List of Greek and Latin roots in English
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The following is an alphabetical list of Greek and Latin roots commonly used in English. Those used in Medicine and Medical Terminology are not listed here but instead in Wikipedia's List of medical roots.
A
| Prefix | Meaning In English | Origin Language | Etymology (Root Origin) | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a-/ab- | from, away from, away; off from, different from , separated from | Latin | < Latin (a / ab) from, away from, away | abridged, absorb, abhominal, abnormal |
| a-, an- | without, not, un- | Greek | < Ancient Greek α-/αν- (a-/an-) without not, (alphaprivitive) | atypical |
| ac- (1) | sharp | Latin | accent | |
| ac- (2) | swift (derivatively aq- (water) and eq- (horse)) | Latin | accelerate, aquarium, equestrian | |
| acr- | high, highest; pertaining to heights | Ancient Greek | Ancient Greek άκρος (ákros) highest, topmost; a tip, summit | acrophobia |
| ad- | movement to or toward; in addition to | Latin | From the prefix and preposition "ad" | advance |
| aesth- | feeling, sensation | Greek | αίσθημα... | aesthetics |
| agr- | field | Greek | αγρός | agriculture |
| aid- | burn | Latin | audacious | |
| al- | other | Latin | alternate | |
| am- | love, loving | Latin | enemy (from amica (friend) + negating prefix > inimica >>> enemy) | |
| amb- | both, on both sides | Latin | ambiguous | |
| amph- | around, about, both, on both sides of, both kinds | Greek | amphibian | |
| an- | breath | Latin | animate (anima (life, soul, mind) >>> animate) | |
| an- | year, yearly | Latin | annual | |
| ant- (1) | against, opposed to, preventive, (Used as a prefix) | Ancient Greek | anti- | |
| ant- (2) | before, in front of, prior to, forward, (Used as a prefix) | Latin | anterior, antebellum (prewar) | |
| ar- | burn, dry | Latin | ardor, arid | |
| anth- | flower | Greek | anthology | |
| arch- | ancient | archeology, archaic | ||
| arct- | north, bear | Arctic Ocean | ||
| arg(en/lyr)- | silver | argent | ||
| arthr- | joint | arthropod | ||
| astr- | star, star shaped | Greek | astronomy | |
| athl- | prize | athlete | ||
| au- (originally AV) | blow, waft | Latin | air (au- > aer >>> air), avian (avis (bird) >>> avian) | |
| aud- (originally AVD) | hearing, listening, sound | Latin | audible, auditory, audio | |
| aug- (originally AVG) | grow, increase | Latin | From the root of augeo "I increase" | augment |
| aus- (originally AVS) | burn; gold (derivatively) | Latin | Australia, aurora | |
| aut(o)- | self; directed from within | Greek | αυτός | automobile, autonomous |
| axi- | axis |
B
| Prefix | Meaning In English | Origin Language | Etymology (Root Origin) | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bac- | small berry | bacilla | ||
| baena- | walking | |||
| balan- | acorn | |||
| baro- | weight | barometer | ||
| basi- | at the bottom | basic | ||
| bat(is) | skate, ray | |||
| bdella- | sucker | |||
| bel, belli- | war | belligerent | ||
| ben- | good, well | benign | ||
| bi (1)- | two | binocular | ||
| bibl- | book | Greek | βιβλίο | bibliography |
| bi(o)- | life | biology | ||
| blast- | germ, embryo, bud, cell with nucleus | sideroblast | ||
| bor- | north | borealis | ||
| bot- | plant | botany | ||
| botr- | small bunch of grapes | |||
| bov- | ox | bovine | ||
| brach- | arm | Greek | ||
| brach- | short | |||
| brad- | slow | Greek | βραδύ | bradycardia |
| branch- | gill | |||
| brev- | short (time) | brevity | ||
| briz- | to nod | |||
| brom- | oats, broom, shadow | |||
| bronch- | windpipe | bronchitis | ||
| buc- | mouth, cavity | |||
| bulb- | bulbous | |||
| bulla- | bubble, flask | |||
| bullat- | wrinkled | |||
