Eureka!!! Greek for: “I have found!”

What Is the Difference Between Greek and Latin Word Roots Used in Medicine and/or Anatomy?

Medical lingo and expressions are composed of instances of old words from the Greek and Latin language. The major difference between Greek and Latin word parts in medicine and anatomy is that those from the Latin language usually refer a specific part of the body's anatomy, while Greek word parts refer to parts of the body being studied, with special focus on disease and disease processes. For example intestine in Latin is intestinum, while the study of the intestine in Greek is enterology.  Also another example is atrium (L) and hemorrhage (G).

Greek and Latin Word List

A list of prefixes, suffixes and root words from the Greek and Latin language that are now also very common in medicine, particularly medical terminology.

 a-, ab-, abs- (Latin: from, away, away from; used as a prefix)

 a-, an- (Greek: no, absence of, without, lack of, not; used as a prefix)

 abacus (Hebrew > Greek > Latin > Middle English: dust)

 -able (Latin: a suffix; susceptible to action or treatment)

 abdomino-, abdomi-, abdomen- (Latin: belly, venter [the use of “stomach” is considered incorrect for this element])

 abluto-, ablut- (Latin: a washing [especially as a ritual], cleansing)

 abort-, aborti- (Latin: miscarry, pass away, perish by an untimely birth)

 abysso-, abyss-, abys- (Greek > Latin: Greek [abussoz], a-, “no” plus bussos, “bottom” through Latin [abyssus] no bottom, bottomless)

 acerbo-, acerb- (Latin: bitter, sharp, sour, stinging)

 achillo-, achill-, Achilles (Greek > Latin: tendon at the back of the heel)

 aco-, aceo- (Greek: remedy, cure)

 acous-, acou-, acouo-, acoustico-, acouto-, acousti-, -acousia, -acousis, -acoustical, acu- (Greek: hearing, listening, of or for hearing)

 acro-, acr- (Greek: high, highest, highest point; top, tip end, outermost; extreme; extremity of the body)

 adelpho-, adelph-, -adelphia, -adelphous (Greek: brother; also adeipho: a brother, boy)

 adeno-, aden- (Greek: gland(s), glandular [from “acorn”])

 adipo-, adip-, adipos- (Latin: fat, lard; of or pertaining to fat; fleshy)

 aeluro-, aelur-, ailuro-, ailouro-, ailur-, eluro- (Greek: cat)

 aeolo-, aeol- (Latin: air, wind; rapid, quick)

 aero-, aer- (Greek: air, mist, wind)

 aesculus- (Latin: ancient name of an Italian oak; now applied to the horse chestnut by >> med asst net))

 aesth-, esth-, aesthe-, esthe-, aesthesio-, esthesio-, aesthesia-, -esthesia, -aesthetic, -esthetic, -aesthetical, -esthetical, -aesthetically, -esthetically (Greek: feeling, sensation, perception)

 agape- (Greek > Latin: love feast of the early Christians; love, love feast; to love)

 agglutino-, aggluto-, agglutin- (Latin: ad-, “to, toward, near” plus gluten, glutinis, “glue, beeswax”)

 agora-, -gor- (Greek: assembly, market place; open space, public speaking; originally, “to unite”)

 agra- (Greek > Latin: pertaining to land or fields)

 agrosto-, agrost- (Greek: wild grass; grass)

 agryp- (Greek: sleeplessness, wakefulness; originally it meant “sleeping in the field”)

 aigialo-, aigial-, aigi- (Greek: beach, seashore; and also a cliff)

 ala-, ali-, al- (Latin: wing)

albo-, alb-, -albify (Latin: the color white)

 aletho-, aleth- (Greek: true; nothing concealed; real [from a-, “no, nothing” and letho-, “forgetfullness, oblivion”])

 alga [s], algae [pl], alg- (Latin: seaweed)

 algesi-, alge-, alges-, algesio-, algo-, alg-, algio-, -algesia, -algesic, -algetic, -algic, -algia, -algy (Greek: pain, sense of pain; painful; hurt)

 algo-, alg- (Greek: pain)

 allanto-, allant- (Greek: sausage)

 allelo-, allel- (Greek: one another, of one another; literally, “the other”; reciprocally; in mutual relation)

 allotrio- , allotri- (Greek: different, of or belonging to another; foreign, strange; abnormal; perverse)

 amatho-, amath-, amathi- (Greek: sand [dust])

 ambi-, amb- (Latin: both, on both sides; around, about)

 amblyo-, ambly- (Greek: dull, dullness, dim, dimness, blunt; stupid)

 ambo- (Latin: both; the two)

 amni- (Latin: stream of water, river)

 -andro- andr-, -ander, -andra, -andria, -andrian, -andric, -andrism, -androus, -andries, -andry (Greek: man, male; as contrasted to woman; stamen or anther)

 anima-, anim- (Latin: animal life; breath; soul; mind)

 aniso-, anis- (Greek: unequal; by extension: unsymmetrical, uneven; dissimilar, unlike)

 apodyso-, -apodys-, -dyso, -dys, -dysis (Greek: undress, disrobe; take off, strip, lay bare; shed, molt)

 aracho-, arachi-, araki- (Greek > Latin: legume; peanut)

 arch-, archi- (Greek > Latin: chief, principal leader, first [in position or rank])

 -arch, -archic, -archical, -archism, -archy (Greek: govern, rule; ruler, chief [first in position])

