Given the large number of Greek and Latin elements in English, particularly in university and research vocabulary, it can often be difficult to guess the meaning of an unfamiliar word.

In some subjects a great deal of terminology derives from Greek or Latin, and, as modern-day coinages such as tele + vision show, Greek and Latin elements are still used to create new terms today. This technical vocabulary may be used alongside everyday words, such as cardiac and heart or aqueous and water for example.

Knowledge of some Greek and Latin helps to decipher the meaning of many terms, not least for speakers from parts of the world with other classical languages.

Some of the most common Greek, Latin and other elements are listed below.

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