- / chemico- / chemo-

chemical

chilia-

thousand

chion-

snow

chiro-

1. the hands
2. sign language
3. chiropractics

chiroptero-

bats

chloro-

1. chlorine
2. green

choano-

funnel

chole-

bile

chondro-

1. grains
2. granular
3. cartilage

choro-

place

chromato-

color

chromo-

1. color
2. chromium
3. strong nuclear force (color force)

chrono-

time

chryso-

1. golden
2. yellow

cine-

1. film, movie
2. cinema

circum-

1. around
2. surrounding

cis-

same side

clado-

clade

cleido-

1. clavicle
2. key

climo-

1. climate
2. weather

clinico-

clinical

clino-

1. slope, angle
2. bed
3. reclining

co-

1. together, mutual, jointly
2. partner
3. to the same degree
4. opposite
5. counterpart
6. dual

cochleo-

1. snail
2. cochlea

coeno-

common

col-

1. with
2. together
3. jointly

colo-

colon

colpo-

vagina

combi-

combination

con-

1. with
2. together
3. jointly

conico- / cono-

cone

contra- / contro-

1. against
2. opposed to

copro-

excrement

cor-

1. with
2. together
3. joint

cortico-

cortex

cosmo-

1. space
2. universe
3. world
4. cosmic rays

costo-

ribs

counter-

in opposition to

cran-

cranberry

cranio-

cranium

cross-

1. exchange, switch
2. across

cruro-

limb

cryo-

1. cold
2. freezing
3. cryonics

crypto-

1. hidden
2. secret
3. heavy sigh cryptocurrency

crystallo-

crystal

cteno-

comb-like

cuneo-

1. wedge-shaped
2. cuneiform

cupro-

copper

cyano-

blue-green

cyber-

1. internet
2. computers

cyclo-

1. circle, circular
2. cyclic
3. cyclones

cyno-

dogs

cysto-

1. cysts
2. sacs
3. urinary bladder

cyto-

cells

D

dacryo-

tears

dactylo-

1. finger
2. toe

dasy-

1. hairy
2. shaggy
3. dense

de-

1. reversing
2. undoing
3. removing
4. leaving
5. intensifying

deca- / decakis-

ten

deci-

one-tenth

deipno-

1. dinner
2. banquet

deka-

ten

demi-

1. half
2. partial

demo-

1. people
2. society

dendro-

1. trees
2. branches

denti- / dento-

teeth

deorsum-

downward

derma- / dermo- / dermato-

1. skin
2. epidermis

des-

1. reversal
2. removal
3. incorrect
4. fail to
5. not
6. against

desmo-

1. bond, connection
2. ligament

deutero-

1. second
2. secondary

dex- / dextro-

right side

di-

1. two
2. twice
3. double

dia-

1. through
2. across
3. between

digi-

1. digits
2. digital

dino-

very large animals or animal parts

diphy-

1. double
2. twofold

diplo-

double

dipso-

1. thirst
2. drinking

dis-

1. reversal
2. removal
3. incorrect
4. fail to
5. not
6. against

disto-

1. distal
2. remote
3. far away

docosa-

twenty-two

dodeca-

twelve

dolicho-

long

dorsi- / dorso-

1. dorsal
2. the back

down-

1. decrease
2. lower
3. de-emphasize

dromo-

1. speed
2. race
3. racecourse

duo-

two

duodeca-

twelve

dwi-

two (in undiscovered chemical elements)

dynamo-

power

dys-

1. difficult
2. bad
3. abnormal
4. fail to, unable to
5. not
6. disease of [body part]

