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org/wiki/Medical_terminology"
Basic Greek and Latin for understanding science and medicine
Tim Moors

This document contains basic words from Greek and Latin that are components of many words used in the
English language, particularly in scientific and medical terminology. Such terminology is often difficult to
understand because of the number of words whose meaning must be memorized. However, there are far fewer
components (prefixes, roots, and suffixes) than there are words that combine those components, so memorizing
the meaning of the components can reduce how much you need to memorize, and can help you understand words
that you haven’t yet been introduced to, but which are based on these components. The reuse is also helpful when
crossing disciplines, e.g. once you know that “alto” means high from music, you can also guess that alto clouds
are high clouds (clouds at altitide), again reducing the volume of material to memorize.

For example, the condition “pulmonary barotrauma” doesn’t sound like anything else in the English language, but
by decomposing it into its components: pulmonary = lung, baro = pressure, trauma = wound, makes it much more
meaningful: a wound to the lung caused by pressure. Knowing the root “baro” also helps to understand the word
barometer.

At the same time, learning a list of words is almost as boring as reading a telephone directory or phonebook. To
make it easier, learn words that are related to subjects of interest. This document is organized into areas of
related words, and (eventually) the end of this document will contain indices pointing to words that are related to
particular fields of interest (e.g. dinosaurs, anatomy, etc).

This document contain a series of entries of the following form:

English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
CARB coal, charcoal carbo, carbon- L carboniferous
CARBO
CARBON
CARBONI

The “English form” column indicates how the component appears in English words. The components are
capitalized in order to facilitate searching. For example, if you search for “ferous”, you must pass the entries for
carb- and voc- which contain (carboniferous and vociferous) before reaching the entry for FEROUS. A case-
sensitive search for “FEROUS” will lead you directly to the entry for ferous.

The root indicates the word from which the component was derived, and the Language column might indicate that
the root was from Latin (L) or Greek (G). The Example column occasionally contains notes, e.g. “histogram” is
derived from “histos” meaning mast, not “histo” meaning tissue.

Objects
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
AX, AXI-, AXO- axis, axle axial
CHIASM- crossing
FOSS ditch fossil?
PELV a basin
 SEB grease
TRAB beam, timber

VULV- a covering vulva

VAGIN- a sheath vagina
-LEMMA sheath

FORAM- opening

SIN-, SINO- a hollow sinuses of the

skull
VENTER, hollow cavity, belly ventral,
VENTR- ventricle
COEL- hollow
LACUN- space, cavity, lake
CAMERA vault L
AREOLA- open space
ATRI- vestibule atrium
CLAUSTR(O) enclosure claustrum L claustrophobia
from claudere to
shut
VESTIBUL- a porch vestibule:
anterior entry
to the mouth
and nose

CYST- sac, bladder blastocyst

(growing sac)
VESIC(O) bladder
CYT- cell
CYTO
TUNIC- covering

inanimate objects
Chemical elements
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
NATRI- sodium
ARGENTUM silver L
AURUM gold L
FERR- iron
OXY- oxygen

Organic chemistry?
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
LIP-, LIPO- fat; containing a lipid lipoprotein
STEAT- fat
STEATO-
ATHER- fatty
ATHERO-
AMYL- starch G amylase

Geology
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
CARB(ON)(I) coal, charcoal carbo, carbon- L carboniferous
CALC stone, lime, chalk L
LITH stone, bone/rock?

English form Meaning Root Language Example

(Lat/Gk)
ASTER star aster G asteroid,
astrology

VITRE- glass
COLOSS gigantic statue kolossos G coliseum
colossus L

LAMELL- small plate

LAMINA layer, sheet laminate
MITO- thread, filament mitochondria
COL(L) glue kolla G collagen
-GLEA, -GLIA glue

Forces?
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
PYR- fire, fever pyromaniac,
PYRO- pyrotechnics

CALOR- heat calor L calories

THERM- heat thermometer
THERMO-
CRY- cold cryogenics
CRYO-

STER- solid steros G cholesterol (solid

bile)
AQUA-, AQUE- water aque L
HYDR-, water
HYDRO-
LYMPH water
NIMBUS rainy nimbus clouds
HUMOR- a fluid
RHEUM- watery flow, change, or rheumatoid
flux arthritis
RHE flow
-RRHEA flow or discharge diarrhea

XER(O) dry xerox? (dry

copying?)