| bun- | hill | |||
| bursa- | pouch, purse | Bursary |
C
| Prefix | Meaning In English | Origin Language | Etymology (Root Origin) | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| calc- | stone | calcite, calcium | ||
| calli- | beautiful | |||
| callos- | callous | |||
| calor- | heat | calory | ||
| calyx- | cup, chalice | |||
| cam- | flesh | |||
| camp- | field | |||
| can- | dog | canine | ||
| can- | sound, sing | Latin | canto, cantata, cantor | |
| cand- | glowing, iridescent | Latin | incandescent, candle | |
| cap- | take, hold | Latin | capture, captive, chief, chef | |
| car-, col- | mix | Latin | kiln, culinary | |
| car-, scar- | hard, (derivatively corn- meaning horn) | Latin | ||
| card- | heart | |||
| carin- | keel | |||
| carp- | seed, wrist | |||
| cary- | nut | |||
| cata- | down | catatonia | ||
| cauda- | tail | |||
| cav- | hollow | cave, cavity | ||
| cent- | hundred | centenary | ||
| ceph(al)- | head | Greek | κεφάλι | |
| cera(s)(t)- | horn | Greek | κέρατα | |
| cerc- | horns, lobes, short tail | |||
| cerv- | neck | |||
| ch(e)ir- | hand/arm | |||
| chaet- | bristle | |||
| chel- | turtle | |||
| cheno- | goose | |||
| chlamy- | outer garment | |||
| chlor- | green | chlorine, chlorophyll | ||
| choan- | funnel | |||
| chondr- | cartilage | |||
| chord- | cord | |||
| chrom- | color | |||
| chrys- | gold | Greek | χρυσό | |
| chyl- | fluid | |||
| chym- | juice | |||
| cili- | eyelash | |||
| ciner- | grey | |||
| circum- | around | circumference | ||
| cirr- | tentacle | |||
| clad- | branch | |||
| clast- | broken | |||
| clav- | key | |||
| cleid- | key | |||
| cl(e)ist- | closed | |||
| cleithr- | bar, key | |||
| clin- | bed, recline | |||
| cochl- | shell | |||
| coel- | hollow | |||
| cogn- | know | cognitive | ||
| coll- | neck | |||
| con- (com- when assimilated with bilabials) | with, together, joined, against | Latin | connect, compress | |
| cono- | cone | |||
| cond(u)m- | protective armor | |||
| copro- | dung | coprolite | ||
| cora(xlg)- | raven | |||
| corb- | basket | |||
| coron- | crown | |||
| corp- | body | corpse | ||
| cort- | bark | |||
| cost- | rib | |||
| cotyl- | cup | |||
| crani- | skull | cranium | ||
| crass- | thick | |||
| crep- | shoe | |||
| cribi- | sieve | |||
| cric- | ring | |||
| crisp- | curled | |||
| crist- | crest | |||
| crosso- | fringe, tassel | |||
| cru(rals)- | shank | |||
| cruc- | cross-like | crucifix | ||
| crypt- | hidden | cryptic | ||
| cten- | comb | |||
| culp- | fault | |||
| cun- | wedge | |||
| cusp- | lance, point | |||
| cuti- | skin | |||
| cyan- | blue | Greek | κυανός | |
| cycl- | circular | Greek | κύκλος | bicycle, circle |
| cyn- | dog | |||
| cyst- | capsule | |||
| cyt- | cell |
D
dactyl- finger (Greek δάχτυλο, finger)
deci- tenth
deka- ten
demi- half
dendr- tree
dent/dont- tooth/teeth
derm- skin (Greek δέρμα, skin)
deut- second (Greek δεύτερο, second)
dextro- right (Greek δεξ-, right)
di(a)- two
dia- through (Greek δια, through)
digit- finger
dino- terrible/fearfully great
dors- back
dub- doubtful
dulc- sweet
duo- two
E
eco- house
ecto- outside
-ell- diminutive
embol- thrown in
endo- inside
engy- narrow
ensi- sword
eo- dawn, east
epi- upon
equi- horse, equal
ethm- sieve
eu- well, very
eury- wide
ex- from
exo- outside
F
fab- bean
falc- sickle-shaped
fallax- false
fasc(ic)- bundle
fatuus- foolish, useless
feli- cat
fer- carry
ficar- fig-like
fil- thread
fistul- hollow, tube
flacc- flabby
flav- yellow
flexu- wavy
foen- hay
foetid- foul smelling
foli- leaf
fornix- vault
fovea- shallow round depression
fund- to pour
furc(ul)- fork
Fus - to pour or melt
G
gal- milk
gale- weasel
gaul- of France
gangli- knot
gano- shining
gast(e)r- stomach, pouch
