Biology: Prefixes and Suffixes
Biology prefixes and suffixes are interesting. Understanding them makes it easier to understand unfamilar words. Many of the words used in scientific subjects such
as biology, medicine, and health sciences may initially
seem to be long, complicated, and unfamiliar. This is
partly because many technical terms are derived from
Greek or Latin words not in common use in English.
Knowledge of the general meaning of a
- prefix (that is the beginning part of a word)
or
- suffix (that is the end part of a word)
can make it easier to recognise and understand unfamiliar words.
The following list is to assist
younger students e.g. of GCSE Biology, as taught to UK
students aged 14-16. It is about biology generally (not just animal or human
biology), so includes terms about both
plants and animals.
Source
of
Prefix / Suffix
 |
Term with meaning in English
|
Examples |
Greek |
autos =
self |
e.g. autotroph |
Greek |
bios =
life |
e.g. biology, biomass |
Latin |
bis = twice |
e.g. binary fission, bicuspid
valve |
Greek |
chloros = (pale) green |
e.g. chlorophyll, chloropsia |
Greek |
chroma = colour |
e.g. chromatopsia,
chromosome (because it takes-up coloured stains) |
Greek |
dia = across |
e.g. diaphragm, dialysis |
Greek |
dis = twice |
e.g. dichromatic,
diploid, dipeptide |
Greek |
ektos =
outside |
e.g. ectoparasite |
Greek |
epi = upon
(above) |
e.g. epicotyl, epidermis |
Greek |
exo = outside |
e.g. excocytosis, exoskeleton |
Greek |
haima =
blood |
e.g. haemoglobin,
haemophilia |
|
Greek |
heteros = other (different) |
e.g. heterozygous |
Greek |
homos =
same |
e.g. homologous, homozygous |
Greek |
hypo =
under |
e.g. hypocotyl, hypothermia |
Latin |
inter =
between |
e.g. inter-cellular, intercostal |
Latin |
intra =
within |
e.g. intra-cellular, intra-uterine |
Greek |
kytos =
vessel (a cell) |
e.g. cytoplasm, erythrocyte, leucocyte |
Greek |
lipos =
fat |
e.g. lipase, lipid |
Greek |
lysis =
dissolution |
e.g. dialysis,
lysozyme |
Greek |
mesos =
middle |
e.g. mesenteric, mesophyll |
Greek |
meta =
after (change) |
e.g. metamorphosis |
Greek |
mikros = little |
e.g. micropyle, microvilli |
Greek |
morphe = form (shape) |
e.g. metamorphosis, morphology |
Greek |
phagein = to eat |
e.g. oesophagus, phagocyte |
Greek |
phyllon = leaf |
e.g. chlorophyll, mesophyll |
|
Greek |
phyton = plant |
e.g. phytoplankton, saprophyte |
Greek |
polys =
many |
e.g. polypeptide, polysaccharide |
Greek |
protos = first formed |
e.g. protista, protoplasm |
Greek |
rhiza =
root |
e.g. rhizoid, rhizome |
Latin |
semi =
half |
e.g. semicircular canal, semilunar
valves |
Latin |
sub = under |
e.g. sub-cutaneous,
subclavian, subsoil |
Greek |
sym- , syn- = together |
e.g. symbiosis, synapse |
Greek |
treis =
three |
e.g. triceps
brachii, tricuspid
valve, tripeptide |
Greek |
trophe = food |
e.g. autotroph, trophic level |
Latin |
unus =
one |
e.g. unicellular, unisexual |
Latin |
vas = vessel |
e.g. vascular bundle, vaso-dilation, vasodilator |
Greek |
zoion =
animal |
e.g. zoology, zooplankton |
Greek |
zygon =
yolk |
e.g. homozygous, zygote |
|
For more Latin words see the page of Latin
Names of Bach Flowers.
