Medical Terminology

Common Prefixes
Prefix

Meaning

Prefix

Meaning

a-

without, not

inter-

between

ab-

from, away from

intra-

within

acro-

heights, extremities

ipsi-

same

ad-

toward, increase

juxta-

near, beside

allo-

other, different

macro-

large

ambi-

both, both sides

mal-

bad poor

an-

without, not

meso-

middle

ante-

before, in front

meta-

change, after

anti-

against

micro-

small

auto-

self

mid-

middle

bi-

two, double

milli-

one-thousandth

brady-

slow

mono-

one, single

cata-

down

multi-

many

circum-

around

non-

not

con-

together

nulli-

none

contra-

against, opposite

pan-

all

de-

down, lack of

para-

near, beside

dia-

through, complete

per-

through

dis-

apart, abnormal

peri-

around

dys-

bad, difficult, painful

poly-

many, much

ecto-

outside

post-

after, behind

en-

in

pre-

before, in front

endo-

within, inner

presby-

old age

epi-

upon, over

primi-

first

eso-

inward

pro-

forward, in front of

eu-

healthy, normal

pseudo-

false

ex-

out

quadri-

four

extra-

outside of, beyond

retro-

backward, behind

hemi-

half

rube-

red

homo-

same

sub-

under, below

hydro-

water

supra-

above, over, upward

hyper-

excessive, above

tachy-

rapid, fast

hypo-

less than, under

tri-

three

in-

in, not

ultra-

beyond, excess

infra-

beneath, below, under

uni-

one

Medical Terminology
Common Suffixes

Suffix_____

Meaning

Suffix_____Meaning

-ac, -al, -an

-ad
-algesia
-algia
-ar, -ary
-arche
-ase
-blast
-carcinoma
-cele
-centesis
-chezian
-cusis
-cyte
-desis
-dipsia
-dynia
-eal, -ic, -ical
-ectomy
-edema
-emesis
-emia
-esthesia
-esis
-genesis
-gnosia
-gram
-graph
-graphia
-graphy
-gravida
-ia
-iasis
-iatric (s)
-istrist, -ician
-iatry
-ic, -ical, -ile
-ism
-itis
-lepsy
-lexia
-lithotomy
-logist
-logy
-lysis
-malacia
-mania
-megaly

pertaining to
toward
sensitivity to pain
pain
pertaining to
beginning
enzyme
immature, embryonic
cancer of epithelial origin
herniation, protrusion
surgical puncture
condition of stool
hearing
cell
binding or surgical fusion
condition of thirst
pain
pertaining to
surgical removal
swelling
vomiting
blood condition
condition of feeling, sensation
condition of
generating, formation, origin
condition of knowing
record or picture
instrument to record
condition of writing
process of recording
pregnancy, gestation
condition
condition, presence of
field of medicine
specialist in a field of study
field of medicine
pertaining to
condition
inflammation
seizure or sudden attack
condition of reading
removal of stone
one who specializes in the study
the study of
destruction, breaking down,
softening
mental disorder, madness
enlargement

-meter
-metry
-occult
-oid
-oma
-opia, -opsia
-ory, -ous
-osis
-para
-paresis
-pathy
-penia
-pepsia
-pexy
-phagia
-phasia
-phil, -philia
-phobia
-plasia
-plasty
-plegia
-pnea
-poiesis
-ptosis
-ptysis
-rrhagia
-rrhaphy
-rrhea
-rrhexis
-salpinx
-sarcoma
-sclerosis
-scope
-scopy
-stalsis
-stasis
-stenosis
-stomy
-tocia
-tome
-tomy
-tripsy
-trophy
-um
-uria
-us
-y

instrument to measure
process of measuring
secret, hidden
resembling, like
tumor
visual condition
pertaining to
abnormal condition
delivery, parturition
slight paralysis, weakness
disease
decrease, deficiency
digestion
fixation, suspension
condition of eating, swallowing
condition of speaking
attracted to
abnormal fear, sensitivity
condition of formation
surgical repair
paralysis; stroke
breathing
formation, production
drooping, prolapse, falling
spitting, coughing up
excessive flow, bursting forth
suture, repair
drainage, flow, discharge
rupture
tube, fallopian or eustachian
connective tissue cancer
abnormal hardening condition
instrument to view
process of viewing
contraction
stopping, controlling
abnormal narrowing condition
new opening
condition of labor, delivery
instrument to cut
incision
process of crushing
process of nourishment
structure, thing, membrane
urinary condition
structure, thing
process of