The list of Latin and Greek words in biological systematics is for understanding scientific names of organisms. The binary nomenclature and some names for higher taxa , e.g. for orders , are mainly based on Latin and ancient Greek .
When Carl von Linné (1707–1778, also known as "Carolus Linnaeus") published the books that are now considered the basis of binary nomenclature, the language of science in Western Europe was Latin, and scientific names were Latin or Greek. Linné continued this practice.
Often a generic name or a species name is simply the Latin or Greek word for the living being, so canis is Latin for "dog". These words are not included in the list if they only appear in a few taxa. The list of terms contains words that appear in species of different genera.
There are three different cases of Latin adjectives : If only one ending is given, it is a single-ended adjective - the given ending applies to masculine, feminine and neuter (example: velox ; participle like reptans ). If two endings are given, one applies to masculine and feminine and the other to the neuter (examples: acaulis , -e ; borealis , -e ). For three-ended adjectives, all three gender endings are given.
Often, Latin and Greek numerals are used as components of the species epithet when the number of a certain feature is characteristic of a species. The numerical words are therefore listed in advance; in the alphabetical list, reference is made to the numerical one.
For the sake of simplicity, only the roots of the words are sometimes mentioned.
Word list
Legend: L = Latin, G = Greek
0-9
Numeral
Latin / Greek
Examples
1
L un-; G hen ἕν
Monotropa uniflora
2
L you (o), bi (s); G dyo, di (s) δύο, δίς
Dipodium punctatum
3
L tres, tria; G tria, tri (s) τρία, τρίς
Kittiwake , Rissa tridactyla
4th
L quattuor; G tettares, tetra (kis) τέτταρες, τετράκις
Four-leaved nailweed , Polycarpon tetraphyllum ; Land vertebrates , tetrapoda
5
L quinque; G pente πέντε
Chalcides pentadactylus
6th
L sex; G hex ἕξ
Ludwigia hexapetala
7th
L septem; G ἑπτά, ἑβδο-
Seven-spotted ladybird , Coccinella septempunctata
8th
L octo; G okto ὀκτώ
Common octopus , Octopus vulgaris
9
L novem; G ennea ἐννέα
Nine-banded armadillo , Dasypus novemcinctus ; Oxalis enneaphylla ; Diamondfish, Enneacanthus obesus
10
L decem; G deka δέκα
Colorado beetle , Leptinotarsa decemlineata ; Nordic slime head , Beryx decadactylus
11
L undecim; G hendeka ἕνδεκα
12
L duodecim; G dodeka δώδεκα
Dodecatheon hendersonii , Dodecatheon hendersonii
13
L tredecim; G τρεῖς καὶ δέκα
Thirteen-point ladybug , Hippodamia tredecimpunctata
14th
L quattuordecim; G τέτταρες καὶ δέκα
A.
word
origin
meaning
Examples
acaulis, -e
G ἄκαυλος
trunkless
Koch's gentian , Gentiana acaulis ; Stemless thistle , Cirsium acaule
acutus, -a, -um
L.
pointed, pointed
American crocodile , Crocodylus acutus ; Pintail , Anas acuta
agrestis, -e
L.
from the field, wild
Earth vole , Microtus agrestis ; Field speedwell , Veronica agrestis
albus, -a, -um
L.
White
Snow ibis , Eudocimus albus ; American white oak , Quercus alba ; White berry mistletoe , Viscum album
americanus, -a, -um
L.
American
American black bear , Ursus americanus
ampullatus, -a, -um
L.
bottle-shaped
Northern duck whale , Hyperoodon ampullatus
angustifolius, -a, -um
L.
narrow-leaved
Narrow-leaved vetch , Vicia angustifolia ; Narrow-leaved hollow tooth , Galeopsis angustifolia
anthropos
G ἄνθρωπος
human
Paranthropus
archaeo-
G ἀρχαῖος, ἀρχαιο-
primeval, old
Archeopteryx
arctos
G ἄρκτος
bear
Grizzly bear , Ursus arctos horribilis ; Real bearberry , arctostaphylos uva-ursi
argentatus, -a, -um
L.
silver, silvery
Herring gull , Larus argentatus
arvensis, -e
L.
from the field
Skylark , Alauda arvensis
astron, astro, astero
G ἄστρον, ἀστρο-, ἀστερο-
star
Starfish (class), Asteroidea
aureus, -a, -um
L.
golden
Golden jackal , Canis aureus ; Staphylococcus aureus (bacterium)
australis, -e
L.
southern
Southern right whale , Eubalaena australis
B.
word
origin
meaning
Examples
baccatus, -a, -um
L.
