I believe this is the most complete list that you will find, either in a book or on the internet. It's yours now. If you distribute it more-or-less-as-is, please be sure to mention me as compiler. Please let me know about any additions or corrections, and other medical terminology sites.
Most come from classical Greek. The next most common source is Latin.
I'm a pathologist. I'm available to help you if I can. If you would like to visit briefly, and you understand that I cannot diagnose or treat over the web, I'm a few keystrokes away. In return, I ask only that you let others know about this site.
Health and friendship.
Ed Friedlander MD
scalpel_blade@yahoo.com
No texting or chat messages, please. Ordinary e-mails are welcome.
Stems
| acanth | spine, prickle |
| aceto | vinegar |
| acou | hear |
| acro | extremity, tip, sharp |
| actin | ray, beam |
| acu | sharp, abrupt, sudden |
| adeno | gland |
| adipo | fat |
| aero | air |
| (a)esth | perception |
| agogue | leader |
| agon | contest, struggle |
| ala | wing |
| alb | white |
| algo | pain |
| alien | stranger, strange |
| allelo | one another, mutual |
| amauros | blind |
| am(o)eb | constantly changing |
| ambi/amph | both sides |
| ambly | dim, faint |
| ambul(o)- | walk |
| amnio | amnion, "bowl" |
| amylo | starch |
| andro | male |
| angio | vessel (blood, bile) |
| ankyl | bent, crooked; a joint locked in one position |
| annulus | little ring |
| anser | goose |
| anthem | flower |
| anthrac | black |
| anthro | man / human |
| aort | aorta |
| aphro | froth, sexual love |
| aqu | water |
| arachn | spider, spiderweb |
| archo | ancient, beginning |
| argy | silver, shiny |
| artero | artery (as opposed to vein) |
| arthro | joint |
| artic | little joint |
| asthm | panting, short breaths |
| athero | gruel |
| atri | entry chamber |
| axilla | armpit |
| axo | center, axis |
| aud | hear |
| aur | hear |
| aus | hear |
| auto | self |
| aux | make grow |
| azo | nitrogen |
| bac(t) | rod |
| ball | throw |
| balano | acorn, glans |
| blast | sprout |
| blenno | snot |
| bleph | eyelid |
| bol | throw |
| brachi | arm |
| brady | slow |
| branch | gill |
| bronch | bronchus |
| bucc | cheek (inside) |
| burs | bursa, purse |
| caes | cut deep |
| c(h)ord | notochord |
| c(o)ele | rupture |
| carpo | wrist |
| calci | limestone |
| calco | heel, spur |
| calyc | cup |
| campy | bend |
| canc | crab |
| capo | head, expanded part |
| centr | center |
| carbo | charcoal, carbon |
| carcin | crab |
| carcinoma | cancer from epithelium |
| card | heart, heart-shape |
| carot | great neck arteries |
| carpo | wrist |
| caus | burn |
| centesis | puncture |
| centr | center |
| cep(h) | head, expanded part |
| cephal | head |
| cept | seize, take |
| cereb(r) | brain |
| cervic | neck |
| ch(e)ir | hand |
| chemo | chemistry |
| chlor | light green |
| chol(e) | bile |
| chondr | cartilage; grain |
| chorea | dance |
| chori | chorionic membrane |
| chrom | color |
| chron | time, long time |
| chyle | digested food juice |
| cide | killing, "falling" |
| cise | cut deep |
| cili | eyelash |
| cion | uvula |
| clast | break |
| claustr | barrier |
| cleido | collarbone, key |
| clino | bed |
| clivus | slope |
| coagul | coagulate, clot |
| coccus | berry |
| coccyx | cuckoo, cuckoo bill |
| collic | hill |
| collo | glue |
| collus | neck |
| conios | dust |
| cond | hard knob |
| core | dolly, pupil (of eye) |
