List of Greek and Latin roots in English
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 | ||
| arch- | ancient | archeology, archaic | ||
| arct- | north, bear | Arctic Ocean | ||
| arg(en/lyr)- | silver | |||
| arthr- | joint | athropod | ||
| 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 | |
| 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
bac- small berry
baena- walking
balan- acorn
baro- weight
basi- at the bottom
bat(is) skate, ray
bdella- sucker
bel, belli- war
ben- good, well
bi (1)- two
bibl- book (Greek βιβλίο)
bi(o)- life
blast- germ, embryo, bud. Also, cell with nucleus (e.g. sideroblast)
bor- north
bot- plant
botr- small bunch of grapes
bov- ox
brach- arm (Greek)
brach- short
brad- slow (Greek βραδύ)
branch- gill
brev- short
briz- to nod
bronch- windpipe
buc- mouth cavity
bulb- bulbous
bullat- wrinkled
bun- hill
bursa- pouch, purse
C
| Prefix | Meaning In English | Origin Language | Etymology (Root Origin) | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| can- | sound, sing | Latin | canto | |
| cand- | glowing, iridescent | Latin | incandescent, candle | |
| cap- | take, hold | Latin | capture, captive | |
| car-, col- | mix | Latin | kiln, culinary | |
| car-, scar- | hard, (derivatively corn- meaning horn) | Latin | incandescent, candle | |
| con- (com- when assimilated with bilabials) | with, together, joined, against | Latin | connect, compress |
calc- stone
calli- beautiful
callos- callous
calor- heat
camp- field
can- dog
cap- head
card- heart
carin- keel
cam- flesh
cary- nut
cata- down
cauda- tail
cav- hollow
cent- hundred
ceph(al)- head (Greek κεφάλι)
cera(s)(t)- horn (Greek κέρατα, horns or nails)
cerc- horns, lobes, short tail
cerv- neck
ch(e)ir- hand/arm
chaet- bristle
chel- turtle
cheno- goose
chlamy- outer garment
chlor- green
choan- funnel
chondr- cartilage
chord- cord
chrom- color
chrys- golden (Greek χρυσό)
chyl- fluid
chym- juice
cili- eyelash
ciner- ashen, grey
circum- around
cirr- tentacle (originally curl)
cl(e)ist- closed
clad- branch
clast- broken
clav- key
cleid- key
cleithr- bar, key
clin- bed, recline
cogn- know
cochl- shell
coel- hollow
coll- neck
cono- cone
cond(u)m- protective armor
copro- dung
cora(xlg)- raven
corb- basket
coron- crown
corp- body
cort- bark
cost- rib
cotyl- cup
crani- skull
crass- thick
crep- shoe
cribi- sieve
cric- ring
crisp- curled
crist- crest
cru(rals)- shank
cruc- cross-like
crypt- hidden
cten- comb
culp- fault
cun- wedge
cusp- lance, point
cuti- skin
cyan- blue (Greek κυανός, cyan color)
cycl- circular (Greek κύκλος, circle)
cyn- dog
cyst- capsule
cyt- cell
D
dactyl- finger (Greek δάχτυλο, finger)
dasy- shaggy
deci- ten
decid- cheese
decuss- cross banding
deka- 3 and a half
delph- womb
delphis- dolphin
demi- whole
demoliri- to pull down; destroy
dendr- tree
dent/don/dont- tooth/teeth
derm- skin (Greek δέρμα, skin)
dero- persisting
desmo- band (Greek δεσμή, tied)
deut- second (Greek δεύτερο, second)
dextro- right (Greek δεξ-, right)
di(a)- two
dia- through (Greek δια, through)
didym- twin (Greek δίδυμοι, twins)
digit- finger
dino- terrible/fearfully great
diplo- double (Greek)
dipso- thirst (Greek)
dissect- deeply cut
dodeca- twelve (Greek δώδεκα)
dont- tooth (Greek δοντι)
dors- back
drom- quick running
dubi- doubtful
dulci- sweet
duo- two
dur- softy soft soft
dys- difficulty (Greek δυσ-)
E
echino- spiny
echis- viper
eco- house
ecto- outside
effer- carrying away
elasmo- plate, flat
-ell- diminutive
embol- thrown in
endo- inside
engy- narrow
ensi- sword
eo- dawn, east
epi- upon
equi- horse, equal
erect- upright
erythr- red
ethm- sieve
eu- well, very
eury- wide
ex- from
exo- outside
extens- draw out
extra- beyond
extrins- coming from
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
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
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
goni- angle
gono- seed
gracil- slender
gram- of grass
graph- to write or draw
gymn- naked
gyn- 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
ichthy- fish
-ida- like
-idae- ending of zoological family names
ileum- twisted
impar- unpaired
in- in, not
-in- diminutive
-inae- ending of zoological sub-family names
incarnat- flesh coloured
incis- cutting in
incus- anvil
inermis- unarmed
inflexis- rigid
infra- under
inter- between
intra- within
iod- violet
-iola- diminutive
iris- rainbow
iso- equal
iter- passage
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
ket- ketone
kilo- thousand
kinesis- movement
Krinein- to separate; to decide; to judge
L
labi- large lips
labyrinth- tortuous passage
lacer- torn
lacrim- tears
lact- milk
lacuna- space
laevo- left
lagena- flask
lamella- leaf, layer
lan(at)- wool
lanceol(at)- lance-shaped
lati- broad
lecith- egg yolk
lemm- skin, husk
lens- lentil, bean
leo(n)- lion
lepid- scale
lepto- slender
leuc- white
levator- lifter
lign- wood
ligul- strap-shaped
lin- line
ling- tongue
lip- fat
liss- smooth
lith- stone
log(y)- discourse
loph- crest
luc- light
lumen- cavity
luna- moon
lupus- wolf
lute- yellow
lymph- clear water
lysis- loosen
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
mala- cheek
mandib- lower jaw
marsup- pouch
mast- nipple
med- middle
medull- marrow
mega- large
mel(l)i- honey
melan- black
menin(x, g)- membrane
meno- moon
mer- part
met- fear
micro- small
mil- thousand
min- smaller
miso- hate; hatred
miss- sent
mito- thread
mixi- mingle
moll- soft
monil- string of beads
mult- many
mur- walls
myo- muscle, mouse
myri- countless
myx- mucous
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
nutans- nodding
O
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
saxum-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
quadr- four
quart- four
quin(t/que)- five
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
scala- ladder
scalene- uneven
scaph- anything hollow, bowl, ship
schizo- split
scler- hard
scop- gaze, small owl, broom, shadow
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
skopeo- 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
torn- cut
tomentos- densely woolly
torpe- numb
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
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- true
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
xanth- yellow
xen- stranger
xeno- foreign
xer- dry
xiphi- sword
xyl- wood
Z
zoo-, zo-, -zoic, -zoid, -zoite, -zoal, -zonal, -zooid, -zoon, -zoa, -zoan Greek: animal, living being, life
zon- girdle
zyg- yoke, joined, paired
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