gemin- twins
gemm- bud
genu- knee, joint
genus- to be born
geo - earth
gerro- shield
gladi- sword
glen- socket
glia- glue
glom(er)- half of yam
gloss- tongue
glott- tongue
glut- sticky
gl(uly)c- sweet
glypt- carved, engraved
gnaph- wool
gnath- jaw
gon- angle
gono- seed
gracil- slender
gram- of grass
graph- to write or draw
gymn- naked
gyn,gyne,gynaec,gynec- woman
gyr- turning
H
hadro- thick, heavy, massive
hal- salty
hallu(x/ci)- big toe
hamat- hook
haplo- single, simple
hasta(t)- spear-tip shape
hect- hundred
heira- hawk
helios- sun
helminth- worm
helo- wart
hemi- half
hemo- blood
hepa(r/t)- liver
hepta- seven
hetero- different
hex- six
hibem- winter
hippo- horse
hirsu[t]- hairy
hispid- bristly
histri- actor
holo- complete, whole
homo- human/man (Latin)
homo- same (Greek)
homal- flat
hormon- that which excites
hortens- of gardens
humus- ground
hyal- glassy
hydr- water
hyemal- winter
hyo- U-shaped
hyper- above
hypo- beneath
I
| Prefix | Meaning In English | Origin Language | Etymology (Root Origin) | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in- (1) | in, on | Greek, Latin | invite, incur, intend | |
| in- (2) | in, un (negation) | Greek, Latin | inimicus | inimical |
| infra- | under | infrastructure | ||
| inter- | between, among | Latin | intermission, intercollegiate, intercourse | |
| intra- | within | Latin | intracollegiate | |
| is(o)- | equal, the same | Greek | isomorphic, isometric | |
| itin- | route, way | Latin | iter, itinis - march | itinerary |
J
| Prefix | Meaning In English | Origin Language | Etymology (Root Origin) | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| jac- (originally IAC) | throw, expel | Latin | iacio, iacere, ieci, iectus - to throw (and cognates thereof) | eject, interject, ejaculate |
| jus- (originally IVS) | law, justice | Latin | ius, iuris; iudex, iudicis; iusticia, iusticiae...etc. | justice, jury, judge |
K
| Prefix | Meaning In English | Origin Language | Etymology (Root Origin) | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| kil(o)- | thousand | Greek | kilogram, kilometer | |
| kin- | movement, motion | Greek | telekinesis, kinetic energy, kinesthetic, tactile kinesthetic |
juven - young
L
| Prefix | Meaning In English | Origin Language | Etymology (Root Origin) | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| lab- | lips | Latin | labia, labiae | labial, bilabial, etc. |
| lacr- | cry, tears | Latin | lacrima | lacrimous |
| lact- | of or pertaining to milk | Latin < Greek | lactose, lactate, lactic | |
| lam- | Latin | lamina, leaf | laminate | |
| leon- | of or pertaining to lions, of or pertaining to bravery | Latin | leo, leonis - lion | Leo, Leopold, lion, lionhearted |
| lev- | lift, hover | Latin | elevator, levitate | |
| lin- | line | Latin | linear, line | |
| ling- | of or pertaning to the tongue or to language | Latin | lingua, linguae - tongue, language | lingual, linguistic |
| lith- | stone | Greek | lythos - stone | monolith, Neolithic Era |
| log- | Greek | logos - word | monologue, logical, morphological | |
| luc- | bright | Latin | lux, lucis - light | Lucifer (bearer of light) |
| lun- | of or pertaining to the moon | Latin | luna, lunae - moon | lunar, looney |
M
| Prefix | Meaning In English | Origin Language | Etymology (Root Origin) | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mag- | large, great | Latin | magnificent, magnanimous, majesty (from the comparative, MAJ (originally MAI)) | |
| mal- | bad | Latin | malicious | |
| mam- | breast | Latin | mammary, mammal | |
| man- | hand | Latin | manus, manus; mando, mandare, mandavi, mandatus | mandate |
| mar- | sea | Latin | maritime, marine | |
| meso- | middle | Greek | mesozoic, Mesolithic | |
