Greek, Latin and other elements

Element

Meaning and Examples

a

not or without

atheist, asexual, apathy, asymmetrical

ab

from or away

abduct, abstract, absent

acro

top or tip

acropolis, acronym

aden

gland

adenoid, adenocarcinoma

(a)eo

dawn or early

aeon or eon, Eolithic, Eocene, eosin

aero

air

aerodynamic, aeronautics, aerobic

Afro

African or Africa

Afro-Caribbean

agog(ue)

leading

pedagogy, demagogue, synagogue

agro, agri

field

agriculture, agrochemical

alb

white

albumen, albinism

algia

pain

neuralgia, myalgia

allo

other or different

allomorphic, allophone, allotrope

alto, alti

high

alto, altocumulus, altitude

ambi, amphi

both

ambivalent, amphibian

andro

male

androgynous, androgen, androcentric

angi

vessel

angiography, angioplasty, angiosperm

Anglo

English or England

Anglo-American, Anglocentric, Anglophile

ante

before

antenatal, anteroom, antedate, anterior

anth

flower

anther, anthesis, chrysanthemum

anthrop

man or human

anthropology, anthropomorphism, philanthropy

anti

against or opposite

antibiotic, anti-apartheid, antifreeze

aqu

water

aqueous, aquatic, aquifer, aquarium, aqueduct

arch(a)eo

ancient

archaeology, archaic

arch, archy

ruler or rule

anarchy, monarch, oligarchy

arthr

joint

arthritis, arthroscopy, arthralgia, arthropod

astro

star

astronomy, astrophysics, astronaut

audio

hear or sound

audio, audiovisual, audiologist

auto

self

automobile, autocratic, autonomy, autism

biblio

book

bibliography, bibliophile

bio

life

biology, biochemistry, amphibian

caco

bad

cacophony

cap

head

decapitate, captain, capital

cardi

heart

cardiology, cardiac

carp

fruit

pericarp, mesocarp, monocarpic, carpology

cene

new or recent

Eocene, Miocene, Pleistocene

cephal

head

encephalitis, hydrocephalus, cephalothorax, biceps

chir

hand

chiropractic, surgery

chlor

green

chiropractic, surgery

chrom(at)

colour GB or color US

chromatography, chromium, monochrome

chron

time

chronology, chronic, anachronism

chrys

gold

chrysanthemum, chrysalis

cid(e)