Carrying berries
European yew , Taxus baccata
bi-
L.
2
Mussels , bivalvia
blandus, -a, -um
L.
flattering, enticing
Balkan anemone , Anemone blanda
borealis, -e
L.
north
Northern smooth dolphin , Lissodelphis borealis
brachion
G βραχίων
poor
Arm pods , Brachiopoda (animal strain), Brachiopoda ; Brachiosaurus
brachys, brachy-
G βραχῦς, βραχυ-
short
Saddleback toads , Brachycephalidae (family)
bradys, brady-
G βραδῦς, βραδυ-
slowly
Three-toed sloth (family), Bradypodidae
branchia
L, G βράγχια
Gills
Gill pods , Branchiopoda (class)
brevis, -e
L.
short
Silver cheek hornbill , Bycanistes brevis
C.
word
origin
meaning
Examples
caecus, -a, -um
L.
blind
Blind mole , Talpa caeca
caeruleus, -a, -um
L.
blue
Blue tit , Cyanistes caeruleus ; Blue passion flower , Passiflora caerulea
canadensis, -e
L.
Canadian
Bighorn sheep , Ovis canadensis
canus, -a, -um
L.
gray (hairy), pale
Gray woodpecker , Picus canus
cauda
L.
tail
Tail tit , Aegithalos caudatus
caul-
G καυλός
Stem, stem
Kochscher gentian , Gentiana acaulis
cephalic
G κεφαλή
head
Black- headed gull , Larus melanocephalus
chilensis, -e
L.
Chilean
Seven-color tangare , Tangara chilensis
chlorοs
G χλωρός
green
Common Common Rail , Gallinula chloropus
clavatus, -a, -um
L.
club-shaped
Club moss , Lycopodium clavatum
cnem-
G κνήμη
Lower leg, (shin) leg
Blue feather dragonfly , Platycnemis pennipes
corax
G κόραξ
Crow, raven
Common raven , Corvus corax
coronatus, -a, -um
L.
crowned
Crowned Lemur , Eulemur coronatus
costatus, -a, -um
L.
ribbed
Line horned catfish , Platydoras costatus
crassus, -a, -um
L.
thick
River mussel , Unio crassus ; Salt cress , Lepidium crassifolium
cristatus, -a, -um
L.
carrying a comb
Aardwolf , Proteles cristatus
crocos
G κρόκος
yellow
Saffron , Crocus sativus ; Field shrew , Crocidura leucodon
cyanos
G κυανός
blue
Blue Magpie , Cyanopica cyana
D.
word
origin
meaning
Examples
dactylοs
G δάκτυλος
Finger, toe
Kittiwake , Rissa tridactyla
deca
G
10
decem
L.
10
decidua
L.
Shedding leaves, deciduous
European larch , Larix decidua
the MA
G δέρμα
skin
Carbolegerling , Agaricus xanthoderma
di-
G
2
dino, dino
G δεινο-
dreadful
Dinosaur , Deinotherium
dioicus, -a, -um
G di 2 , οἶκος house
dioecious
Great nettle , Urtica dioica ; Forest goat's beard , Aruncus dioicus
diplo-
G διπλο-
double
Diploglena capensis , Diploglena capensis
dodeca
G
12
dolicho-
G δολιχο-
extended
Anolis dolichocephalus , Anolis dolichocephalus
domesticus, -a, -um
L.
Home, tame
House Sparrow , Passer domesticus
dorsum
L.
move
Back-striped weasel , Mustela strigidorsa
dulcis, -e
L.
sweet
Almond , Prunus dulcis
E.
word
origin
meaning
Examples
eburneus, -a, -um
L.
ivory colored
Ivory Gull , Pagophila eburnea
echinatus, -a, -um
G ἐχῖνος
prickly
Procambarus echinatus , Procambarus echinatus ; Pinus echinata , Pinus echinata
echin-
G ἐχῖνος
Hedgehog-; prickly
Beehive thistle , Echinops sphaerocephalus ; Echinopsis pachanoi
edulis, -e
L.
edible
European oyster , Ostrea edulis ; Common cockle ; Cerastoderma edule ; Purple granadilla , Passiflora edulis
elatior, -us
L.
bigger, higher
Tall cowslip , Primula elatior ; Common oat , Arrhenatherum elatius
electro-
G ἤλεκτρον
1. amber 2. electric (modern use)
Flat beak motmot , electron platyrhynchum ; Electric eel , Electrophorus electricus
enanti
G ἔναντι
opposite
Enantiornithes
ennea
G
9
ensatus, -a, -um
L.
like a sword
Dicamptodon ensatus (family of giant cross-toothed newts )
ensis
L.