E

e-

1. lacking
2. electric
3. electronic
4. emergency

ecclesio-

church

echino-

1. prickly
2. sea urchins

eco-

1. ecology
2. environment
3. economy

econo-

economy

ecto-

1. outside, external
2. ghosts

ed-

1. again
2. anew
3. re-

ego-

1. self
2. goats

eigen-

1. (one’s) own
2. mathematical objects not affected by a given transformation

eka-

one, first (in undiscovered chemical elements)

elasto-

elastic

electro-

1. electricity, electric
2. electronic music
3. amber

em-

1. in, into
2. on, onto
3. covered
4. caused

embryo-

1. embryos
2. earliest stages

emeto-

vomit

en-

1. in, into
2. on, onto
3. covered
4. caused

enantio-

1. opposite
2. opposed

encephalo-

the brain

endo-

1. inside
2. internal
3. within
4. into

ennea-

nine

enneadeca-

nineteen

eno-

wine

enter-

1. mutual
2. between

enter- / entero-

the intestines

ento-

1. inside
2. internal
3. within
4. into

entomo-

insect

enviro-

1. environment
2. environmental

eo-

earliest

epi-

1. above
2. over
3. on
4. in addition

episio-

1. vulva
2. perineum

epta-

seven

equi-

1. equal
2. balanced
3. identical

ergato-

worker

ergo-

work

eroto-

sexual desire

erythro-

red

estro-

1. estrus
2. estrogen

etho-

1. ethics
2. behavior patterns

eu-

1. good
2. true, genuine

eury-

1. broad
2. wide

even-

1. fellow, joint
2. equal, similar, same
3. straight, direct
4. according to

ex-

1. out of, outside
2. former
3. lacking

exa-

one quintillion

exbi-

2⁶⁰

excito-

excitation

exo-

1. outside
2. external

extra-

1. outside of
2. beyond

extro-

outward

F

f-

functional

facio-

face

fem-

1. female
2. feminine

femoro-

femur

femto-

one quadrillionth

ferro-

1. iron
2. ferrous

foeto-

fetus

fibro-

1. fiber
2. fibrous

Fitz-

son of

flexi-

flexible

fluoro-

1. fluorine
2. fluorescent

fluvio-

river

for-

1. far
2. away
3. out
4. from
5. completely, excessively, very

fore-

1. front
2. before
3. ahead
4. prior

forth-

1. forth
2. forward
3. away

franken-

consisting of haphazardly combined elements

fronto-

frontal

fungi-

fungi

G

gain-

1. against
2. contrary
3. reciprocal
4. returning to
5. repetition

galacto-

1. milk
2. galactose
3. galaxy

galvano-

1. electricity
2. galvanism

gameto-

gametes

gamo-

marriage

ganglio-

ganglions

gastro-

1. stomach
2. cooking

ge-

(Germanic) past participle of a verb

genio-

chin

genito-

genitals

geno-

1. family
2. tribe
3. genetics

geo-

1. Earth
2. geography

gero- / geronto-

the elderly

gibi-

2³⁰

giga-

1. billion
2. intensely
3. extremely

giganto-

1. large
2. gigantic

gingivo-

the gums

glacio-

glaciers

glosso- / glotto-

1. tongue
2. language
3. speech

gluco-

1. sweet
2. glucose

glyco-

sugar

gnatho-

jaw

god-

godfamily

gonio-

angle

grammatico-

grammar

grand-

a generation removed

grapho-

writing

gravi- / gravito-

gravity

great-

a generation removed

gymno-

naked

gyne- / gyneco- / gyno-

female

gyro-

1. circle
2. circular
3. spinning

H

hadro-

hadrons

haemo-

blood

hagio-

saint

half-

1. half
2. partial
3. incomplete
4. a family member related through only one ancestor rather than two

halo-

1. salt
2. sea
3. salt water

haplo-

1. single
2. simple

hapto-

1. attachment
2. binding
3. adhesion

hecato- / hecto-

one hundred

hectokilo-

100,000

helico-

1. helix
2. spiral
3. snails

helio-

sun

hella-

humorous prefix for very large numbers

hemi-

half

hemo- / hemato-

blood

hendeca-

eleven

heorto-

1. feast
2. religious feast

hepato-

liver

hepta-

seven

heptadeca-

seventeen

heptakis-

seven

herpeto-

reptile

hetero-

1. other
2. different

hexa-

six

hexadeca-

sixteen

hexakis-

six

hiero-

1. holy
2. sacred
3. clergy

hippo-

horse

histi- / histo-

tissue

historico- / historio-

history

hodo-

1. road, path
2. travel

holo-

1. whole
2. hologram

home- / homeo-

similar

homo-

same

homoe- / homoeo- / homoi- / homoio-

similar

hoplo-

1. weapons
2. armed

horo-

time

humero-

humerus

hyalo-

glass

hydro-

1. water
2. hydrogen

hyeto-

1. rainfall
2. rain

hygro-

1. moisture
2. humidity

hylo-

1. matter
2. wood

hyper-

1. over
2. above
3. beyond
4. excessive
5. exceptional
6. having more than three spatial dimensions