 -arian (Latin: a suffix; a person who, a thing that; a person who is a part of something, pertaining to one’s state or condition)

 -ase (Greek: a suffix indicating an enzyme)

 athero-, ather- (Greek: groats, porridge)

 atmo-, atm- (Greek: vapor, steam; air, gas; respiration)

 atrio-, atri- (Latin: entrance hall or chamber; upper heart chamber; central room)

 author- (Latin: master, leader; he/she who brings about [something])

 bacchus [BAK uhs] (Greek > Latin: an ancient Greek and Roman god of wine and revelry; earlier called Dionysus by the Greeks)

 bentho-, benth- (Greek: deep; the fauna and flora of the bottom of the sea; sea bottom; depth [by extension, this element includes lake, river and stream bottoms])

 bio-, bi-, -bia, -bial, -bian, -bion, -biont, -bius, -biosis, -bium, -biotic, -biotical, -biotic (Greek: life; living, live, alive)

 borborygmo-, borborygm- (Greek > Latin: intestinal rumblings, to rumble; gurgling and splashings)

bosci, bosc- (Greek > Latin: to feed, graze)

botul-, botuli- (Latin: [botulus] sausage)

brachio-, brachi- (Greek: arm [especially the upperarm from the shoulder to the elbow])

brady- (Greek: slow, slowness; delayed, tardy)

bronto-, bront- (Greek: thunder)

butyro-, butyr- (Greek > Latin: butter; from bou[s] , “ox, cow” plus tyro[s], “cheese”)

C
calque [KALK] (Latin: calx, heel, to tread; through Italian and French: an imitation, tracing)

capno-, capn-, -capnod- (Greek: smoke; vapor; sooty [extended meaning is carbon dioxide])

carus (masculine), cara (feminine), carum (neuter) (Latin: dearly, beloved, dear; high-priced, costly)

carpho- (Greek: straw, dry stock; from karphein, to wither, wrinkle, dry)

castrat-, castra- (Latin: to cut, geld, spay; to remove the testicles or ovaries of)

cathar-, cathart-, cathars- (Greek: to purge, to purify, or to cleanse; purification; cleansing)

cautel- (Latin: caution; precaution; wary, careful, heedful)

caval- (Latin: horse [caballus, a horseman; by extension, a gentleman serving as a lady’s escort Also said to mean: “an inferior horse, a nag”] > Italian [caballeria from caballo, “horse”] > French [cavalerie])

celer- (Latin: fast, speed, swift, rapid)

cerauno-, kerauno- (Greek: thunderbolt, thunder, lightning [literally, “smasher, crusher”])

-cern-, -cret- (Latin: separate, sift, distinguish, understand, decide; separated, set apart)

chalco-, chalc- (Greek: copper; brass)

chemo-, chem-, chemico-, chemi- (Arabic > Greek > Latin: the art of combining base metals [to make gold]; from Greek, chemia, “Egypt”, supposedly where the art of changing metals into gold existed)

chiasto-, chiasm- (Greek: crossed, laid crosswise [from ciazein to make in the shape of the Greek letter X, chi, the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet])

choro-, chor- (Greek: place, space, land; country, district)

-cide, -cides, -cidal (Latin: a suffix; kill, killer; murder, to cause death, slayer; cutter; “to cut down”by >> med asst net))

clado-, clad- (Greek klados: shoot, young branch; branch; twig)

clam- [cla-] clamat-, claim- (Latin: talk, call out, speak, say; shout)

clino-, clin-, -clinal, -cline, -clinic (Greek: bed; slope, slant; lean, leaning)

clono-, clon-, -cloner, -clonal, -clonally (Greek: twig; later, in modern usage: “exact duplicate, carbon copy, replica”)

-cole, -coles, -colid, -coline, -colous (Latin: a suffix; to inhabit, to live in, on, or among; to dwell; living among, dwelling in)

coma (Greek: a deep, sound sleep, lethargy, trance without sleep)

costo-, cost-, costi- (Latin: rib, ribs; side; coast)

-crat, -cracy, -cratic, -cratism, -cratically, -cracies (Greek: a suffix; govern, rule; strength, power)

cred-, credit-, creed- (Latin: believe, belief, faith, confidence, trust)

cris-, crit-, cri- (Greek: a separating, putting apart; a decision; to judge)

crist- (Latin: crest - not Christ!)

croustico-, crousto-, crusto-, croust-, crust-, kroustico-, krousto-, kroust-, krust- (Greek: to stretch; stretch out; to beat, strike)

crymo-, crym-, krymo-, krym- (Greek: cold, frost, chill)

cryo-, cry-, kryo-, kry- (Greek: cold, freezing)

crypto-, crypt- (Greek: hidden, secret)

cyber- (Greek: steersman, pilot, helmsman; to steer, guide, govern, governor)