| cori | leather |
| corn | horn |
| cox(a) | hip |
| corp | physical body |
| cre(s)c | grow |
| cribi | sieve |
| crine | secretion ("separation") |
| cubit | elbow |
| cubo | lay down |
| cule | little |
| culpo | vagina |
| cuneo | wedge |
| cutis | skin |
| cyan | dark blue |
| cycl | circle, wheel |
| cysto | urinary bladder |
| cyto | cell |
| dacr | tear (from the eye) |
| dacty | finger |
| demos | people |
| dens | tooth |
| dent | tooth |
| derm | skin |
| desm | harden, bind together |
| desis | binding |
| desmo | hard |
| dextro | right-sided |
| diadocho | succeed, take over |
| didym | twin |
| digi(t) | finger, toe |
| diphth | leathery membrane |
| docho | cup, container |
| drepan | sickle |
| dromo | running a race; course |
| duc, duct | lead, guide |
| dynia | pain |
| echin | spiny |
| echo | echo |
| ectasia | dilatation |
| edem(a) | excess tissue fluid / "swelling" |
| embol | bottle stopper |
| embryo | embryo, fetus |
| emesis | vomiting |
| em(ia) | blood |
| enceph | brain |
| enchyme | filling, installation |
| entero | intestine |
| ergo | work |
| erythro | red |
| esthesia | perception |
| f(a)eco | feces, refuse |
| fac | make, build, do, perform |
| facie | face, countenance, looks |
| fasc | bundle, fascia |
| fec | make, build, do, perform |
| fer | carrying, bearing |
| fibr | fibrous |
| fic | make, build, do, perform |
| fis, fid | split, cleave, divide |
| fistula | pipe |
| flagel | whip |
| flav | yellow |
| flat | blow |
| flect | bend |
| flex | bend |
| fora/foro | make a hole |
| fornic | arch |
| fract | break into pieces |
| frag | break into pieces |
| fring | break into pieces |
| fuge | flee |
| fun | melt, pour |
| fus | melt, pour |
| gala(k) | milk |
| gam(y) | marry |
| gangl | knot |
| gangr | gangrene, gnawing sore |
| galact | milk |
| gastr | stomach, belly |
| gemin | twin |
| gen | become, beget, produce |
| genesis | origin |
| genu | knee |
| ger | old age |
| gest | bring forth, produce |
| glans | acorn |
| gleno | shoulder |
| gli(o) | glial cells, literally "glue" |
| glob | sphere, ball, round body |
| glomer | tuft |
| gloss | tongue |
| glute | buttocks |
| gnatho | jaw |
| gnosis | know |
| gogue | lead |
| gono | offspring, product, seed, semen |
| gonio | angle |
| gracile | slender |
| gram | record |
| gran | grain |
| graph | writing, scratching |
| gryph | claw |
| gynec | female |
| (h)(a)em | blood |
| habeo | to hold, habit, general state of |
| halluc | big toe |
| helic | spiral |
| helm | worm |
| hermaphro | male and female in one body |
| hepat | liver |
| hernia | rupture, hernia |
| hidr | sweat |
| hippo | horse |
| histo | tissue, web, cloth |
| hy(a)l | glass, primitive material |
| hydatid | water drop |
| hydro | water |
| hypno | sleep |
| hystero | uterus |
| iatric | healing |
| iatro | physician |
| ichth | fish |
| idio | self, personal, private |
| inguin | part of body from groin to hip |
| insul | island |
| irid | rainbow, bright-color circle |
| ischi | hip joint |
| islet | island |
| ject | throw, hurl |
| jejun | hungry |
| junc | join together |
| jug | join together |
| jux | join together |
| karyo | nucleus |
| kera | horny |
| kern | kernel, deep brain |
| kerato | skin surface, cornea, horn |
| kine | set in motion |
| kyn | dog |
| lachry | tear (from the eye) |
| labio | lip |
| lacto | milk |
| lal | babble, talk |
| latero | side |
| lecith | egg yolk |