hypno-

1. sleep
2. hypnosis

hypo-

1. below, under
2. deficient

hypsi- / hypso-

height

hystero-

1. the uterus
2. hysteria

I

i-

1. past participle form of verbs
2. in, into
3. towards

iatro-

doctor

ichno-

trace

ichthyo-

fish

icono-

1. image
2. icon

icosa-

twenty

ictero-

jaundice

ideo-

1. idea
2. image

idio-

1. individuality
2. peculiarity
3. separateness

ig-

1. not
2. lacking
3. without

il-

1. i-
2. ig-

im-

1. i-
2. ig-

in-

1. i-
2. ig-

immuno-

the immune system

infero-

inferior

info-

information

infra-

1. below, beneath
2. inferior

inguino-

groin

insta-

instant

inter-

1. between
2. amid
3. among
4. within
5. during
6. mutual
7. reciprocal

intra-

1. inside
2. within
3. during
4. interior

intro-

inward

Inver-

1. mouth of a river
2. confluence

iono-

ion

ipsi-

1. self
2. same

ir-

1. i-
2. ig-

irido- / iris-

the iris

iso-

1. same
2. identical
3. equivalent

J

juri- / juridico-

1. the law
2. legal infrastructure

juxta-

1. next to
2. alongside

K

ka- / ker-

humorous intensifier for onamatopoeia

karyo-

1. cell nucleus
2. nut
3. kernel
4. grain

kerato-

1. horn
2. cornea

kerauno-

1. thunder
2. lightning

kibi-

2¹⁰

kilo-

one thousand

kine- / kinesi- / kineto-

1. movement
2. motion

klepto-

theft

konio-

dust

L

labio-

1. labia
2. lips

lacto-

milk

lamino-

1. layer
2. lamina

laparo-

1. flank
2. side

laryngo-

1. throat
2. larynx

latero-

side

lepido-

scaly

lepro-

leprosy

lepto-

1. thin
2. narrow
3. slender
4. leptons

leuco- / leuko-

1. white
2. colorless

levo-

left side

lexico-

1. words
2. speech

libro-

books

lieno-

spleen

ligno-

wood

limno-

1. lake
2. pond

linguo-

1. tongue
2. language

lipo-

1. fat
2. lipids

litho-

stone

logico-

logic

logo-

1. words
2. speech

lopho-

1. ridge
2. crest
3. tuft

ludo-

1. games
2. video games

luni-

moon

luteo-

1. orange-yellow
2. brown-yellow

lyo-

1. solvent
2. dissolving
3. dispersion
4. freeze-drying

M

m-

1. behind
2. later
3. subsequent
4. between
5. transcending
6. encompassing
7. beyond
8. reflexive

Mac-

son of

macro-

1. large
2. long
3. inclusive
4. extremely

magico-

1. magic
2. magical

magneto-

1. magnets
2. magnetic

magni-

1. big
2. large

mal-

1. evil
2. bad
3. unhealthy
4. incorrect
5. incomplete
6. poorly
7. not
8. unintentional
9. accidental

malaco-

1. soft
2. molluscs

mammo-

1. breasts
2. udders
3. mammary glands

materno- / matri- / matro-

1. motherhood
2. maternal

maxi-

larger than usual

Mc-

son of

mebi-

2²⁰

mechano-

1. machines
2. mechanisms

meco-

length, distance

medico-

medical

medi- / medio-

middle

mega-

1. one million
2. great
3. very large

megalo-

1. large
2. great
3. exaggerated

mela-

1. dark
2. black

melano-

melanin

melo-

music

membrano-

membrane

meno-

1. month
2. menstruation

mento-

chin

mer-

1. sea
2. marine
3. merpeople

mero-

1. partial
2. thigh

mesio- / meso-

1. middle
2. intermediate

meta-

1. behind
2. later
3. subsequent
4. between
5. transcending
6. encompassing
7. beyond
8. reflexive