D
decibels (Latin: “ten” plus “bel” [Alexander Graham Bell]; a list of decibel levels and the examples that show the various decibel scales)

decor- (Latin: proper, dignified, fitting, seemly; ornament, dignity)

dei-, div- (Latin: God, god [deity, divine nature])

deipno-, deipn- (Greek: dinner; dining)

delo-, del- (Greek: visible, clear, clearly seen; obvious)

demo-, dem-, demio-, -demic, -deme, -demically (Greek: people)

dendro-, dendr-, dendri-, -dendria, -dendrite, -dendritic, -dendra, -dendron (Greek: tree, tree-like structure)

discip- (Latin: discipulus, pupil, apprentice)

diverticul- (Latin: [from di-, “apart” and vertere, “to turn”] by-road, digression, deviation; to turn away, go in different directions)

domo-, dom-, domato-, domat- (Greek > Latin: house, home [“master, lord” of the house])

dorm-, dormi- (Latin: sleep, sleeping)

doul-, dulo-, dul- (Greek: slave, servile, slavish; servitude; serving)

dox-, dog-, dogma-, dogmato- (Greek: believe, belief; that which is thought to be true; opinion, doctrine, decree; praise; confidence by >> med asst net))

drama- (Greek > Late Latin: to do, to accomplish)

dryo-, dry- (Greek: oak tree; by extension, “tree”)

dys- (Greek: bad, harsh, wrong; ill; hard to, difficult at; slow of; disordered; primarily used as a prefix)

E
ebulli- (Latin: to bubble, to bubble up; to boil)

eco-, oeco-, oec-, oiko-, oik- (Greek: house, household affairs [environment, habitat], home, dwelling; used in one extensive sense as, “environment”)

eido-, eid-; ido-, id- (Greek: image, figure, form, shape; literally, “that which is seen”)

epano-, epan- (Greek: again; occurring in some rhetorical terms)

eremo-, erem-, eremi- (Greek: lonely, solitary; hermit; desert)

eremo-, erem-, eremi- (Greek: lonely, solitary; hermit; desert)

eroto-, erot-, ero-, eros (Greek: love [more of a sexual love]; sexual passion or desire)

eschato-, eschat- (Greek: last, furthest, remotest, outermost)

-esis (Latin: process of action) (Latin: process of action)

esth-, aesth-, esthe-, aesthe-, esthesio-, aesthesio-, esthesia-, -aesthesia, -esthetic, -aesthetic, -esthetical, -aesthetical, -esthetically, -aesthetically (Greek: feeling, sensation, perception by >> med asst net))

estiv-, aestiv- (Latin: pertaining to summer; heat)

eunuch (Greek > Latin: literally, guardian of the bed)

eureka! (Greek: “I have found!”)

exa- [EKS uh] (Greek: from hexa-, “six”; a decimal prefix used in the international metric system for measurements)

F
fa-, fam-, fan-, fat-, -fess (Latin: talk, speak, say, spoken about)

fascinat-, fascina- (Latin: to enchant, bewitch, charm)

fat-, fatal- (Latin: oracle, destiny; literally, that which is spoken; to speak; to foretell)

faun-, fauni-, fauna-, -fauna (Latin: animal; a collective name for the animals of a certain region or time)

fecund- (Latin: fruitful, fertile)

feli-, felin-, felino- (Latin: cat)

fid-, fidel- (Latin: believe, belief, trust, faith)

flocc-, floccu- (Latin: tuft or cluster, as of wool)

fluvio-, fluvi- (Latin: river, stream)

frater-, frat- (Latin: brother [family member])

frica-, frict-, -frice (Latin: a rubbing, rub)

frigo-, frig- (Latin: cold, frost)

fumi-, fum- (Latin: smoke, vapor)

funct-, fungi- (Latin: to perform, execute, discharge; performance, service, execution)

funi-, fun- (Latin: rope, cord)

furcat-, furca- (Latin: fork)

G
galeo-, galea-, galeat-, galei-, galer- (Latin: helmet, helmet shaped, to cover with a helmet; cap)

galeo-, gale- (Greek: shark)

gato- (Latin [cattus] > Spanish: cat)

gehenna- (Hebrew > Greek > Latin: hell)

gemin- (Latin: twin; double)  (Latin: twin; double)

gero-, geri-, ger-, geronto-, geront- (Greek: old age, old man, old people)

geus-, geuma-, -geusia, -geusic, -geustia (Greek: taste)

gibb-, gibbo-, gibboso- (Latin: hump, humpbacked)

glaci- (Latin: ice)

glutto-, glutt- (Latin: to swallow, gulp down)

glypto-, glypt-, -glypha, -glyph, -glyphic, -glyphous (Greek: carve, carving, engraving; to hollow out)

gonado-, gonad- (Latin: ovary or testis; based on Greek gonos, “seed” and gone, “that which generates; origination; seed; semen”)

gram-, -gram-, -grammatic, -grammatical, -grammatically, -gramme, -grammic (Greek: write, that which is written, a letter, a written record)

grapho-, graph-, -graph, -graphy, -grapher, -graphia (Greek: to scratch; write, record, draw, describe)

gymno-, gymn- (Greek: naked, nude, uncovered, bare, exposed, unclad, disrobed, undressed)

gyno-, gyn-, gynaeco-, gyneco-, gyne-, -gynia, -gynic, gynec-, -gynist, -gynous, -gyny (Greek: woman, female)

H
hades (Greek: the lower world [originally, invisible, to make invisible]; sometimes used to mean hell)

hapto-, hapt-, -hapte (Greek: touch, fasten, contact, seizure; binding, attaching)

hebdoma- (Greek: seventh)

hebe-, heb- (Greek: youth, pubescence, puberty [the period during which the secondary sex characteristics begin to develop and the capability of sexual reproduction is attained; by extension, young man])

heme-, hema- (Greek: blood)