VENTUS wind ventilation

PNEUMO air, wind
PNEA breathing
PNEUM(ATO) breath, air
AER(O) air aer G
ANEM(O) wind anemos G anemone

Artificial objects
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
BIBLIO- book biblion G bibliography
FOLLI- bag, bellows ?follicle?
GLOM- ball
SAGITT- arrow sagitarius
SEPTUM fence
FENESTR- window
FONTAN- fountain
CLAVIC- key
FLAGELL- whip flagella
SERRAT- saw serrated
THYRO- a shield
TRAPEZ- table
TYMPAN- drum

Physics
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
BARO weight, pressure baros G barotrauma,
barometer
heavy barys G
depth bathos G

TONO- tension hypertonic

VALEN- strength valere to be L

strong

DURA hard
SCLERO- hard sclerosis
MALAC, soft spondylomalacia
-MALACIA = a softening of
the vertebrae

ALT(I) high, height altus L alto clouds

ALTO alto pitch
LEVA- raise, elevate

death and destruction

English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
CINER ashes cinis L incinerate
to burn ardere L
CAUST, CAUT kaustikos burning G caustic
BELLUM war L
CID a killing caedere to kill L fratricide,
–CIDIUM homicide,
-CIDA killer genocide,
-CIDE destroy or kill insecticide
NECR(O)- death

Biology
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
BIOS life G biology
VIV- life vivisection
VIVI in vivo
VITA- life
ORG- living organism
organic?
GERMIN- grow germinate?
-PLAS grow

English form Meaning Root Language Example

(Lat/Gk)
GYN woman gynacologist
ANDR- man, male, husband aner G androgynous?
ANDRO- android?
GERO-, old man
GERONT-
MATER mother
GAM-, GAMET- married, spouse monogamy,
bigamy
PAROUS parent?
PED(O) child ped also means
 foot, e.g.
pedestrian, pedal,
bipedal

GON-, GONO- seed, offspring

SEMEN seed, sperm
ZYG- a yoke, twin zygote
AZYG- unpaired

-NATA birth prenatal,

neonatal,
antenatal
PARTUM ?birth? postpartum

microbiology:
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)

MENING(O)- membrane meningitis

Botany
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
ANTH(O) flower anthos G chrysanthemum?
anthology?
ARBOR tree L
DENDR- tree, branch dendrite
CORT- bark corticosteroids?
PHY- leaf phyllon G phyllo pastry,
chlorophyl
BLAST- bud, germ, sprout blastos G blastocyst
-BLAST generator trophoblast
CAUL(I) stalk caulis L cauliflower?
CARP(O) fruit karpos G
COCC berry, seed kokkos staphylococus –
staphylo- (cluster)
+ cocus (berry) =
rounded bacteria
clustered like
bunches of grapes
NUCLE- pit, kernel, little nut L nucleus
CAROT- carrot, stupor
RHACHOS thorn G

MYC-, MYCO- fungus

Zoology / Animals
 English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
ANTHRO- human being anthropos G anthropology
AV- bird avis L aviary
CANI- dog canis L canine
CARCIN-, crab karkinos G
CARCINO- a cancer (apparently
because the veins around
a cancerous tumour were
thought to resemble the
limbs of a crab)
HIPPO- horse
CAVAL horse caballus L cavalry
CET(AC) whale, sea-monster cetus L cetacean
ketos G
VACC- cow vaccine
COCHLEA snail shell
CONCHA shell
COCCY- cuckoo