| leiomyo | smooth muscle |
| lein | spleen |
| lens | lentil |
| lepros | rough and rotting off |
| lepto | thin, fine, slender |
| leuco / leuko | white |
| levo | left-sided |
| liga(t) | bind together, bandage |
| ling | tongue |
| lith | stone |
| lumbo | lower back, loin |
| lumbri | earthworm |
| lumen | the tube down a hollow organ |
| lymph | "clear fresh water" |
| lysis | breaking down |
| malar | cheek (outside) |
| mal(i) | abnormal, bad |
| malacia | soft |
| malako | soft |
| malleo | hammer |
| mania | wild about |
| medi | middle portion |
| medulla | soft inner part |
| meli | sweet |
| mere | part |
| manu | hand |
| mara | wither |
| mast(i) | whip, flog, beat |
| mast(o) | breast |
| mea | passage |
| meatus | external opening |
| meios | lessening |
| melano | black |
| melia | limb |
| mening | meninges |
| men(i)s | moon, month |
| ment | mind, chin |
| meter | measure |
| metro | uterus |
| mito | thread |
| mnem | memory |
| mnes | memory |
| mob | move |
| morb | sick |
| morph | shapes, dreams |
| mot | move |
| mur(al) | wall |
| musc | mouse, muscle |
| myc(o) | fungus |
| myelo | soft, pith |
| myi | fly (insect) |
| myo | muscle |
| myxo/muco | slime |
| narco | sleep |
| naso | nose |
| necro | dead |
| nephelo | cloud |
| nephr | kidney |
| nerv | nerve |
| neuro | nerve |
| nos, nox | nasty, sickening |
| nous | mind, spirit |
| nyct | night |
| occiput | back of the head |
| ocul | eye |
| (h)odo | way, path, road |
| odon | tooth |
| odyn | pain |
| olfact | smell |
| oma | tumor/lump |
| omen(t) | omentum |
| omphalo | belly button |
| on(e/t) | to be |
| onco | tumor, mass |
| onycho | nail (finger/toe) |
| o” | egg |
| o”phor | ovary |
| op / opsy | eye, see, etc. |
| ophth | eye |
| opio | poppy juice |
| opsi | late |
| opson | relish, meat seasoning |
| orbi | wheel |
| orch | testis |
| org | work |
| oro | mouth |
| ortho | straight |
| os | bone, mouth |
| osm | smell |
| ost(eo) | bone |
| ot(o) | ear |
| ovin | sheep |
| oxy | oxygen, acid |
| p(a)ed | child |
| palpebr | eyelid |
| pannus | cloth, rag |
| pap | nipple |
| par(i)t | have a baby |
| parietal | wall |
| partheno | virgin |
| partum | birth |
| patho | disease, misery |
| pect | chest |
| pelvis | basin |
| pes/ped | foot |
| phage | eat |
| phakos | lentil, lens of the eye |
| pharmako | sorcery, poison, drug |
| phase | phase |
| pheo | ugly, dusky |
| phero | carry, bear |
| philo | like, love |
| phlebo | vein |
| phleg | flame |
| phobia | fear |
| phoco | seal (the animal) |
| phoro | carry, bear |
| phos/phot | light |
| phragm | divide into two, wall off |
| phren | mind, breath |
| phth | waste away, wither |
| phyllo | leaf-like |
| physio | nature |
| phyte | a plant |
| pineo | pine cone |
| pinna | feather |
| pino | drink |
| pisi | pea |
| pituit | snot |
| placent | cake, placenta |
| plak | cake |
| plantar | sole of the foot |
| plasm | molded |
| plast | molded |
| platy | flat |
| plegia | stroke, paralysis |
| pleur | pleura ("side of ribs") |
| plex | braid, wind together |
| plexy | stroke |
| plic | braid, wind together |
| pn(e) | breath |
| pod(o) | foot |
| poie(sis) | making |
| polio | gray; gray matter of the nervous system |
| pollic | thumb |
| pomp | precede, parade |
| porph | purple |
| porta | door |
| posthe | foreskin |
| prac | done |
| prag | done |
| prax | done |
| pre/pro | before |
| procto | rectum |