-her-, -hes- (Latin: stick to, cling to, cleave to)

hernio-, herni- (Latin: protruded viscus; rupture; in the sense of “protrusion of tissue or part of an organ through an abnormal opening in the surrounding walls”)

hetero-, heter- (Greek: different, other, another, unlike; used as a prefix)

homo-, hom- (Greek: same, equal, like, similar, common; one and the same)

homo-, hom-, hum- (Latin: human beings, mankind, man)

horo- (Greek: hour, period of time, season, time)

hubris- (Greek: violence, riotousness, insolence; outrage; arrogance)

I
iatro-, iater-, -iatria, -iatric, -iatrician, -iatrics, -iatry (Greek: physician; heal, cure, treat; medical healing)

ichthyo-, ichthy-, -ichth- (Greek: fish)

idio-, idi- (Greek: peculiar, one’s own, personal, private; of or pertaining to one’s self; distinct, separate, alone)

ign-, igni-, ignis- (Latin: fire, burn)

ign-, igni-, ignis- (Latin: fire, burn)

iso-, is- (Greek: equal; by extension: same, similar, alike; used as a prefix)

integ- (Latin: whole, complete)

ithyo-, ithy- (Greek: straight)

J
none

K
kedo-, ked-, cedo-, cedno- (Greek: worry, anxiety, care, grief, trouble, to be concerned for; protector, guardian, most worthy of care)

L
laconi-, lacon- (Latin: concise, abrupt; literally, resembling the style of the Lacedaemonians or Spartans)

laparo-, lapar- (Greek: the soft part of the body between the ribs and the hip, flank, loin; denotes the flank or loins and the abdominal wall)

larcen-, latro- (Latin: theft, robbery, felony; from latrocinium, service of mercenaries; freebooting, robbery; latro, “a mercenary soldier; robber”)

lard (Greek: fat > Latin: [lardum] bacon)

lauro- (Greek: a drain, passage; sewer)

lax- (Latin: loose; slack)

leg-, lex (Latin: pertaining to the law, legal)

legi-, leg-, ligi-, lig-, lect-, lex-, -lexia, -lexis, -lexic, -lectic (Latin: read, readable [to choose words; gather, collect; to pick out, choose; to read, recite])

lemmo-, lemm-, lemma- (Greek: sheath, husk)

lemma- [singular], lemmata- [plural] (Greek > Latin: to take [something for granted])

lexico-, lexi-, lex-, -lexia, -lexias, -lexic, -lectic (Greek: a word; a saying, a phrase; speaking)

libr-, libel (Latin: book; originally, the “inner bark of a tree”, whence “the text written on this”, “collection of leaves for writing” and finally “book”)

libra-, liber-, libri- (Latin: balance; to be balanced; level, make even; Roman pound) (Greek: fat, fatty)

lipo-, lip-, -lipid, -lipoid, -lipoma, -lipomatous (Greek: fat, fatty)

lisso-, liss- (Greek: smooth, polished)

livid-, liv- (Latin > French: bluish, livid; bluish color)

logo-, log-, -logia, , -logical, -logic, -logism, -logician, -logian, -logist, -logy [-ology is in a separate list] (Greek: talk, speech, speak; word)

long-, longi- (Latin: long)

loqu-, -loquence, -loquent, -loquently, -iloquent, -iloquently (Latin: talk, speak, say)

loutro-, loutr- (Greek: bath, bathing)

luco-, luc-, luci-, lux, -lucence, -lucent (Latin: light, shine)

lud-, ludi-, lus- (Latin: play, make sport of, jest; sportive; pastime)

lugubri-, lugubr- (Latin: pertaining to mourning, mournful, painful; lament, bewail)

lumen-, lumin-, lum- (Latin: light, shine; torch, lamp; heavenly body)

luna, luni-, lun-, lunu- (Latin: moon, light, shine)

lustr-, lust- (Latin: light up, shine)

lut- (Latin: mud; clay; dirt; filth; mire)

lygo-, lyg- (Greek: shadow, shadowy; shade, darkness; twilight; gloomy)

M
macul-, maculat- (Latin: spot, mark, stain, blot, mesh)

mal-, male-, mali- (Latin: bad, badly, harsh, wrong; ill; evil; abnormal, defective)

malaco-, malac-, malako-, -malacia (Greek: soft, softness; abnormal softening, soft-bodied)

malaxo-, malax- (Latin: to soften, softening; to mollify; a kneading movement used in massage; stroking, caressing, love play)

malleo-, malle- (Latin: hammer)

-mancy, -mancer, -mantic, -mantical (Greek: used as a suffix; divination, prophecy; to interpret signs so “practical” decisions can be made [related to -mania])