Anatomy
External
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
CORPOR, body
CORP-
SOMA- body chromosome?
SOMAT
SOMATO
-SOME

limbs:
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
BRACHI- arm
PINNIS fin
PENI- a tail
PENNA- a wing
PTERON wing pterosaur: pteron
wing + sauros
lizard
PTERYGOTE wings
SOMA- body
OURA tail
CAUD- tail cauda, coda L caudal: towards
CODA the tail
CHIR hand cheir Gk chiropractic: hand
CHIRO activity
DACTYL finger or toe teradactyl?
DACTYLO
CARPAL wrist
MANUS hand
TARSAL ankle
PEDAL foot ped also means
foot, e.g.
pedestrian, pedal,
bipedal
POD(O)- foot

head
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
CEPHAL(O), head kephale Gk
ENCEPHAL(O)
CAPUT- head
-CIPIT head ?ocipital?
CORONA crown L coronary
OCULO- eye
OPHTHALM(O) eye
OT(O)- ear otoscope
AUR ear auris L
AURI
BUCC- cheek
BUCCO-
jaw gnathus
RHIN(O)- nose
ROSTRIS nose
NAS(O) nose nasal
STOM(A) mouth, opening colostomy
LABI-, LABRI- lip

See also Senses

regions:
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
CERVIC-, neck cervix L cervix = neck of
CERVIX the womb
COL(L) neck collum L collar
ACROMIAL point of shoulder?
AXILLARY armpit
STERNAL breastbone
STETH(O) chest stethos G stethoscope
THORAC(O) chest
CELE- abdominal
VENT- the belly-side venter = belly ventral
LAPAR(O) flank, abdomen
GLUTE- buttock
COXAL hip
INGUINAL groin

Intergumentary system
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
PILI hair
CAPILL- hair capillus L capillary
HIRSUT- hairy
CILI- small hair
CILI eyelid, eyelash cilium Lat cilia: eyelash-like
appendages to
cells
long-haired kometes Gk
from komes hair
CIRRUS tuft of hair cirrus clouds
VILLUS shaggy hair
BARBA beard L barbel - fish with
beard-like
appendages;
barber?
COMPHO- nail
CORN-, horn
CORNU-
KERA- horn
CUT-, CUTIC- skin cutaneous,
cuticle?
DERM- skin derm(ato)
LEPIS scales

LACT-, LACTO- milk

MAMM(O)- breast
MAST(O) breast mastectomy
PECT- breast pectus L pectoral muscles
PIPILL- nipple

Internal
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
SPLANCHN- organ
VISCERO- organ
HIST(O)- tissue ?hysterectomy?

Note: histogram
from Greek
histos mast
SARCO- flesh sarcophagus
(flesh
eating)
CARNEO- flesh caro L carnage – heap of
CARN(I) flesh; carnival:
lifting of flesh(-
eating): carnival
before Lenten
fast, incarnate
MY(O)- muscle myocardial
infarction heart
muscle

Skeletal system
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
RACHI(O) spine
SPONDYL vertebra spondylolysis: +
SPONDYLO "lysis" = dissolve
MEDULL- marrow
MYELO- spinal cord, marrow
NOTO- back notochord
CANI(O)- skull
CHRONDR(O)- cartilage
CHONDRO cartilage hypochondriac =
below cartilage
(concern about
parts under the
breastbone)
COST(O)- rib pentacostal
PLEUR- side, rib
DEN-, DENT- tooth
DONTUS teeth
ODONTO- teeth
ADOUS tooth
OSSE(O)- bone
OSTE(O)- bone
ARTHRON joint G arthritis
ARTHR- (inflamation of
ARTHRO- the joints)
ARTUS joint L
ATRIC(UL)- joint

Circulatory system
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
CARDI(O) heart kardia G
HAEM- blood
HEM- (NAM)
HEMA-,
HEMATO-,
HEMO-
SANGUIN- blood
EMIA blood anemia

ANGI(O)- vessel angiitis,

angioplasty
ARTERI(O) artery
AORT- great artery aorta
PHLEB(O)- vein
VEN(O) vein
VAS(O) vessel vasculum small L vascular
vessel

Respiratory system
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
BRONCHO- bronchus
PULMO(N(O))- lung pulmonary
PNEUMON(O) lung pneumonia
pneumatic?
BRANCHIA gills G