Long sword
Ensis minor ; Juncus ensifolius
erectus, -a, -um
L.
upright
Homo erectus ("human standing upright"); Upright chickweed , Moenchia erecta
erio-
G ἔριον
Woolly, woolly
Narrow-leaved cottongrass , Eriophorum angustifolium
erosus, -a, -um
L.
"Gnawed off", jagged
Yam bean , Pachyrhizus erosus ; Spiny- edged jointed turtle , Kinixys erosa
erythros, erythro-
G ἐρυθρός
red
Dark water strider , Tringa erythropus ; Dog's tooth lily , Erythronium dens-canis
F.
word
origin
meaning
Examples
familiaris, -e
L.
common; domesticated, domestic
Domestic dog , Canis lupus familiaris
ferrugineus, -a, -um
L.
rusty, rust-colored
Rust-leaved alpine rose , Rhododendron ferrugineum ; Rust-colored carpet shark , Parascyllium ferrugineum
flavus, -a, -um
L.
yellow
Yellow pitcher plant , Sarracenia flava ; Yellow-necked mouse , Apodemus flavicollis
flor-
L.
flower
Evergreen Magnolia , Magnolia grandiflora ; Large-flowered forest lily , Trillium grandiflorum
foetidus, -a, -um
L.
smelly
Smelly hellebore , Helleborus foetidus
folium
L.
leaf
American beech , Fagus grandifolia
fulvus, -a, -um
L.
ocher, brown
Siberian golden plover , Pluvialis fulva ; Yellow ground squirrel , Spermophilus fulvus
fuscus, -a, -um fuscatus, -a, -um
L.
dark, dark brown
Black tern , Onychoprion fuscata ; Notomys fuscus
G
H
word
origin
meaning
Examples
haemo-, haem-
G αἷμα
blood
Haemosporida ; Haemophilus
halo-, hali-
G ὁ ἄλς / ἡ ἅλς
salty; from the sea
Gray seal , Halichoerus grypus ; Abalones , Haliotis
haplo-
G ἁπλόος
easy
hedra-
G ἕδρα
Seat
heli-, helio-
G ἥλιος
Sun
Sunflower , Helianthus annuus ; Midsummer Spurge , Euphorbia helioscopia
hen
G
1
hepta-, hebdo-
G
7th
hexa-
G
6th
Thelocactus hexaedrophorus
hippo-
G ἵππος
horse
Seahorses , hippocampus ; Lesser horseshoe bat , Rhinolophus hipposideros
hirsutus, -a, -um
L.
haired
Hairy foam herb , Cardamine hirsuta
homo
L.
human
Human , Homo sapiens ; Neanderthals , Homo neanderthalensis
hortensis
L.
Garden-
Orpheus warbler , Sylvia hortensis
hydro
G ὕδωρ, ὑδρο-
water
Water deer , Hydropotes inermis
hyper-
G ὑπέρ
over
Real St. John's wort , Hypericum perforatum
hypo-, hyp-
G ὑπό
under
Zebra catfish , Hypancistrus zebra ; Common piglet weed , Hypochoeris radicata
I.
word
origin
meaning
Examples
indicus, -a, -um
L.
Indian
Black-backed tapir , Tapirus indicus
L.
word
origin
meaning
Examples
lateralis, -e
L.
laterally
Black paw rock kangaroo , Petrogale lateralis
leucο-
G λευκός
White
White-winged tern , Chlidonias leucopterus
lineatus, -a, -um
L.
lined, striped
Colorado potato beetle , Leptinotarsa decemlineata
luteus, -a, -um
L.
yellow, golden yellow
Yellow vetch , Vicia lutea
M.
word
origin
meaning
Examples
macro-
G μακρός
long, big
Ferocactus macrodiscus
macularius, -a, -um maculatus, -a, -um
L.
spotted
Common sandpiper , Actitis macularius
major
L.
greater
Great tit , Parus major
malabaricus, -a, -um
L.
from Malabar
mauro-
G μαυρο-
dark black
maximus, -a, -um
L.
greatest
King tern , Sterna maxima
megas
G μέγας
big
Megalodon , Carcharodon megalodon
melano
G μέλανος
black
Black- browed albatross , Thalassarche melanophris
micro-
G μικρός
small
Epithelantha micromeris
minimus, -a, -um
L.
smallest
Garden tyrant , Empidonax minimus
minor
L.
smaller
Great frigate bird , Fregata minor
mono-
G μονο-
easy
montanus, -a, -um
L.