kill

suicide, genocide, pesticide

circum

around

circumference, circumnavigate, circumstance

contra

against

contradict, contrast, contraception

corona

crown

corona, coronary artery, coronation

cosmo

world or universe

cosmos, cosmonaut, cosmopolitan, microcosm

crat, cracy

government or power

democracy, bureaucrat, plutocracy, meritocratic

cryo

cold or freezing

cryophyte, cryostat

crypto

hidden

encrypt, cryptic, cryptography

cyto, cyte

cell or vessel

cytology, lymphocyte, cytoplasm, cytolysis

dactyl

finger

dactyl, pterodactyl

demo

people

democracy, demographic, epidemic

dendr

tree

dendrogram, dendrochronology, dendrite

dent

tooth

dentistry, dental, dentate, dentil

derm

skin

dermatology, hypodermic, epidermis, taxidermy

dextr

right

dextral, dextrorotation, dexterity

dia, di

through or across

diabetes, diachronic, diameter

dis

apart or lack

disagree, disconnect, disadvantage, disease

dynam

power

dynamo, dynamic, thermodynamics, dynamite

dys

wrong

dyslexia, dysfunctional, dysentery

ecto

outside

ectoplasm, ectophyte, ectopic

endo, ento

within or inside

endoplasm, endoscope, endorphin

entero, entery

intestine

gastroenterology, dysentery, enteritis

entomo

insect

entomology, entomophilous

epistem

knowledge

epistemology

erg, urgy

work

ergonomics, ergometer, metallurgy

erythro

red

erythrocyte, erythropoiesis

eu

well or good

euphoria, eulogy, euphemism, euthanasia

ex

out of or former

exclude, export, extract, excrete, ex-president

exo

external or outside

exoskeleton, exosphere, exotic

extra

outside or beyond

external, extracurricular, extraordinary

ferro

iron

ferrous, ferric, ferrite, ferritin

fili

son or daughter

filial, F1, F2, affiliate

fract

broken

fracture, fraction, diffraction, fragment

Franco

French or France

Francophile, Franco-Prussian, Francophone

frat(e)r

brother

fraternize, fraternal, fraternity

galact

milk, galaxy

galactose, galactic

gamy, gamo

marriage or union

gamete, monogamy, bigamy, polygamy

gastro

stomach

gastric, gastritis, gastroenterology, gastronomy

gen

produces or produced

hydrogen, carcinogen, androgen, allergen

geo

earth

geography, geology, geomorphology, geometry

giga

giant

gigabyte, gigahertz

gloss

tongue or language

gloss, glossary, diglossia, polyglot

glyc, gluc

sugar or sweet

glucose, glycerol, hypoglycaemia GB or hypoglycemia US

gnosis

knowledge

diagnosis, prognosis, gnostic, agnostic

gono, gony

seed

gonad, gonorrhoea GB or gonorrhea US

graph

write

photography, telegraph, biography, monograph

Gr(a)eco

Greek

Greco-Roman

gyn

female

gyn(a)ecology, androgynous, epigynous

gyro

circle

gyrate, gyroscope, gyrus, spirogyra

h(a)em, (a)emia

blood

h(a)emoglobin, h(a)ematology, h(a)emorrhage, an(a)emia

hal

salt

halophytic, halite, halogen, Hallstatt

helio

sun

heliocentric, heliolatry, heliotaxis, helium

hepat

liver

hepatitis, hepatocyte, hepatoxic

hetero

other or different

heterosexual, heterogeneous, heterodox

hier

sacred

hieroglyphics, hierarchy

hippo

horse

hippocampus, hippodrome, hippopotamus

histo

web or tissue

histology, histocompatibility

homeo, homoio

like or similar

homeobox, homeotherm, homeosis

homo

same

homosexual, homogeneous, homonym

hydro

water or fluid

hydroelectric, dehydration, hydrolysis, hydrogen

hygro

wet or moisture

hygrometer, hygrophyte

hyper

over or above

hyperactive, hypersensitive, hyperbole

hypn

sleep

hyperactive, hypersensitive, hyperbole

hypo

under or below

hypodermic, hypothermia

iatr

healing

psychiatry, paediatric GB or pediatric US, iatrogenic

icono

image

icon, iconography, iconoclast

ideo

idea

ideology, ideogram

idio

own or individual

idiosyncratic, idiom, idiolect, idiopathic

ign

fire

ignite, ignition, igneous

Indo

Indian or India

Indo-European

infra

below

infrared, infrasonic, infraspecific, infrarenal

inter

between or together

international, interactive, interlibrary loan, internet

intra

inside

intravenous, intramural, intranet

iso

equal

isomorphic, isotope, isobar

kerat

horn or cornea

keratin, keratose, keratitis

kine, cine

to move

kinetic energy, pharmacokinetics, cinema

labi

lip

bilabial, labiodental, labium

lact

milk

lactic acid, lactose, lactate

leuk, leuc

white

leukocyte US and GB or leucocyte GB, leuk(a)emia

lign

wood

lignite, lignify, lignin, lignocellulose

lip(o)

fat

lipoprotein, lipid, liposuction

lith

stone

lithic, Neolithic, monolith, megalith, lithography

log, loqu

word or speech

prologue, monologue, soliloquy, colloquial

luna

moon

lunar

lys, lysis

loosen or break down

analysis, electrolysis, catalysis

macro

large

macroeconomics, macromolecule, macrocyte

mal

bad or wrong

malfunction, malignant, malnutrition

man(u)