| meta- | above, beyond | Greek | metaphysics | |
| mir- | sight, wonder, amazement | Latin | miracle, mirror, admire | |
| mon- | one | Greek | monolith, monotone, monism | |
| morph- | form, shape | Greek | morpheme, anthropomorphic | |
| mov- | move, motion | Latin | moveo, movere, moti, motus; motor, motoris; momentum, momenti, etc. | move, motor, momentum |
| mult- | many, much | Latin | multitudo, multitudinis etc. | multitude, multiple, multiplex |
| mur- | wall | Latin | mural | |
| mus- | thief | Latin | musca, muscae; mus, muris | mouse |
macr- large
med- middle
mega- large
mel(l)i- honey
menin(x, g)- membrane
meno- moon
mer- part
micro- small
mil- thousand
min- smaller
miso- hate; hatred
miss- sent
mito- thread
mixi- mingle
moll- soft
monil- string of beads
myo- muscle, mouse
myri- countless
myx- mucous,vagina
myz- sucker
N
na(rls)- nose
necro- dead
necto- bananas
nema- hair
nemoral- in woods
neo- new
nephr- kidney
neur- nerve
nictitat- winking
nigr- black
nona- nine
noth- spurious
notho- southern
noto- back, south
nov-new
nu(clx)- nut
nuch- back of neck
nucle- little nut
nud- naked
nulli- none
numer- number
nutans- nodding
O
obesus- fat
obtect- concealed
obturat- closed
obtusi- blunt
occiden- Western
occip- back of head
oct- eight
-ode- way or path
odont- tooth
odor- fragrant
oecious- house of
oed- swollen
oen- wine
oesoph- gullet
officinal- used in medicine
-oid- like
olecran- skull of elbow
oleo- oily
olfact- smelling
oligo- few
ology-study of
oliva- olive
omaso- paunch
oment- fat skin
omm- eye
omo- shoulder
omphalo- navel
onto- existing
oo- egg
op(t)- eye
operculum- little cover
ophi- snake
ophthalmo- eye
opistho- behind
opoter- either
or- mouth
orbi- circle
orch- testicle
oriental- Eastern
ornith- bird
ortho- straight
os(ti)- mouth
os(s/t)- bone
ostrac shell
ot- ear
ovi- sheep
ovo- egg
oxys, oxus- sharp, pointed
P
pachy- thick
palae- old
palli(um)- mantle
pallid- pale
palustri- in marshes
pan- all
par(a)- near
parie- wall
parvi- little
patella- small dish
patens- spreading
pect(or)- chest
pectin- comb-like
ped- foot, child
pel- to drive
pend- to hang
pene- almost
penia- deficiency
pent- five
per(i)- through, beyond
peregrin- foreign
peri- around
persic- peach
petr- rock
phaeo- dark
phag- eat
phalan(g/x)- close formation of troops
phalar- shining
phanero- visible
pher- carry
phil- love
phloe- tree bark
phon- sound
phor- carry
pho(s/to)- light
phragm- fence
phren- diaphragm, mind
phryno- toad, toad-like
phyl- tribe
phyll- leaf
physa- bladder
physio- nature
phyto- plant
pil- hair
pinea- pine cone
pinnat- feather-shaped
pisum- pea
pisc- fish
plac- plate, tablet
plagio- oblique
plan- flat
platy- flat, broad
plec(o/t)- twist, pluck
plesio- near
pleth- full
pleur- side
plex- interwoven
plica- fold
plum- feather
pneu(mo/st)- air, lung
pod- foot
pogo- beard
polio- grey
polit- polished
poll(ex)- thumb
poly- many
pons- bridge
porc- pig
porphyr- purple
porta- gate
post- after
potam- river
potero- drinking cup
praeco- early
pratens- in meadows
prae- before
prim- first
pro- in front of
proct- anus
procumbens- lying flat
profund- deep
proliger- bear offspring
prom- first
proso- front
prostratus- lying flat
prot- first
prunus- plum
psamma- sand
pseud- false
psycho- mind
psychro- cold
pter- wing, fern
ptyal- sahva
pubescens- downy
pubi- sexually mature
pulmo- lung
pungens- pungent
pusill- very small
pygo- rump
pyl- gate
pyo- pus
pyr- heat, fire
pyrus- pear
Q
| Prefix | Meaning In English | Origin Language | Etymology (Root Origin) | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| quadr- | four | quadrangle | ||
| quart- | four | quartile | ||
| quin(t/que)- | five | quintet |
R
rach- spine
radi- root
ram- branching
ran- frog
rapa- turnip
raph- seam
rect- straight