metallo-

metal

meteoro-

weather

metro-

1. cities
2. metropolitan
3. poetry
4. meter
5. uterus

micro-

1. one one-millionth
2. very small

micto-

mixed

mid-

1. middle
2. intermediate
3. during
4. amid

milli-

1. one thousand
2. one one-thousandth

mini-

smaller than usual

mis-

1. bad
2. wrong
3. fail
4. accidental
5. false

miso-

1. hatred
2. dislike
3. aversion

mito-

1. thread
2. mitosis

mnemo-

memory

mono-

1. one
2. single
3. only

morpho-

1. shape
2. form

moto-

1. motor
2. movement
3. motorcycle

muci- / muco-

mucus

multi-

many

musculo-

muscles

musico-

music

myo-

muscles

myco-

fungi

myelo-

1. bone marrow
2. spinal cord

mylo-

molars

myria- / myrio-

1. myriad
2. ten thousand

myringo-

eardrum

myrmeco-

ants

myso-

1. dirt
2. filth

mytho-

myths, mythology

myxo-

mucus

N

nano-

1. one one-billionth
2. very small
3. nanotech

narco-

1. sleep
2. stupor
3. unconsciousness
4. narcotics

naso-

the nose

natro-

sodium

ne-

(Latin) not

necro-

death

nega-

1. opposite
2. antithesis

neo-

1. new
2. contemporary

nepho-

cloud

nephro-

kidneys

nervo-

1. nerves
2. nervous tissue
3. the nervous system

nether-

1. low
2. below
3. under
4. beneath
5. inferior

neuro-

1. nerves
2. nervous tissue
3. the nervous system

neutro-

1. neutral
2. neuter

new-

1. recently
2. newly
3. again
4. anew

Nic-

daughter of

nido-

nest-like

nomo-

1. law
2. legislation

non-

1. not
2. none
3. lack of
4. nona-

nona-

nine

nonadeca-

nineteen

normo-

a normal level of

noso-

disease

noto-

south

nucleo-

nucleus

nycto-

1. nighttime
2. darkness

O

O’-

descendant of

ob-

1. against
2. facing
3. reversed

ochlo-

1. mob
2. crowd

octa- / octo-

eight

octadeca-

eighteen

octakis-

eight

oculo-

eye

odonto-

tooth

oeno-

wine

oestro-

1. estrus
2. estrogen

Of-

(U.K.) a regulatory body for a specified industry

off-

1. off
2. away from

oft-

often

oleo-

oil

olfacto-

smell

oligo-

1. few
2. several

ombro-

rain

omni-

all

omo-

1. shoulder
2. raw, crude

omphalo-

the navel

on-

1. on
2. at
3. toward
4. upon

onco-

tumors

oneiro-

dreams

onamato-

1. word
2. name

onto-

1. being
2. existence

onycho-

1. fingernail
2. toenail

oo-

1. egg
2. ova

ophido- / ophio-

snakes

ophthalamo-

eye

opistho-

1. rear
2. back
3. behind

opto-

optical

or-

1. out
2. out of
3. without
4. from the outset

orbito-

orbit

organo-

1. bodily organs
2. organic matter

ornitho-

birds

oro-

the mouth

ortho-

1. straight
2. proper

os-

1. against
2. facing

osmo-

1. smell
2. osmosis

osseo- / ossi- / osteo-

bone

ostreo-

oysters

oto-

ear

out-

1. outside
2. external
3. away from
4. surpassing
5. exceeding
6. greater than
7. beyond
8. completely

over-

1. above
2. higher
3. superior
4. excessive
5. extremely
6. surrounding
7. coating