Digestive system
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
PEP- digest peptic acid
PEPS
PEPT
PHAG-, eat, destroy phagein G macrophage
PHAGO-
NUTRI- feed, nourish
AILMENT- nourish ailmentary canal,
or digestive tract
TROPH- nourish atrophy,
trophoblast
JUGUL- throat jugular vein
PHARYNG(O) throat

GLOSS(O)- tongue
LINGUA- tongue linguistics
LINGU(O)

ILE- intestine
ENTER(O)- intestine
GASTR(O)- stomach gastric, epigastric,
gastrointestinal

PROCT(O) rectum, anus

HEPAT(O)- liver hepatitis

CHOL(ER) bile, or referring to chole G cholera: bilious
CHOLE- gallbladder, anger disease;
cholesterol: bile
solid
BILI- bile

Urinary system
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
-URIA urine
DIURE- urinate diuretic
MICTUR- urinate

REN- kidney renes L adrenal, renal

REN(I)
REN(O)
ADREN- toward the kidney
NEPHRO- kidney
NEPHR-

PYEL(O) pelvis of kidney

Nervous system
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
NEUR(O) nerve
CEREBRO- brain, especially the
cerebrum
CEREB(R)(O) brain cerebrum L cerebral
ENCEPH(AL(O))- brain encephalograph
PSYCH(O)- mind, psyche
MNEM- memory
SOMNUS sleep
HYPNO- sleep hypnos G hypnotise?

Senses
See also head (for organs that perform the sensing)

English form Meaning Root Language Example

 (Lat/Gk)
SENS- feeling
-ESTHESI sensation esthete
NARCO- numbness narcotic,
narcolepsy
PLEG, -PLEGIA paralysis
-ALGIA, ALG pain in a certain part analgesic
(an=without+
algesis = sense of
pain)
-ODYN, pain
-ODYNO

-OPIA vision, defect of the eye myopia

OLFACT- smell olfactory

OSM- smell

GUST- taste
GLYCER- sweet, or referring to glykeros or glykys G glycerol, glucose?
GLYC(O) glucose = sweet
SUCR- sweet
-DIPS thirst, dry

TACT- touch tactile

AUSCULT- listen
AUDIT- to hear audire L
AUDI(O) hearing

ACOU-, ACU- hearing acoustics

CANERE to sing L
-PHASIA speech
VOX, voice vocalis L vociferous
VOC- vocal

Endocrine system (end- + Greek krinein to separate)

ADEN(O)- gland adeniform: resembling a gland in shape

paracrine

Reproductive system
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
GONO gonad?
HYSTER(O)- uterus or womb hysterectomy,
hysteria (from the
notion that
hysteric women
were suffering
 from disturbances
of the womb)
METRO- uterus
OO- egg ocyte?
OOPHOR(O) ovaries
OV-, OVI- egg, ovum, ovary
ORCHI(O)- testis/testes

Medicine
iatr(o) doctor
-iatrics medical specialty

-dontist, e.g. orthodontist, periodontist, prosthodontist

peri- + Greek odont-, odous, odOn tooth

Medical conditions
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
OSIS condition
-IA condition
-ISM condition
-TY condition of, state
-EMIA condition of the

English form Meaning Root Language Example

(Lat/Gk)
DYS- bad, faulty, abnormal dysfunctional
difficult, painful
ECTOP- displaced
PIA tender
EDEM- swelling
TUBER- swelling
GANGLI- swelling or knot
-BRYO swollen embryo
THROMB-, clot, lump thrombosis
THROMBO-

-ITIS inflammation dermatitis,

hepatitis, arthritis,
etc

SEPTI- rotten antiseptic

-ASTHEN weakness
-OMA tumor carcinoma
ONC- tumor oncology
ONCO-
TRAUMA wound G barotrauma

-PATHY, disease
PATH
PATHO
-RRHAGIA abnormal or excessive
discharge
-ZYME ferment

Medical operations
English form Meaning Root Language Example
(Lat/Gk)
-ECTOMY excision (removal by mastectomy
cutting)
-PLASTY repair rhinoplasty,
reconstruction of a part, angioplasty
plastic surgery (fixing arteries)
TOMY