Mountain-
Tree Sparrow , Passer montanus
morpho-
G μορφο-
shape
mys
G μῦς
mouse
Phoberomys and Telicomys , see Dinomyidae
N
word
origin
meaning
Examples
nanus, -a, -um
G νάνος
dwarf
Pineapple nanus
nodosus, -a, -um
L.
knotty, knot-like
Gnarled figwort , Scrophularia nodosa
notho-
G νόθος
false, bastard, sham
False beeches , Nothofagus (genus)
notos
G νότος
southern
Australian jumping mice , Notomys (genus)
novaehollandiae
L.
from New Holland (Australia)
Great emu , Dromaius novaehollandiae
novaeseelandiae
L.
from New Zealand
New Zealand cuckoo owl , Ninox novaeseelandiae
noveboracensis, -e
L.
from New York
Riparian Warbler , Seiurus noveboracensis
novem
L.
9
O
word
origin
meaning
Examples
obscurus, -a, -um
L.
dark
Black dolphin , Lagenorhynchus obscurus
occidentalis, -e
L.
western, occidental
Occidental arborvitae , Thuja occidentalis
oceanicus, -a, -um
G Ὠκεανός
Marine, sea
Posidonia oceanica
octo-, octa-
G
8th
-odon, odonto-
G οδων , οδους
tooth
Megalodon , Carcharodon megalodon ; Autumn dandelions , Leontodon autumnale
odoratus, -a, -um
L.
fragrant, fragrant
Woodruff , Galium odoratum ; Common stork grass , Anthoxanthum odoratum
oeos-
G
tubular
Oesophagostomum , Oesophagostomum bifurcum
officinalis, -e
L.
medicinal; medical
Rosemary , Rosmarinus officinalis
oleum
L.
oil
Luminous olive mushroom , Omphalotus olearius
ops
G ὤψ
face
Triceratops ("three-horned face")
opsis
G ὄψις
Face, appearance
Carolina Parakeet , Conuropsis carolinensis
orientalis, -e
L.
eastern, oriental
Common cockroach , Blatta orientalis ; Oriental arborvitae , Thuja orientalis
ortho-
G ὀρθο-
straight, upright
Orthoptera
P
word
origin
meaning
Examples
pachy
G παχύς, παχυ-
thick, broad; strong
Pachycephalosaurus
palustris, -e
L.
Swamp-
Marsh crocodile , Crocodylus palustris ; Marsh forget-me-not , Myosotis palustris
pan, panto
G πάν, παντός
all (s), whole
Pantopoda
parvus, -a, -um
L.
small
Bergbilchbeutler , Burramys parvus
pedi-
L pes , pedis
foot
Queen lady's slipper , Cypripedium reginae
pelagic
G πέλαγος
open sea
penning
L penna
feather
Giant aalk , Pinguinus impennis
pennatus, -a, -um
L.
winged
Booted eagle , Aquila pennata
penta-
G
5
perennis, -e
L from annus year
all year round; persistent, constant
Perennial tangle , Scleranthus perennis ; Perennial flax , Linum perenne ; Daisies , Bellis perennis
petra
G πέτρα
Rock, stone
phyll
G φύλλον
leaf
Multi-leaved lupine , Lupinus polyphyllus
physically
G φύσις
nature
phyt-
G φυτόν
plant
Astrophytum (genus of cacti)
platy-
G πλατύς, πλατυ-
flat, wide
Anatolian trout , Salmo platycephalus
poly-
G πολύς, πολυ-
much
Bird knotweed , Polygonum aviculare
pratensis, -e
L.
Grasslands-
Meadow foxtail , Alopecurus pratensis ; Meadow Clover , Trifolium pratense
proto-
G πρῶτος
first
Proton , Protozoa
pter-
G πτερόν
Feather, wing
White-winged tern , Chlidonias leucopterus
pubescens
L.
growing up; fluffy
Downy oak , Quercus pubescens
pumilus, -a, -um
L.
dwarf, dwarf
Dwarf iris , Iris pumila
punctatus, -a, -um
L.
dotted
Thirteen-point ladybug , Hippodamia tredecimpunctata
purpureus, -a, -um
L.
purple
Purple dead nettle , Lamium purpureum ; Purple cranesbill , Geranium purpureum ; Purple orchid , Orchis purpurea
R.
word
origin
meaning
Examples
repandus, -a, -um
L.
curved upwards
Bread stump mushroom , Hydnum repandum
repens
L.