hand

manual, manipulate, manuscript

matri

mother

maternal, maternity, matriarch, matrilineal

mega, megal

huge

megalith, megaloblast, megalomania

melan

black

melanin, melanoma, melancholy

meso

middle

mesocarp, mesoderm, Meso-America, Mesopotamia

meta

concepts or change

metatheory, metamorphosis, metabolism

micro

small

microbe, microscope, microfilm, microclimate

miso

hatred

misogynist

mito

thread

mitochondria, mitogenic, mitosis

morph

shape

morphology, metamorphosis, anthropomorphism

multi

much or many

multiply, multicultural, multidisciplinary, multilateral

myc, mycet

fungus

mycosis, mycoprotein, mycology

myel

bone marrow or spinal cord

myelitis, myeloid, myelin sheath

myo

muscle

myocardium, cardiomyopathy, myoglobin

narco

numb

narcotic, narcosis

nebul

mist or cloud

nebula, nebulizer, nebulous

necro

dead

necrosis, necrotic, necropsy, necropolis

nemat

thread

nematocyst, nematode, nematic

neo

new

Neolithic, neoclassicism, neonatal

nephr

kidney

nephrology, nephritis, nephrectomy

nes

island

Polynesia, Micronesia, Indonesia

neur

nerve

neural, neurology, neuron

nihil

nothing

nihilism, annihilation

noct, nox

night

nocturnal, noctilucent, equinox

nomo, nomy

law or laws

taxonomy, astronomy, autonomy

non

not

nonexistent, nonspecific, nonstandard, nontoxic

noso, nosis

disease

zoonosis, nosology

nov

new

novel, novice, innovation, renovate

ocul

eye

ocular, binoculars, oculus

odon(t)