ovi- / ovo-

1. egg
2. ova

oxy-

1. sharp
2. keen
3. acute
4. acid
5. oxygen

P

pachy-

thick

paedo-

children

palaeo-

1. old, ancient
2. primitive

palato-

palate

paleo-

1. old
2. ancient
3. primitive

palin-

1. recurrence
2. repetition

palladio- / pallado-

palladium

palyno-

1. pollen
2. spores
3. particulates

pano- / panta- / panto-

all

papa-

1. the pope
2. the papacy

para- / p-

1. beside
2. alongside
3. between
4. around
5. near
6. next to
7. through
8. beyond
9. across
10. above
11. incorrect
12. false
13. avoiding
14. unauthorized
15. unrecognized
16. resembling
17. pertaining to
18. related to

pari-

1. even
2. equal

partheno-

1. virginal
2. asexually reproducing

parvo-

small

patho-

disease

patri- / patro-

father

pauci-

few

pebi-

2⁵⁰

pedi-

feet

pedo-

children

peloro-

monsters

pene-

almost

peno-

penis

penta-

five

pentadeca-

fifteen

pentakis-

five

per-

1. through
2. thorough
3. extremely

peri-

1. around
2. surrounding
3. near

perineo-

perineum

perma-

permanent

peta-

one quadrillion

petro-

1. stone
2. petroleum
3. oil

phaco-

lens

phago-

1. eating
2. feeding
3. consuming

phako-

lens

phallo-

1. penis
2. phallus

pharma-

1. pharmacology
2. pharmaceutical

pharmaco-

medicine

pharyngo-

pharynx

pheno-

showing

pheo-

1. grey
2. dark

philo-

1. love
2. fondness
3. respect

phlebo-

veins

phono-

sound

photo-

1. light
2. photography

phragmo-

1. obstruction
2. barrier

phreni- / phreno- / phrenico-

1. mind
2. diagram

phyco-

1. seaweed
2. algae

phyllo-

leaves

phylo-

1. tribes
2. phyla
3. genus
4. species

physi- / physio- / physico-

1. physics
2. physical
3. natural
4. nature

phyto-

plants

pico-

one one-trillionth

picro-

bitter

piezo-

1. mechanical stress
2. pressure
3. piezoelectricity

pilo-

hair

pisci-

fish

pitheco

apes

placento-

placenta

placo-

having a flat plate or plates

plagio-

1. slanted
2. oblique

plani- / plano-

1. flat
2. level

plasto-

1. particle
2. granule
3. plastic

platy-

1. flat
2. flat and wide

pleo-

1. many
2. extra

plesio-

close, near

pleuro-

1. to the side
2. lateral

plumbo-

lead (metal)

pluri-

1. many
2. several

plusquam-

1. more than
2. beyond

pluto-

1. wealth
2. money

pluvio-

1. rain
2. rainfall

pneumo- / pneumono-

lungs

pneumato-

air

podo-

foot, feet

poecilo- / poikilo-

1. variable
2. variegated

pogono-

beard

politico-

political

poly-

many

poro-

1. pore
2. porous

porta-

portable

post-

1. later
2. after
3. behind

postero-

1. posterior
2. back

potamo-

river

prae-

1. before
2. earlier
3. in front of

praeter-

beyond

praseo-

green

pre-

1. before
2. earlier
3. in front of

preter-

beyond

pro- / ꝓ-

1. supporting
2. favoring
3. agreeing
4. forward movement
5. earlier
6. prior
7. in front of
8. rudimentary