1. crawling (rēpens) 2. suddenly, unexpectedly (rĕpens)
Creeping buttercup , Ranunculus repens ; White clover , Trifolium repens
reptans
L.
creeping
Creeping cinquefoil , potentilla reptans ; Creeping Gunsel , Ajuga reptans
reptilis, -e
L.
creeping
Reptiles , reptilia
rhis, rhinos
G ῥις, ῥινός
nose
Golden round-leaf nose , Rhinonicteris aurantia
rhiza
G ῥίζα
root
Nodule bacteria , Rhizobiaceae
rhynchos
G ῥύγχος
Beak, snout
Mallard , Anas platyrhynchos
rhyti-
G ῥυτῖς
wrinkled, wrinkled
Great Kranzmoos , Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus ; Rhytidodon
rostrum
L.
Beak, snout, trunk
Crossbill , Loxia curvirostra
rostralis, -e rostratus, -a, -um
L.
beaked
Hop-billed owl , Hypena rostralis
ruber, rubra, -um
L.
red
Red spurflower , Centranthus ruber ; Red maple , Acer rubrum
rufus, -a, -um
L.
reddish, red
Red wolf , Canis rufus
S.
word
origin
meaning
Examples
sanguis
L.
blood
Canadian tormentil , Sanguinaria canadensis
sapiens
L.
wise
Homo sapiens ("wise man")
sativus, -a, -um
L.
sown, d. H. cultivated
Pea , Pisum sativum
saura
G σαύρα
lizard
Lance fish , alepisaurus ; Maiasaura (dinosaur)
sempervirens
L.
evergreen
Common boxwood Buxus sempervirens
septem
L.
7th
Nordic striped fern Asplenium septentrionale
new year's eve, silvestris, silvestre
L.
out of the woods; wild
Wild cat , Felis silvestris
sinensis, -e
L.
from China
Tea (plant) , Camellia sinensis
speciosus, -a, -um
L.
beautiful, well formed; deceptive
Queen flower , Lagerstroemia speciosa ; Magnificent lily , Lilium speciosum
sperm
G σπέρμα
Seeds
Parodia microsperma
sphen-
G σφήν
wedge
Bridge lizards , Sphenodon punctatus
stoma
G στόμα
Mouth, opening
striatus, -a, -um
L.
striped
Mangrove Heron , Butorides striatus
suchοs
G
Crocodile (from Egyptian )
Eusuchia , see crocodiles ; Koolasuchus , see Temnospondyli
sylvester, sylvestris, sylvestre sylvaticus, -a, -um
L.
out of the woods
Forest vetch , Vicia sylvatica ; Field chervil , Anthriscus sylvestris
T
word
origin
meaning
Examples
tardus, -a, -um; tardi-
L.
slowly; late
tele-, tel-
G τῆλε
far away
Waratah, Telopea speciosissima
tenuis, -e
L.
thin, slim, tight
tetra-
G
4th
tinctorius, -a, -um
L.
suitable for dyeing
Woad , Isatis tinctoria
tomentosus, -a, -um
L.
furry
Kalanchoe tomentosa
tredecim
L.
13
tres, tris, tri-
L, G
3
thrix, trich-
G θρίξ , Gen. τριχός
hair
triquetrus, -a, -um
L.
triangular
Bell leek , Allium triquetrum
U
V
word
origin
meaning
Examples
variabilis, -e
L.
changeable, impermanent
variegatus, -a, -um
L.
different colored
Croton (plant) , Codiaeum variegatum
velox, veloci-
L.
fast
Kitfuchs , Vulpes velox ; Velociraptor
ventral, -e
L.
Belly-
Blue-crowned amazon , amazona ventralis
vernus, -a, -um vernalis, -is, -e
L.
Spring
Spring gentian , gentiana verna ; Spring Adonis , Adonis vernalis
verrucosus, -a, -um
L.
warty
Javanese pustular pig , Sus verrucosus
verus, -a, -um
L.
for real
Real aloe , aloe vera ; Real bedstraw , Galium verum
villosus, -a, -um
L.
shaggy, hairy
Hairpecker , Picoides villosus ; Shaggy vetch , Vicia villosa
viridis, -e
L.
green
Green alder , Alnus viridis ; Green hollow tongue , Coeloglossum viride
virosus, -a, -um
L.
toxic
Poison lettuce , Lactuca virosa ; Water hemlock , Cicuta virosa
volans
L.
flying
New worldly flying squirrels , Glaucomys volans
vulgaris, -e
L.
common, common, common
Common octopus , Octopus vulgaris ; Common privet , Ligustrum vulgare
W, X, Y, Z
word
origin
meaning
Examples
xantho-
G ξανθός
yellow
Carbolegerling , Agaricus xanthoderma
zygos
G ζυγός
connected; paired
Zygoptera
Notes and sources
↑ File: Ananas nanus 20060514-2.jpg
↑ according to the English article: en: List of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names # S
Web links
See also
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