-mania, -maniac, -maniacal, -manic, -manically, -maniacally (Greek: mental disorder)

mano-, man- (Greek: sparse, thin, rare; slack, loose; by extension, “gas, vapor”)

marito-, marit- (Latin: pertaining to a husband or marriage; used as a prefix)

mascu-, mas- (Latin: male, manly, of or relating to men or boys; of the male sex and gender; bold, courageous)

mater-, matri-, matro- matr- (Latin: mother, mama, mom; mum (British) [family member])

mecono-, mecon- (Greek > Latin: [mekonion > meconium] of or pertaining to the poppy, poppy, poppy-juice; opium)

mend- (Latin: defect, blemish)

meteoro-, meteor- (Greek: upraised, high up; in the air; anything raised from the ground, high, lofty; hovering in the air; hence, “heavenly body, atmospheric phenomenon”)

metro-, metr- (Greek: mother [family member])

micto-, -mict- (Greek: mix, mixed; thrown together, blended)

miso-, mis-, -misia (Greek: hate, hater, hatred; disgust for; revulsion of)

mne-, mnem-, mnemon-, mnes-, -mnesia, -mnesiac, -mnesic, -mnestic (Greek: memory, to remember)

monstr-, monst- (Latin: an omen; a supernatural manifestation; hence, “horrific-supernatural being; supernatural manifestation”); monstrum, an evil omen, portent, monster; literally, “that which serves as a warning”, “to show, point out, indicate” by >> med asst net)

mort-, mor-, mori- (Latin: death, dead)

multi-, mult- (Latin: many, much; used as a prefix)

muses (Greek: goddesses of fine arts; including, Calliope, Clio, Erato, Urania, Euterpe, Polyhymnia, Thalia, Melpomene and Terpsichore)

mythico-, mytho-, myth-, -mythical, -mythical, -mythically, -mythic (Greek: talk, speech, word; story; legend)

N
narco-, narc-, -narcotic, narcotico-, -narcosis, -narcoticism (Greek: numbness, dullness; sleep, stupor, torpor; benumb, deaden)

nata- (Latin: to swim, swimming; floating)

nebula-, nebul- (Latin: mist, fog, cloud, smoke)

neci-, nici- (Latin: death, kill, deadly, murderous, destructive)

necro-, necr-, necron-, -necrosis, nekro- (Greek: dead, death, dead body, dead tissue, corpse)

neo- (Greek: youthful, new)

nephal- (Greek: soberness, sober; drink no wine)

nephelo-, nephel-, nepho- neph- (Greek: cloud, clouds, cloudiness)

nepot-, nepo- (Latin: nephew; grandson, grandchild; descendant [family member]; nepotism, et al)

neusto-, neust-, -neuston, -neustonic (Greek: swim, float)

Nikos (Greek name for a boy meaning people's victory)

Nike (Greek: goddess of victory in Greek mythology; literally, victory)

nisus (Latin: from niti, to strive, to endeavor; effort, endeavor)

nivi-, niv-, nivos- (Latin: snow, snowy, snowiness)

noci-, noc- (Latin: to injure; injury, trauma; a noxious or deleterious agent or influence by >> med asst net)

nocti-, noct-, nox (Latin: night)

nom-, nomen-, nomin-, -nomia, -nomic (Latin: name)

nomo-, nom- (Greek: a meadow; a pasture; an abode; a place for eating)

noso-, nos-, nosero-, noser-, -nosia, -nosis, nosema- (Greek: disease, sickness)

nosto-, nost- (Greek: return home)

notho-, noth- (Greek: spurious, bastard, false, mongrel; masculine, illegitimate child)

nudo-, nudi- (Latin: naked, uncovered)

numbers (Greek: Greek numerals, cardinals followed by ordinals)

numbers (Latin: Roman numerals, cardinals followed by ordinals)

nycti-, nyct-, nycto-, nyc- (Greek: night)

O
obeso-, obes- (Latin: fat, corpulent)

odium, odious (Latin: hatred, hateful, hate; bitterness; disgusting; offensive; opprobrium; annoyance)

odori-, odoro- (Latin: smell [noun form])

oleo-, ole-, -oleic, ol- (Greek > Latin: [olive] oil; fat)

omento-, oment- (Latin: fat, adipose tissue; and by extension, caul, intestines)

-onym, -onymy, -onymic, -onymically, -onymous, -onymously, -nym (Greek: used as a suffix; name by >> med asst net))

opsi-, ops- (Greek: late, later)

opsino-, opso-, opsoni- (Greek: boiled meat)

opsono-, opson-, -opsony (Greek: to buy food; to purchase provisions, such as food)

orc-, orca- (Greek > Latin: a kind of whale; large sea creature)

orchido-, orchid-, orchio-, orchi-, -orchium (Greek > Latin: testes; testicles)

organo-, organ- (Greek: an organized structure; pertaining to a specific bodily part with a specific function or set of functions; instrument, tool, implement)

oscheo-, osche- (Greek: scrotum; a combining form denoting relationship to the scrotum)

-ose (-iose), -osic, -osity, -osely (Greek: a suffix; sweet wine)

osphresio-, osphresi- (Greek: to smell; pertaining to odor or to the sense of smell)

oxy-, -oxia, -oxic (Greek: sharp, pointed, keen; acidic, pungent)

P
pago-, pag- (Greek: frost or freezing; fixed or hardened; united)

pali-; palim-, palin- (Greek: recurrence, repetitious; back, backward, again; returning, repeating)

palli-, pallio, pallit- (Latin: mantle, covering; cloak)

pan-, panto-, pant- (Greek: all, every, entire)

papyro-, papyr- (Greek: papyrus [singular], papyri [plural]; paper)

parvo-, parvi- (Latin: [parvus] small, little; minute, minuscule)

pass-, pati- (Latin: suffering, feeling; enduring)

pater-, patro-, patr-, patria, patri- (Latin: father [family member]; fatherland)

patho-, -path-, -pathia, -pathic, -pathology, -pathetic, -pathize, -pathy (Greek: feeling, sensation, perception, suffering, [in medicine, these elements usually mean “one who suffers from a disease of, or one who treats a disease”])

pecca-, pecc- (Latin: err, sin, commit a crime)

ped-, pedi-, -pedal, -ped, -pede, -pedia (Latin: foot, feet)

pedo-, paedo-, ped-, paed-, paido-, paid- (Greek: child, boy; infant)

pejor- (Latin: worse)

