Prefixes which can be used as combining forms in compounded words

Prefix Meaning Example

a- Without, not
ab- Away from
abdo- Abdominal
abdomino-
acro- Extremity
Ad- Towards
Adeno- Glandular
Amb- Both, on both sides
Ambi-
Amido- NH2 group united to an
acid radical
Amino- NH2 group united to a
radical other than an acid
radical
Amphi- On both sides, around
Amyl- starch
An- Not, without
Andro- male
Angi- Vessel(blood)
Aniso- Unequal
Ant- Against, counteracting
Anti-
Ante- Before
Antero-
Antro- antrum
Aorto- Aorta
Arthro- Joint
Auto- Self

Bi- Twice, two

Bili- Bile
Bio- Life
Blenno- Mucus
Bleph- Eyelid
Brachio- arm
Brady- Slow
Broncho- Bronchi

Cardio- Heart
Carpo- Wrist
Cata- Down
Centi- A hundredth
Cephal- head
Prefix Meaning Example
Cerebro- Brain
Cervico- Cervix
Cheil- Lip
Cheir- Hand
Chemo- Chemical
Chol- Bile
Cholecysto- Gall bladder
Choledocho- Common bile duct
Chondro- Cartilage
Chrom- Colour
Cine- Film
Circum- Around
Co- together
Con-
Coli- Bowel
Colpo- Vagina
Contra- Against
Costo- Rib
Crani- Skull
Cranio-
Crypt- Hidden
Cysto- Bladder
Cyto- cell

Dacryo- Tear
Dactyl- Finger
De- Away, from, reversing
Deca- Ten
Deci- Tenth
Demi- Half
Dent- Tooth
Derma- Skin
Dermat-
Dextro- To the right
Dip- Double
Dis- Separation, against
Dorso- Dorsal
Dys- Difficult,painful,abnormal

Ecto- Outside,without,external
Electro- Electricity
Em- In
En- In,into,within
End-
Prefix Meaning Example
Ent- within
Entero- Intestine
Epi- On, above, upon
Ery- Red
Eu- Well, normal
Ex- Away from, out, out of
Exo-
Extra- Outside

Ferri- Iron
Ferro-
Fibro- Fibre , fibrous tissue
Flav- Yellow
Feto- Fetus
Fore- Before, infront of

Gala- Milk
Gastro- Stomach
Genito- Genitals, reproductive
Glosso- Tongue
Glyco- Sugar
Gnatho- Jaw

Haema- Blood
Haemo-
Hemi- Half
Hepa- Liver
Hepatico-
Hetero- Unlikness, dissimilarity
Hexa- Six
Histo- Tissue
Homeo- Like
Homo- Same
Hydro- Water
Hygro- Moisture
Hyper- Above
Hypo- Below
Hystero- uterus

Iatro- Physician
Idio- peculiar to the individual
Ileo- Ileum
Ilio- Ilium
Immuno- immunity
Prefix Meaning Example
In- Not, in, into, within
Infra- Below
Inter- Between
Intra- Within
Intro- Inward
Ischio- Ischium
Iso- Equal

Karyo- Nucleus
Kerato- Horn, skin, cornea
Kypho- Rounded, humped

Lact- Milk
Laparo- Flank
Laryngo- Larynx
Lepto- Thin, soft
Leuco- White
leuko
Lympho- lymphatic

Macro- Large
Mal- Abnormal, poor
Medi- Middle
Mega- Large
Melano- Pigment, dark
Meso- Middle
Meta- Between
Metro- Uterus
Micro- Small
Milli- A thousandth
Mio- Smaller
Mono- One, single
Muco- Mucus
Multi- Many
Myc- Fungus
Myelo- Spinal cord, bone marrow
Myo- Muscle

Narco- Stupor
Neo- New
Nephro- Kidney
Neuro- Nerve
Noct- Night
Normo- Normal
Prefix Meaning Example
Nucleo- Nucleus
Nyc- Night

Oculo- Eye
Odonto- Tooth
Oligo- Deficiency, diminution
Onycho- Nail
oo- Egg, ovum
Oophor- Ovary
Ophthalmo- Eye
Opisth- Backward
Orchido- Testis
Oro- Mouth
Ortho- Straight
Os- Bone, mouth
Osteo- Bone
Oto- Ear
Ovari- Ovary

Pachy- Thick
Pan- All
Para- Beside
Patho- Disease
Ped- Child,foot
Penta- Five
Pento-
Per- By, through
Peri- Around
Perineo- Perineum
Pharyngo- Pharynx
Phlebo- Vein
Phono- Voice
Photo- Light
Phren- Diaphragm, mind
Pleuro- Pleura
Pluri- Many
Pneumo- Lung
Podo- Foot
Polio- Grey
Poly- Many, much
Post- After
Pre- Before
Pro-
Proct- anus
Prefix Meaning Example
Proto- First
Pseudo- False
Psycho- Mind
Pyelo- Pelvis of the kidney
Pyo- Pus
Pyr- Fever

Quadri- Four

Radio- Radiation
Re- Again, back
Ren- Kidney
Retro- Backward
Rhin- Nose

Sacchar- Sugar
Sacro- Sacrum
Salpingo- Fallopian tube
Sapro- Dead, decaying
Sacro- Flesh
Sclero- Hard
Scota- Darkness
Semi- Half
Sero- Serum
Socio- Sociology
Spleno- Spleen
Steato- Fat
Sterno- Sternum
Sub- Below
Supra- Above
Syn- Together, union, with

Tabo- Tabes
Tachy- Fast
Tarso- Foot, edge of eyelid
Teno- Tendon
Tetra- Four
Thermo- Heat
Thoraco- Thorax
Thrombo- Blood clot
Thyro- Thyroid gland
Tibio- Tibia
Tox- Poison
Tracheo- trachea
Prefix Meaning Example
Trans- Across, through
Tri- Three
Trich- Hair
Tropho- Nourishment

Ultra- Beyond
Uni- One
Uretero- Ureter
Urethro- Urethra
Uro- Urine, urinary organs
Utero- Uterus
Vaso- Vessel
Veno- Vein
Vesico- Bladder

Xanth- Yellow
Xero- Dry
Xiphi- Ensiform cartilage of
Xipho- sternum