tooth

odontology, orthodontics

oma

tumour GB or tumor US

carcinoma, lymphoma, melanoma

omni

all or everywhere

omnipresent, (omni)bus, omnivore

onco

tumour GB or tumor US

oncology

onto

being

ontology, paleontology

ophthalmo

eye

ophthalmology

or

mouth

oral, oropharynx

ornitho

bird

ornithology, ornithophily, ornithosis

oro

mountain

orogeny, orography

ortho

straight or right

orthodox, orthop(a)edic, orthography, orthodontics

osteo

bone

osteology, osteoporosis, osteopathy

oto

ear

otorhinolaryngology, otitis

p(a)ed

child

p(a)ediatrics, p(a)edophile

pal(a)eo

old

pal(a)eontology, Pal(a)eolithic

pan

all

Pan-African, Pan-American, pantheon

para

beside or beyond

parasite, parallel, paradigm, paramedic, paradox

patho, pathy

suffering or feeling

pathology, apathy, antipathy, sympathy, empathy

patr

father

paternal, patriotism, compatriot, patriarch

ped(e), pod

foot

centipede, millipede, biped, tripod, pedal, pedestrian

peri

around or near

perinatal, pericarp, periscope, periphery, perihelion

petr

rock or stone

petrified, petroleum, petroglyph

phag

eating or consuming

(o)esophagus, sarcophagus, bacteriophage

pharmac

drug

pharmacology, pharmacy, pharmaceutical

phasia

speech

aphasia, dysphasia

pheno

show

phenotype, phenomenon

phil

love

philosophy, philanthropy, drosophila, Philadelphia

phobia

fear

phobia, claustrophobia, xenophobic

phon

sound or voice

phonetics, telephone, symphony, Francophone

phor

bear

semaphore, amphora, euphoria, phosphorus

photo

light

photograph, photosynthesis, photocopy

phyll, fol

leaf

chlorophyll, phylloxera, foliage, folic acid, foliated

physi

nature

physics, physiology, physician

phyto, phyte

plant

phytochemistry, phytoplankton

plasm

forming or moulded GB or molded US

plasma, protoplasm

pneum

lung, breath, air or spirit

pneumonia, apn(o)ea, pneumatic, dipnoan

polis

city

acropolis, metropolis, Persepolis, Constantinople, Naples

polit

citizen

politics, cosmopolitan

poly

much or many

polytechnic, polymer, polygon, polyglot, Polynesia

post

after or behind

postnatal, postdoctoral, postindustrial, postmortem

potam

river

hippopotamus, potamology, Mesopotamia

pre

before

pre-Columbian, predict, premature, prejudice

procto

anus or rectum

proctology, proctoscope

proto

first

prototype, protocol, protolanguage, protozoa

pseudo

false

pseudonym, pseudomorph, pseudopodium

psych

mind

psychology, psychiatry, psycholinguistics

pter

wing

pterodactyl, helicopter, dipterous

pyr

fire or heat

pyrite, pyrotechnics, pyre, pyroclastic, pyromania

quasi

as if

quasi-judicial, quasi-scientific

radi(o)

ray or spoke

radio, radiation, radioactive, radiology, radius

re

again

recognize, reappear, reconsider, renew

renal, ren

kidney

renal, adrenal

retro

back or behind

retrospect, retroactive, retrograde

rrh, rrhage, rrhoid

discharge or burst

h(a)emorrhage, h(a)emorrhoid, catarrh, diarrh(o)ea

rhino

nose

rhinoceros, catarrhine, otorhinolaryngology, rhinitis

rhizo

root

rhizome, rhizoid, rhizocarpous

sarc

flesh

sarcoma, sarcophagus, sarcasm

saur(us)

lizard

dinosaur, tyrannosaur(us)

schizo

split

schizophrenia, schizocarp

scler

hard

sclerosis, sclera

selen

moon

selenology, selenography

Sino

China or Chinese

Sinology, Sino-Japanese, Sinophile

somat

body

psychosomatic, somatic, somatotrophin

somn

sleep

insomnia, somnolent

sophy

wisdom

philosophy

stereo

solid or three-dimensional

stereo(phonic), stereochemistry, stereotype

sub

under or below

submarine, suburb, subordinate, subatomic, subconscious

super

above or greater

supersonic, superimpose, superfluous, superficial

syn, sym

with or together

sympathy, symphony, symmetry, synapse, synergy

tacho, tachy

speed or rapid

tachograph, tachometer, tachycardia

tax(is), taxy

arrangement or orientation

syntax, taxonomy, phototaxis

techn

art or skill

technology, technique, technical

tele

far

television, telephone, telescope, telegraph

temp

time

temporary, contemporary, temporal

the(o)

god

theology, atheist, pantheon, theocracy

therm

heat

thermal, thermodynamics, geothermal, thermometer

thi(o)

sulphur GB or sulfur US

thiamine or thiamin, thiol, thionic

tom, (ec)tomy

cut (out) or section

anatomy, tracheotomy, tonsillectomy, tomography

tox, toxic

poison

toxic, toxicology, toxin, intoxication

trans

across or through

transport, transaction, transfer, transmit, transparent

trich

hair

trichology, trichiasis, trichomonad, trichome

troph(y)

nourishment or growth

atrophy, somatotrophin, biotroph, trophoblast

ultra

beyond

ultrasound, ultraviolet, ultrahigh frequency

ur

original

urtext

vis, video

see or sight

video, vision, television, visible

vor, vorous

eating

carnivore, omnivore, herbivore, voracious

xanth

yellow

xanthic acid, xanthophyll

xeno

foreign

xenophobia, xenotransplant, xenon

xer

dry

xeric, xerophyte, xerophthalmia

xyl

wood

xylophone, xylose, xylitol

zoo, zo

animal

zoology, zoomorphic, protozoa

zygo

pair or join

zygote, zygodactyls