-penia-, -penic, pen-, penia- (Greek > Modern Latin: abnormal reduction, decrease in, insufficient, deficiency; originally, poverty, need; sometimes erroneously or incorrectly rendered as -poenia)

perineo- (Greek: space between the scrotum or mons veneris and the anus)

petalo-, petal-, -petalous (Greek: leaf; from the adjective petalos, “flat, spread out”)

-petalous (Greek: in botany, a suffix combining form meaning, “having a certain number or a certain shape of petals”)

phago-, phag-, -phag, -phage, -phagic, -phagia, -phagism, -phagist, -phagous, -phagy (Greek: eat, consume, ingest)

phalango-, phalang- (Greek via Latin: bone between two joints of a finger or toe; line of battle; from phalanx, heavy infantry in close order [from Greek antiquity] by >> med asst net))

phlego-, phleg-(Greek [phlegmatikos] & Latin [phlegmaticus]: heat, inflammation; burn, inflame)

philo-, phil-, -phile, -philia, -philic, -philous, -phily, -philiac, -philist, -philism (Greek: love, loving, friendly to, fondness for, attraction to, strong tendency toward, affinity for)

phlebo- (Greek: phlebos = vein)

phlogo-, phlog-, phlox (Greek: fire, flame; inflammation)

-phobia, -phobias, -phobe, -phobiac, -phobist, -phobic, -phobism, -phobous; phobo-, phob- (Greek: fear, extreme fear of, morbid fear of, excessive fear of, irrational fear or terror of something or someone; however, sometimes this Greek element means a strong dislike or hatred for something)

phono-, phon-, -phone, -phonia, -phonic, -phonetic, -phonous, -phonically, -phonetically, -phony (Greek: phone; sound; voice)

phono-, phon- (Greek: phono[s]; slaughter, murder, homicide, killing)

phospho-, phosph-, phosphoro-, phosphor- (Greek: light, shine; morning star; a nonmetallic chemical element that ignites when exposed to air)

photo-, phot-, -photic, -phote (Greek: light)

phreno-, phren-, phreni-, phrenico-, phrenic-, -phrenia, -phrenic, -phrenically (Greek: mind, brain; the midriff or the diaphragm; the phrenic nerve)

phreto-, phret- (Greek: well, reservoir, a tank (not referring to military))

phront-, phorntid-; phronemo-, phron- (Greek: thought, care, attention; think, thinking, contemplation)

physo-, phys- (Greek: breath, wind; pertaining to air or gas; bellows, bladder, bubble; swollen; as seen in many modern scientific terms)

pilo-, pil-, pili- (Latin: hair)

pimelo-, pimel-, pimele- (Greek: [soft] fat)

pineal-, pinea- (Latin: pine tree, relating to the pine; shaped like a cone)

pino-, pin- (Greek: a combining form confused between three Greek roots and may mean “hunger”, “dirt”, or “drink”; and there is one Latin form referring to the “pine tree”by >> med asst net))

pio-, pi-, pion- (Greek: fat)

pisci-, pisc- (Latin: fish)

plankto-, plankt-, -plankton (Greek: passively drifting, wandering, or roaming)

plano-, plan-, -plany, -plania (Greek: passively drifting, wandering, or roaming)

planta-, plant- (Latin: sole of the foot (not referring to floral or green plants))

plaud-, plaus-, plod-, plos- (Latin: applause, to clap, strike, beat, to clap the hands)

pluto-, plut- (Greek: wealth, wealthy, rich)

pluto-, plut- (Greek: wealth, wealthy, rich, e.g. the element plutonium)

pneo-, -pnea, -pneic, -pnoea, -pnoeic, -pneo (Greek: air, wind; breathing)

pnigo-, pnig-, pnigmato-, pnigmat- (Greek: choke, stifle, smother)

po-, poo-, -poa- (Greek: grass, a grassy place; meadow, meadows)

podo-, pod-, -poda, -pod, -pode, -podium, -podia, -podial, -podous, -pody (Greek: foot, feet)

poly- (Greek: many, much; too many, too much, excessive; a prefix used with many words) Don’t confuse this poly- with another -poly that means “to sell”

-poly, -pole, -polism, -polist, -polistic, -polistically (Greek: used as a suffix; sale, selling; one who sells; pertaining to selling; barter)

pono-, pon-, -ponic, -ponics (Greek: toil, labor, work hard, fatigue; exertion; also, suffering, pain)

port-, portat- (Latin: carry, bring, bear)

potamo-, potam- (Greek: river, stream)

potash (Dutch > New Latin: potassium carbonate)

prandial- (Latin: prandium, literally, that which is eaten early)

presbyo-, presby- (Greek: old, relationship to old age; literally, he that goes first)

priap- (Greek, Priapos > Latin Priapus: god of procreation shown with a large penis; by extension, penis)

privat-, priv- (Latin: individual; not in public life, e.g. private)

problem- (Greek > Latin: literally, “something thrown forward, to throw forward”)

psepho-, pseph- (Greek > Latin: pebble/pebbles, stone/stones; election; vote)

psychro-, psychr- (Greek: cold)

psylli-, psyll- (Greek > Latin: flea)

puer- (Latin: boy, child)

pygo-, pyg-, -pyga, -pygia (Greek: rump, buttocks, bottom; rear end; butt; the posterior part of the body)