procto-

1. colon
2. anus
3. rectum

proto- / protero-

1. first
2. early

proximo-

proximal

psammo-

sand

psepho-

1. pebble
2. small stone
3. voting
4. election

pseudo-

1. false
2. imitation

psycho-

1. soul
2. mind
3. psychology

psychro-

cold

pterido-

fern

ptero- / pterygo-

1. wing
2. feather

ptilo-

1. feather
2. feathery
3. downy

pubo-

the pubic bone

purpureo-

purple

pycno-

1. dense
2. thick

pyelo-

the renal pelvis

pygo-

1. rump
2. posterior

pykno-

1. dense
2. thick

pyo-

pus

pyro-

1. fire
2. heat
3. fever

pyrrh-

red

Q

qu-

quantum computing

quad- / quadr- / quadri- / quadro- / quadru-

four

quarter-

one fourth

quasi-

1. almost
2. virtually
3. resembling
4. somewhat

quater-

1. quad-
2. quarter-

quecto-

10^− 30

quetta-

10³⁰

quin- / quinqu- / quinque-

five

R

radio-

1. radio broadcasting
2. radiation
3. radioactive
4. radius
5. radial

re-

1. again
2. anew
3. back
4. backward

recti-

straight

recto-

rectum

regio-

region

religio-

religion

reno-

kidneys

rept-

1. creep
2. crawl

retino-

retina

retro-

1. back
2. behind
3. the opposite direction
4. an earlier time
5. old-fashioned

rhabdo-

rodlike

rheo-

1. flow
2. current

rhino-

nose

rhizo-

roots

rhodo-

1. rose-colored
2. rhodium

rhombi-

having four-sided faces

rhyncho-

1. beak
2. snout

robo-

1. robot
2. robotic

ronna-

10²⁷

ronto-

10^− 27

roto-

rotation

rufo-

reddish

S

saccharo-

sugar

salpingo-

1. Fallopian tubes
2. Eustachian tube

sapon-

soap

sapro-

1. putrid
2. rotten

sarco-

flesh

sauro-

1. lizard
2. snake

scato-

excrement

schizo-

1. split
2. cleft

sclero-

1. hard
2. sclera

scoto-

darkness

scroto-

scrotum

seismo-

earthquake

seleno-

moon

self-

1. reflexive
2. automatic

semanto-

semantic

semi-

1. half
2. partial
3. incomplete
4. somewhat

semio-

1. semiotics
2. signal

semper-

always

septa- / septi- / septo- / septua-

seven

sero-

serum

sesqui-

one and a half

sexa-

six

sexu- / sexuo-

sexuality

sialo-

saliva

sidero-

1. stars
2. constellations
3. sidereal
4. iron
5. steel

simio-

simians

sinistro-

left side

sino-

sinus

siphono-

siphon

sito-

1. food
2. grain

skeleto-

skeleton

skoto-

darkness

socio-

society

somato-

body

somno-

sleep

sono-

sound

spatio-

space

spectro-

optical spectrum

speleo-

cave

spermato-

1. sperm
2. seed

spheno-

1. wedge
2. wedge-shaped

sphero-

spherical

sphygmo-

pulse of blood

spino-

spine

spiro-

1. spiral
2. helix
3. respiration

splanchno-

1. intestine
2. viscera

spleno-

spleen

spondylo-

spine

spongo-

sponge

spori- / sporo-

spores

squamo-

1. scales
2. scaly

stanno-

tin

staphylo-

grapelike

stauro-

1. cross
2. cross-shaped

steato-

fat

steno-

1. narrow
2. restricted

step-

a family member related by marriage

stereo-

1. hard
2. solid
3. three-dimensional

stetho-

chest

stibio- / stibo-

antimony

sticho-

1. rows
2. lines

stomato-

mouth

strato-

1. strata
2. stratus clouds

strepto-

twisted

stygo-

1. dark
2. damp
3. underworldly

stylo-

1. style
2. stylus

sub-

1. under
2. beneath
3. secondary
4. almost
5. nearly

sucro-

sugar

sulfo- / sulpho-

sulphur

super-

1. above
2. over
3. superior
4. inclusive
5. extremely

supero-

above

supra-

1. over
2. above
3. on top
4. superior
5. transcending
6. extremely

sur-

1. above
2. over
3. superior
4. inclusive
5. extremely

sursum-

upward

syl-

1. with
2. together

sym-

1. identical
2. with
3. together
4. accompanying

sympatho-