| pron(o) | prone, face down |
| proto | first |
| pseud | false |
| psyche | spirit, mind |
| psychr | cold, frigid |
| pter | wing |
| pto | droop |
| pty(alo) | spit |
| pulmo | lung |
| punct | prick, little spot |
| pupa | doll, miniature figure |
| purp | purple |
| pyelo | vat, basin, pelvis |
| pykno | shrivelled |
| pyo | pus |
| p(u/y)ri | pear |
| pyr(o) | fever (cognate to "fire") |
| radi | rod |
| r(h)ach | backbone |
| re(i)n | kidney |
| ret(ic) | net |
| rhabdo | striated muscle |
| rhaph | sew together |
| rheo | flow |
| rheum | runny stuff |
| rhino | nose |
| riso | smile |
| rrha(g) | discharge from a burst vessel |
| rub(r) | red |
| sacc | sack |
| sacch(ar) | sugar |
| salpinx | trumpet, oviduct |
| sang(ui) | blood |
| sapro | dead |
| sarc(o) | flesh |
| sarcoma | cancer from connective tissue or muscle |
| scato | feces, filth |
| scapho | boat |
| schi(s/z) | split |
| sclero | hard |
| scope | examine carefully |
| sebo | hard fat, skin grease, suet |
| sec/seg | cut |
| sella | saddle |
| seps/sept | make rotten |
| septo | fence, partition |
| sero | whey, wet protein |
| sial | saliva |
| sinus | hollow or pocket |
| skel | dried up, skeleton |
| soma/somy | body |
| spasmo | a drawing tight |
| spondylo | spine |
| sphinct | bind tight, squeeze shut |
| sphygno | heartbeat |
| spir | breathing |
| splanchn | innards |
| staphyl | bunch of grapes |
| stasis | standing up, being stable |
| stat | stop |
| statio | standing up, being stable |
| staxis | drip, drop |
| stem | standing up, being stable |
| steato | fat |
| sterco | feces |
| sthen | strength |
| stigm | spot |
| stole | to pull, to draw |
| stom(a) | mouth |
| stomy | mouth |
| strepto | wavy |
| stylo | stylus |
| sudo | sweat |
| sulco | plowed furrow |
| syring | pipe, tube, reed |
| tachy | fast, swift |
| tact | touch |
| tainia | band, tapeworm |
| talo | ankle |
| tasis | stretch |
| tarso | flat plate |
| taxo | arrangement, put in order |
| telo | the tip, the end |
| temporal | temple |
| ten(d)o | stretch, tendon |
| terato | monster |
| theca | box (sheath, covering) |
| thel | breast, covering layer |
| thenar | palm, sole |
| thym | mind, spirit, mood |
| thym | warty mass, thymus gland |
| thyro | oblong shield |
| toco | have a baby |
| tom(e) | cut |
| tono | stretch |
| topo | place |
| tort | twist |
| tox(o) | bow, arrow, poisoned arrow |
| trema | hole |
| tricho | hair |
| trophy | grow/food |
| tryps | break into many pieces, crush |
| tuber | bump, potato(e) |
| typho | smoky, delirious fever |
| typhl | cecum |
| unguis | nail (finger, toe) |
| uro | urine |
| uvo | grape |
| vacc | cow |
| vago | wanderer |
| valgus | turned outward |
| varus | turned inward |
| vaso | blood vessel |
| velo | veil, curtain, cover |
| vener | sexual acts, lusty |
| veno | vein (as opposed to artery) |
| vert | turn |
| vesico | bladder |
| viscero | innards |
| volv | turn around, twist around |
| xantho | yellow |
| xeno | stranger |
| xero | dry |
| z(a)o | to live |
| zo” | animals |
| zema | boiled |
| zygo | yoke |
| zyme | ferment |
Prefixes
| a(d)- | towards |
| a(n)- | without |
| ab- | from |
| ab(s)- | away from |
| ad- | towards |
| allo- | other, another |
| ambi- | both |
| amphi- | on both sides, around |
| ana- | up to, back, again, movement from |
| aniso- | different, unequal |
| ante- | before, forwards |
| anti- | against, opposite |