Q
quant- (Latin: how much; as much as, how many; amount)

quas- (Latin: to make void, annul; originally from the Latin meaning of, “to shake violently, to shatter” by >> med asst net)

quasi- (Latin: as if, as it were, as though; somewhat like, resembling, seemingly)

quir-, quisit-, quis-, que-, quer-, quest-, -quirement, -quirable, -quisition, -quisitive (Latin: ask, seek)

R
rami-, ram- (Latin: branch)

rani-, ran- (Latin: frog)

rhem- (Greek: a thing said; word; term)

rhigo-, rhig- (Greek: cold, frost; shiver)

robor-, rob- (Latin: strengthening; to strengthen, invigorate; strength)

S
sal-, sali- (Latin: salt)

sanct- (Latin: sacred, holy)

sapo-, sap-, sapon-, saponi- (Latin: soap)

sarmasso-, sarmass- (Greek [sarx, flesh plus massein, to knead, to massage; methodical pressure]: love play, sexual foreplay with a woman; “necking ”)

satyr- (Greek > Latin: a woodland deity, part man and part goat; riotous merriment and lechery)

sauro-, saur-, -saurus, -saurid, -saur, -sauria, -saurian (Greek: lizard)

scintill- (Latin: light, shine, spark, sparkle, twinkle)

scintill- (Latin: light, shine, spark, sparkle, twinkle)

scorbuti-, scorbut- (Latin: pertaining to, or having scurvy [a disease resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C in the body, characterized by weakness, anemia, spongy gums, bleeding from the mucous membranes, etc] by >> med asst net))

scrib-, script-, -scribe, -scription, -scriptive (Latin: write, record)

scroto-, scrot- (Latin: the pouch that holds the testes; a purse; probably a variant of scortum, a skin, hide, or of scrautum; a leather bag for holding arrows; akin to scrupus, a sharp stone)

sebo-, seb-, sebi- (Latin: tallow, suet, fat, fatty; grease; oily; by extension, “pertaining to a suetlike secretion of the body”)

seismo-, seism-, -seism, -seisms, -seisma, -seismically, -seismical, -seismal, -seismic (Greek: shake, earthquake [move to and fro’; to shake, move violently])

sen-, sene-, seni-, sir- (Latin: old age, old, elder)

senso-, sens-, sensi-, sensori-, sent- (Latin: feeling, sensation, perception through the senses, to be aware, awareness, to discern with the senses)

sequest-, sequestr- (Latin: to give up for safe keeping; a depository, trustee; to shut up illegally)

serra-, serri-, serr- (Latin: saw, saw-tooth)

serv- (Latin: to be a slave, to serve; slave)

serv- (Latin: safe; to save, saved, preserved; from servare)

sesqui- (Latin: one and a half; normally used as a prefix; from Latin, semis “half” + que “and”)

sheol (Hebrew: the grave; hell; pit)

sodom- (Hebrew > Greek > Latin: inhabitant of Sodom)

sola-, sol- (Latin: to comfort, to encourage, to cheer)

soli-, sol- (Latin: one, alone, only, e.g. solo)

somni-, somno-, somn-, -somnia, -somniac (Latin: sleep; dream)

sorb-, sorpt- (Latin: to suck in by >> med asst net)

soror-, sorori-, soro- (Latin: sister [family member])

soror-, sorori-, soro- (Latin: sister [family member])

sphinctero-, sphincter- (Greek > Latin: that which binds tightly, press together; band, lace; hence, muscle that closes an aperture of the body; a ringlike band of muscle fibers that constricts a passage or closes a natural orifice)

sphagno-, sphagni-, sphagn- (Greek: moss)

stalac-, stalag- (Greek > Latin: dropping, dripping; trickling; to drip, to drop, to trickle)

stauro-, staur- (Greek: upright stake; hence, “rood, cross”; cross-shaped, crosslike, crossed)

steato-, steat- (Greek: fat; suet, tallow)

stegano- (Greek: covered, to cover)

stele-, stel-, -stele, -stelic (Greek: an inscribed stone slab; a block of stone, gravestone; column, pillar)

stratio-, strati-, strato-, strat- stratus (Latin: horizontal layer; “stretched, spread out”; layer, cloud layer)

strato- (Greek: army)

stygeo-, styge-, stygio, stygi-, stygo-, styg- (Greek: hate, hating, hated, hateful; abhor, abhorrence; loathsome, loathing)

sucho-, -suchus (Greek: crocodile [Egyptian name for crocodile])

suffoco-, suffoc- (Latin: choke, stifle, strangle)

syco- (Greek > Latin: fig)

