List of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names

This list of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names is intended to help those unfamiliar with classical languages understand and remember the scientific names of organisms.

The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants, and the names used for higher taxa such as families and orders, is largely derived from Latin. At the time when Linnaeus devised the hierarchical scientific classification of living things, Latin was used in Western Europe as the language of science, so it was natural that he should use the Latin name of each animal as its definitive scientific name. Although Latin is now largely unused except by classicists but mainly by theologists and clergy of the Papacy also known as the Roman Catholic Church, the use of Latin names remains. It is helpful to most people to be able to understand the common words that arise from scientific names, and the table lists some of these; while the Latin names do not always correspond to the current English common names, they are often related, and if their meanings are understood they are easier to recall. The Greek language has been associated with science and arts since the Golden Age. It is a living language and unlike Latin continues to be used as the proper scientific language. The benefit of having a scientific language is that it preserves a non political or subjective view, instead it promotes an honest description of the subject or object of investigation. For example, most people refer to a hypologistic machine as a computer, the correct or orthodox nomenclature preserves a unique and truthful statement about the subject. This is the reason for using a scientific language. While Latin is mostly found in use with biological studies, the remaining sciences and arts depend on an almost exclusive Greek lexicon. edicine for example has some 80% Greek nomenclature although when we include the biological studies the rate drops to 65%, Chemistry 70% and Physics, Math, and Microbiology are based on Greek Nomenclature. During the period 1700's till today many Western countries who contributed to the continuation of academia broke several traditions in their zeal to become recognised for their contributions. The scientific language as such has some degree of impurity introduced by English, French and German names associated with the individuals who discovered, investigated or took important roles in the development of their respective field.

The list includes a collection of scientific words and even common prefixes used in common english. Words that are very similar to their English forms are not included.

Note that not all the attributions to languages in this table are authoritative.

Latin/Greek word or part word	language L=Latin G=Greek LG=similar in both languages	English translation
albus	L	white
arcturus	L	northern
argentatus	L	silvery
australis	L	southern
bengalensis	L	Bengal, India
borealis	L	northern
brachy	G	short
carbo	L	coal
caulos	G	stem, stalk
caudatus	L	tailed
cephalus	G	head
chloro	G	green
-cola	G	-dweller
cristatus	L	crested
cyano	G	blue-green
dactylus	G	finger or toe
dermis	G	skin
di-	G	two-
diplo-	G	double
dolicho-	G	elongated
domesticus	L	domestic or house
dorsalis	L	back
dukhunensis	L	Deccan plateau, India
echinus	G	spine
erythro	G	red
familiaris	L	common
flora	L	flower
folius	L	leaf
fuscus	L	dark brown
fulvus	L	yellow
gaster	G	belly
glycis	G	sweet
halo	G	salt
hibernicus	L	Irish
hortensis	L	garden
indicus	L	Indian
lateralis	L	side
leucus	G	white
lineatus	L	lined or striped
ludovicani	L	Lewis's
maculatus	L	spotted
major	L	greater
maximus	L	largest
melanus	G	black
minimus	L	smallest
minor	L	smaller
mono-	G	one-
montanus	L	mountains
morphos	G	shape
morph-	G	shape
mauro-	G	dark
niger	L	black
nothos	G	false, bastard
notos	G	southern
novaehollandiae	L	Australian
novaeselandiae	L	New Zealand
noveboracensis	L	New York
obscurus	L	dark
occidentalis	L	western
oeos-	G	tubular
officinalis	L	medicinal
orientalis	L	eastern
ortho-	G	straight
pachys	G	thick, stout
parvus	L	small
pedi-	L	feet
pelagius	G	oceanic
penta-	G	five-
petra	G	rocky, stony
phyllo	G	leaf
phyton	G	plant
platy	G	flat
protos	G	first
pteron	G	wing
punctatus	L	spotted
rhiza	G	root
rhytis	G	wrinkled
rubra	L	red
-rostra-	L	beak
rufus	L	red
sativus	L	filling (food)
saurus	G	lizard
sinensis	L	Chinese
stoma	G	mouth, opening
striatus	L	striped
sylvi	L	forest, wild
tetra-	G	four-
tinctorius	L	dyeing
tomentosus	L	furry
tri-	LG	three-
trich-, thrix	G	hair
-ura	G	of the tail
uni	L	one
variabilis	L	variable
variegatus	L	variegated
ventrus	L	belly
verrucosus	L	rough skinned
volans	L	flying
vulgaris	L	common

External links

• "The Botanary" at "Dave's Garden".