Scientific Prefixes & Suffixes

Prefixes A prefix is added before a root word to make it a new word.

a- or an-

without asexual, abiotic

auto-

self autopilot, autograph

bio-

life biosphere, biography

carni-

meat carnivore

chloro

green chlorophyll, chloroplast

cyte or cyto

cell cytoplasm, cytology

di-

two dissect, diameter

eco-

dwelling ecology, eco-friendly

ecto-

outside of ectotherm

en-, endo-, ent-

Inner, within endoskeleton, endotherm

Eu-

true eukaryote

geo-

land, earth biogeochemical, geologist

herb-

plant herbicide, herbarium

hetero-

different heterogeneous, heterozygote

homeo- or homo-

same homeostasis, homogenous

hydro-

water hydroelectric, hydroplane

hyper-

above, beyond hyperactive, hyperextend

hypo-

under, less hypothermia, hypoallergenic

iso-

equal, same isosceles triangle

macro-

large macroevolution

micro-

small microscope, microbe

mono- or uni-

one or single monotone, monopoly

poly- or multi-

many polygon, polygamy

omni-

all omnipotent

photo-

light photograph, photosynthesis

pro

before, in front of prophase, procambian

som-, somat-, -some

body somatic, lysosome

zoo

animal zoology, zooplankton

Suffixes

-ase

forms names of enzymes lactase, DNA polymerase

-logy or -ology

study of biology, ecology

-ose

forms names of sugars lactose, glucose, fructose

-philic

-ous

full of aqueous, curvaceous

loving hydrophilic

-phobic

strong dislike hydrophobic

-saccharide

sugar monosaccharide, disaccharide, polysaccharide

som-, somat-, -some

body somatic, lysosome

troph

food or feeding heterotroph, autotroph

-vore

eater carnivore, omnivore, herbivore