T
tacho-, tach-, tachy- (Greek: fast, speed, swift, rapid)

tacit-, taci-, tace- (Latin: silent, silence; unspoken; quiet)

talo-, tal- (Latin: the ankle, anklebone)

tapho-, taph-, -taphia (Greek: burial, grave; tomb; funeral)

tarax-, tarac- (Greek > Latin: disturbed; confusion, disturbance, trouble)

techno-, techn-, tect-, -technic[s], -technique, -technology, -technical, -technically (Greek: art, skill, craft; techne, art, skill, craft; tekton, “builder”)

telluri-, tellur- (Latin: earth)

tempo-, tempor- (Latin: time, occasion)

tendo-, tend-, ten-, tens-, tent-, ton-, -tend, -tension, -tend, -tent, -tense, -tensive, -tentious (Greek > Latin: to move in a certain direction; to stretch, hold out; tension by >> med asst net))

tera- [TE ruh] (Greek: “monster, marvel”; a decimal prefix used in the international metric system for measurements)

terato-, terata-, terat-, tera- (Greek > Latin: marvel, omen, monster; malformation)

terri- (Latin: frightful; literally, causing terror)

tessara-, tessera- (Greek > Latin: four; cube; Latin, password)

testi-, test- (Latin: a witness, one who stands by; testicle, one of the two oval male gonads supported in the scrotum by its tissues and suspended by the spermatic cord)

thalasso-, thalass-, thalassi-, thalassio-, thalatto-, thalatt- (Greek: sea)

thanato-, thanat-, thanas-, -thanasia, -thanasic (Greek: death, dead)

thaumato-, thaumat- (Greek: wonder, wondrous thing; miracle; a thing to look at; sight spectacle)

thely- (Greek: feminine, female, females; daughter, daughters)

theo-, the-, -theism, -theist, -theistic (Greek: God, god, deity, divine)

theo-, the-, -theism, -theist, -theistic (Greek [theorein, theoria]; Latin [theoria]: looking at, contemplation, speculation; viewing)

therap-, -therapeutic[s], -therapeutically, -therapy, -therapies, -therapist (Greek: heal, cure; treatment; service done to the sick, a waiting on by >> med asst net)

therio-, theri-, thero-, ther-, -there, -therium, -theria, -theridae, -therian, -therioid, -theroid (Greek: animal, wild beast, wild animal)

thermo-, therm-, thermi-, -thermia, -therm, -thermal, -thermic, -thermous, -thermy (Greek: heat, hot, warm by >> med asst net)

thesaur- (Greek > Latin: treasure, treasury, storehouse, chest; a treasury of words)

threpso-, threps- (Greek: nutrition, nourishment)

thygatro-, thygatr-, thygatri-, thygater- (Greek: daughter)

tigri-, tigr-, tiger (Greek > Latin > Old French: swift animal)

tonitro-, tonitru- (Latin: thunder)

trachelo-, trachel- (Greek: neck, throat, cervix)

tracheo-, trache- (Greek: windpipe; originally, “rough” artery)

trepid- (Latin: agitated, alarmed, restless, anxious, solicitous; consternation)

tri- (Greek > Latin: three, thrice, threefold; a number used as a prefix)

tribo-, trib- (Greek: friction, rub, rubbing, grind, wear away; spend, waste time; be busy)

trit- (Latin: tritus, past participle of terere, to rub; thresh, grind; to wear away)

typho-, typh-, -typhoidal, -typhus, -typhic (Greek: to smoke, smoke, mist, vapor, cloud, fog; in medicine, fever accompanied by stupor or a clouding of the mind resulting from a fever)

U
ubi- (Latin: where)

ultim- (Latin: end, last, final)

umbra-, umbro-, umbr-, umbel- (Latin: shade, shadow)

uxor- (Latin: wife; spouse [female])

V
valid-, val-, vale-, -vail, -valent, -valence (Latin: valere, to be strong, to be well, to be worth; strong; power, strength; and “fare well” [go with strength])

veloci-, veloc-, velo- (Latin: fast, speed, swift and rapid)

veno-, ven- (Latin: poison)

verb-, verbi-(Latin: word)

veri-, ver- (Latin: true, truth, real, truthfulness)

vexat-, vex- (Latin: annoy, irritate; to harass; an agitation; a shaking, jolting, shock by >> med asst net))

vexill- (Latin: flag, standard)

vicar- (Latin: substitute; change, alternation)

vir-, viri-, virtu-(Latin: man, manliness; manhood; husband)

vitello-, vitell- (Latin: yolk, yolk of an egg)

volan-, vola- (Latin: to fly; flying; flies)

volen-, volunt-, voli-, vol- (Latin: will, free will, free choice; wish, personal desire)

vor-, vora-, -vore, -vorous, -vores, -vora, -vory (Latin: eat, consume, devour)

vot- (Latin: vow, affirm; from votum)

W
none

X
-xenous (Greek: a combining suffix pertaining to a “host” or “guest”)

xylo-, xyl- (Greek: wood; the first element of various scientific and technical words that refer to wood)

Y
yocto- (Greek: from octo-, “eight”; a decimal prefix used in the international metric system for measurements)

yotta- [YAH tuh or maybe YOH tuh] (Greek: from octo-, “eight”; a decimal prefix used in the international metric system for measurements)

Z
zepto- [ZEP toh] (Latin: septo-, seven; a decimal prefix used in the international metric system for measurements)

zeta (Greek: the sixth letter of the Greek alphabet)

zetta- [ZE tuh] (Latin: septo-, “seven”; a decimal prefix used in the international metric system for measurements)

zoo-, zo-, -zoic, -zoid, -zoite, -zoal, -zonal, -zooid, -zoon, -zoa, -zoan (Greek: animal; living being; life)

zoster-, zoster (Greek: girdle; belt)

zygomatico- (Greek: the malar bone or the arch that the malar bone forms with the other bones to which it is connected)