sympathetic nervous system

syn-

1. identical
2. with
3. together
4. accompanying

synapto-

1. synapsis
2. synapse

synchro-

1. synchronous
2. synchronized

T

tachi- / tachy-

fast

tapho-

1. grave
2. burial

tauto-

1. repetitive
2. same

taxi- / taxo-

1. order
2. arrangement

tebi-

2⁴⁰

techno-

1. technological
2. the arts

tecno- / tekno-

child

tele-

distant, far

teleio-

adult

teleo-

1. end
2. goal
3. purpose

temporo-

time

teno-

tendon

tephro-

ash

ter-

three

tera-

one trillion

terato-

birth defect

tessara-

four

testiculo-

testicle

tetra-

four

tetracosa-

twenty-four

tetradeca- / tetrakaideca- / tetrakaideka-

fourteen

tetrakis-

four

thalasso-

sea

thanato-

death

thaumato-

1. miracle
2. wonder
3. magic

theo-

1. god
2. deity

therio- / thero-

wild animal

thermo-

heat

thero-

wild animal

thoraco-

thorax

tibio-

tibia

titano-

titanium

to-

1. apart
2. away
3. asunder
4. sepatation
5. negation
6. intensity

toco- / toko-

childbirth

tomo-

1. sections
2. cutting

tono-

1. tone
2. tension
3. pressure

topo-

1. place
2. region
3. area

toxi- / toxico- / toxo

poison

trachelo-

1. neck
2. cervix

tracheo-

trachea

trans-

1. across
2. through
3. over
4. the other side
5. beyond
6. outside of

tri-

three

tribo-

friction

tricho-

hair

tri- / tris-

three

triskaideca- / triskaideka-

thirteen

trito-

one third

trocho-

wheel

tropho-

nourishment

tropo-

1. turning
2. having a specific manner

tubo-

tube

turbo-

1. turbine
2. accelerated
3. enhanced

twi-

1. two
2. double
3. both

tympano-

eardrum

typhl-

1. blind
2. blindness

tyranno-

tyranny

U

uber-

1. over
2. above
3. excessive

udi-

of soil that is moist at most times of year

ulcero-

ulcer

ulno-

ulna

ultra-

1. beyond
2. outside of
3. excessive

um- / umb- / umbe-

1. about
2. around
3. after

un-

1. not
2. without
3. lacking
4. contrary to

undeca-

eleven

under-

1. beneath
2. behind
3. deficient
4. subordinate

uni-

1. one
2. single

up-

increase

ur-

1. primitive
2. original

ureo-

urea

urethro-

urethra-

urino- / uro-

urine

ut-

1. out
2. from
3. without

utero-

uterus

uvul- / uvulo-

uvula

V

vacci-

cow

vagino-

vagina

vasculo- / vaso-

blood vessel

vegeto-

1. vegetable
2. vegetal

velo-

1. velum
2. cycling

vendeko-

10^− 33

veni- / veno-

veins

ventri- / ventro-

abdomen

vertebro-

vertebra

vesico-

bladder

vexillo-

flag

vibro-

vibration

vice-

deputy

video-

moving pictures

vigen- / viginti-

twenty

viro-

virus

viscero-

viscera

visco-

viscous

visuo-

vision

vitello-

egg yolk

vitreo-

vitreous humour

vulvo-

vulva

W

wan-

1. bad
2. not

were-

1. lycanthrope
2. male
3. husband

where-

1. which
2. what
3. whom

widder-

1. against
2. opposition
3. counter
4. contrary

with-

1. against
2. opposition
3. reverse
4. return
5. off
6. out
7. away
8. from
9. with
10. along
11. together

wither-

1. against
2. opposition
3. counter
4. contrary

X

x-

1. trans-
2. cross-

xantho-

yellow

xeno-

1. foreign
2. strange
3. extraterrestrial

xenna-

one octillion

xenno-

one octillionth

xero-

dry

xeri-

1. dry
2. acid

xipho-

1. sword
2. sword-shaped

xylo-

wood

xyro-

1. razor
2. razor-like

Y

y-

past participle form of verbs

yester-

1. former
2. past
3. earlier

yobi-

2⁸⁰

yocto-

one septillionth

yotta-

septillion

Z

z-

the z-axis

zebi-

2⁷⁰

zepto-

one sextillionth

zetta-

sextillion

zoo-

animal

zono-

zone

zygo-

1. union
2. pair

zymo-

fermentation