reflex- bent back
ren- kidney
repens- crawling
reptans- crawling
retic- network
retina- little net
retro- behind, backward
rhabd- rod
rhach- spine
rhage- tear, rent
rhin- nose, snout
rhiz- root
rhodo- red
rhynch- snout
-rrh- flow
roborem- oak tree, strength
rode- gnaw
rogos- wrinkled
rostr- beak, prow
rota- tum, wheel
rub(e)r- red
rumen- throat
S
sapien- thinking, wise, knowing
sacchar- sugar
saccul- little sac
sacr- sacred
sagitta- arrow
sal- salt
sanct- holy
sanguini- bloody
sapon- soap
sarc- flesh
sativus- cultivated
saur- lizard/reptile
saxum-rock
scala- ladder
scalene- uneven
scaph- anything hollow, bowl, ship
schizo- split
scler- hard
scop, scopy, scept- look at, examine, view, observe
scrib(script)- to write
scut- shield
scyph- cup
seba- tallow, wax
sect- cut
segetum- in cornfields
selen- moon
sella- saddle, seat
semi- half
sept- seven, wall
ser(olu)- any body fluid
serot- late
serrat- saw-toothed
set- hair
sex- six
simi- monkey
sinus- hollow, bay
skept- look at, inspect, consider, examine
sipho- tube
sol- sun
soleno- pipe, channel
soma- body
somni- sleep
spas- hope
spec- see
specios- showy
sperm- seed
sphen- wedge
sphinct- closing
spinos- spiny
spondyl- vertebra
squalid- squalid
squam- scale
squarros- spreading at tips
stae(rlt)- fat
sta(silt)- standing
steg- covering
stell- star
steno- narrow
stereo- solid
steril- sterile
stern- breastbone
stom- mouth
strat- layer
strept- twisted
strictus- upright, stiff
strigos- having stiff bristles
stroph- turning
stupor- wonder
styl- column
sub- below
sucr- sugar
sulc- furrow
super- beyond
supin- lying back
supra- above
sutur- seam
sym- with
syn- with
syrin(glx)- pipe
sys- with
T
tachy- fast
tact- touch
taenia- ribbon
talus- ankle
tapetum- carpet
tard- late
tarsus- ankle
tect- covered
tegmen- covering
tel (e/o)- far, end
teleo- complete
temno- cut
tenacul- holding
tentor- spread like a tent
tenuis- slender
ter(ti)- three
teres- round
tetr- four
textilis- of textiles
thalam- chamber, bed
thalass- sea
theca- case
thel- nipple, female
the- god
therm- heat
thero- breast, mammal
thyreo- large shield
tinctori- of dyes
tom- cut
topo- local, place
torn- cut
tomentos- densely woolly
torpe- numb
totus- total
toxo- arrow, dart
trab- beam
trachy- rough
trago- goat
trans- across
trapez- four sided, table
trema- hole
tremulans- trembling
tri- three
trich- hair
trivialis- trivial
troch- wheel
trop- turning
troph- feed
tussi- cough
U
uliginosus- in marshes
-ul- diminutive
ulo- wooly
ultra- above
umbilic- navel
umbra- dark
un- one
unc- hook
ungui- nail, claw
ungul- hoof, claw
universitas- universe
urens- bum
uro- tail
urs- of bears
utricul- little skin bag
uv(ela)- grapes
uxor- wife
V
vu- thing many people go in
velum- veil
ven- vein
ventr- belly
verd- green
veris- truewtf?
verm- worm
vern- spring
versi- various
vesic- blister
vesper- evening, western
vid- to see
vill- shaggy hair, velvet
virens- green
visc- organs of body cavity
vita- life
vitell- yolk
vitr- glass
vora- devour
vulgaris- common
vulp- fox
X
| Prefix | Meaning In English | Origin Language | Etymology (Root Origin) | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| xanth- | yellow | xanthic | ||
| xen- | stranger | |||
| xeno- | foreign | xenophobia | ||
| xer- | dry | xeroderma | ||
| xiphi- | sword | |||
| xyl- | wood | xylograph |
Z
| Prefix | Meaning In English | Origin Language | Etymology (Root Origin) | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -zo- | animal, living being, life | Greek | protozoa, zoo, zoology | |
| zyg- | yoke, joined, paired | zygote |
See also
- International Scientific Vocabulary
- List of Latin words with English derivatives
- List of Greek words with English derivatives
- List of Germanic and Latinate equivalents
- Interlingua