| ap-, apo- | from, back, again |
| bi(s)- | twice, double |
| bio- | life |
| brachy- | short |
| cata- | down |
| circum- | around |
| con- | together |
| contra- | against |
| cyte- | cell |
| de- | from, away from, down from |
| deca- | ten |
| di(s)- | two |
| dia- | through, complete |
| di(a)s | separation |
| diplo- | double |
| dolicho- | long |
| dur- | hard, firm |
| dys- | bad, abnormal |
| e-, ec- | out, from out of |
| ecto- | outside, external |
| ek- | out |
| em- | in |
| en- | into |
| endo- | into |
| ent- | within |
| epi- | on, up, against, high |
| eso- | I will carry |
| eu- | well, abundant, prosperous |
| eury- | broad, wide |
| ex-, exo- | out, from out of |
| extra- | outside, beyond, in addition |
| haplo- | single |
| hapto- | bind to |
| hemi- | half |
| hept- | seven |
| hetero- | different |
| hex- | six |
| homo- | same |
| hyper- | above, excessive |
| hypo- | below, deficient |
| im-, in- | not |
| in- | into, to |
| infra- | below, underneath |
| inter- | among, between |
| intra- | within, inside, during |
| intro- | inward, during |
| iso- | equal,same |
| juxta- | adjacent to |
| kata- | down, down from |
| macro- | large |
| magno- | large |
| medi- | middle |
| mega- | large |
| megalo- | very large |
| meso- | middle |
| meta- | beyond, between |
| micro- | small |
| neo- | new |
| non- | not |
| ob- | before, against |
| octa- | eight |
| octo- | eight |
| oligo- | few |
| pachy- | thick |
| pan- | all |
| para- | beside, to the side of, wrong |
| pent- | five |
| per- | by, through, throughout |
| peri- | around, round-about |
| pleo- | more than usual |
| poly | many |
| post- | behind, after |
| pre- | before, in front, very |
| pros- | besides |
| prox- | besides |
| pseudo- | false, fake |
| quar(t)- | four |
| re, red- | back, again |
| retro- | backwards, behind |
| semi- | half |
| sex- | six |
| sept- | seven |
| sub- | under, beneath |
| super- | above, in addition, over |
| supra- | above, on the upper side |
| syn- | together, with |
| sys- | together, with |
| tetra- | four |
| thio- | sulfur |
| trans- | across, beyond |
| tri- | three |
| uni- | one |
| ultra- | beyond, besides, over |
Suffixes
| -ase | fermenter |
| -ate | do |
| -cide | killer |
| -c(o)ele | cavity, hollow |
| -ectomy | removal of, cut out |
| -form | shaped like |
| -ia | got |
| -iasis | full of |
| -ile | little version |
| -illa | little version |
| -illus | little version |
| -in | stuff |
| -ism | theory, characteristic of |
| -itis | inflammation |
| -ity | makes a noun of quality |
| -ium | thing |
| -ize | do |
| -logy | study of, reasoning about |
| -megaly | large |
| -noid | mind, spirit |
| -oid | resembling, image of |
| -ogen | precursor |
| -ol(e) | alcohol |
| -ole | little version |
| -oma | tumor (usually) |
| -osis | full of |
| -ostomy | "mouth-cut" |
| -pathy | disease of, suffering |
| -penia | lack |
| -pexy | fix in place |
| -plasty | re-shaping |
| -philia | affection for |
| -rhage | burst out |
| -rhea | discharge, flowing out |
| -rhexis | shredding |
| -pagus | Siamese twins |
| -sis | idea (makes a noun, typically abstract) |
| -thrix | hair |
| -tomy | cut |
| -ule | little version |
| -um | thing (makes a noun, typically concrete) |
Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
Ed's home page
Autopsy page
Pathology lecture notes
Commercial Medical Terminology Course -- from a cyberfriend. Courtesy listing.
