Stem

Meaning

Examples

anti

(against)

antibody, antitoxin

bi

(two)

binary, biped, bipolar, bicuspid

dis

(away)

disperse, disprove

extra

(beyond)

extraterrestrial

inter

(between)

interstellar, interplanetary

intra

(within)

intracellular, intravenous, intracranial, intrauterine

mal

(bad)

malignant, malady

pre

(before)

premature, predict

semi

(half)

semiaquatic

sub

(under)

subterranean

syn

(together)

syndrome, synthetic, photosynthesis

sym

(together)

symbiosis

tri

(three)

triad, triceps, triceratops

archy

(government)

hierarchy

cide

(kill)

herbicide, insecticide

ician

(specialist)

physician

itis

(inflammation)

tonsillitis, arthritis, appendicitis

aqua

(water)

aquarium, aquatic, aquifer

audi

(hear)

auditory, audiometer

cap

(take)

captivity, capsule

bio

(life)

biology, biochemistry, biogenesis

port

(carry)

transport

logy

(science)

biology, anthropology, geology

dict

(say)

predict, addict

cent

(one hundred)

centimeter, centipede

neo

(new)

neonatal

ad

(to)

adapt, addict

centri

(center)

centrifuge

anthropo

(man)

anthropoid

homo

(same)

homologous, homozygous

spec

(look)

spectrum

duct

(lead)

conduct, reproduction

fer

(carry)

infer, transfer, aquifer, conifer

micro

(small)

microscope, micron, microwave, microcosm, microbiotic

hydro

(water)

hydrogen, hydroponics, dehydrate

photo

(light)

photosynthesis, photon, photometer

pan

(all)

pandemic

tele

(far)

telescope, telephone, telekinesis

vid

(look)

evidence

omni

(all)

omnivorous

ex

(out)

excise

poly

(many)

polyphony, polygyny

re

(again)

revive, regenerate, regurgitate

hypo

(under)

hypodermic, hypothermia, hypothesis

pseudo

(false)

pseudopod, pseudoscience

neuro

(nerve)

neurosis, neuron, neurosurgeon

tomy

(cut)

anatomy, tonsillectomy, appendectomy, neurotomy, lobotomy

hema

(blood)

hematoma, hematology, hematite

proto

(first)

prototype, protoplasm, Protozoa, proton

mono

(one)

monoblast, mononulceosis, monomania

viv

(life)

viviparous, vivisection

morph

(shape)

metamorphosis, mesomorph, protomorphic

bene

(good)

benign

corp

(body)

corpse, corpulent, corpuscle

dorm

(sleep)

dormant, dormancy

pater

(father)

paternity, paternalistic

nov

(new)

nova

punct

(point)

puncture, acupuncture

ject

(ject)

inject

tion

(act or state)

reaction, production, transition, devastation

loco

(place)

local, dislocate, locomotor

amphi

(both)

amphibious, amphibian

magn

(great)

magnify

eu

(good)

eugenics

endo

(within)

endoplasm, endocrine, endoskeleton, endothermic

phobia

(fear)

claustrophobia, hydrophobia, acrophobia

ortho

(straight)

orthodontist, orthopedics

mega

(large)

megaton, megahertz

ver

(true)

verify

sangui

(blood)

sanguinary

vita

(life)

vitamin, vitality, revitalize

astr

(star)

astronomy, asteroid, astrophysics, astrolabe

dyna

(power)

dynamite

chron

(time)

chronic, chronological, chronometer

hyper

(over)

hyperactive, hyperventilate, hypertension

luna

(moon)

lunar, luna moth,

octa

(eight)

octopus, octagenarian

geo

(earth)

geothermal, geology, geophysics

helio

(sun)

heliotropic, heliocentric, heliograph

thermo

(heat)

thermostat, thermotropic, thermonuclear

tetra

(four)

tetroxide, tetrachloride, tetracycline

meter

(measure)

millimeter, hydrometer, odometer

scope

(look)

telescope, microscope, periscope, radarscope, electroscope

son

(sound)

sonar, supersonic, unison

dec

(ten)

decade, decimal, decimate, decagon

stell

(star)

interstellar, stellar, constellation

germ

(vital or related)

germinate, germicide, germ

mar

(sea)

marine, maritime, marine biology, submarine

prim

(first)

primary, primate, primogeniture

trib

(pay)

tributary, attributes

luc

(light)

translucent, lucid

rupt

(break)

erupt, rupture,

curr

(run)

current, undercurrent, recurrent

trans

(across)

transfer, transmit, transfusion, translucent

gamy

(marriage)

gamete, exogamy, monogamous