The Language of Science
Science contains a language all its own. The main reason individuals find it difficult to understand many of the sciences is its difficult looking vocabulary. Large words are associated with difficulty, and difficulty equates to hard. So by the vocabulary alone science is hard. Actually, scientific vocabulary is a mixture of roots, prefixes, and suffixes put together to describe events, body parts, or functions, etc. observed by the individuals studying the process. Below you will find a list of the more common prefixes and suffixes and their meanings. If one can learn their meanings, they will be well on their way to understanding the vast vocabulary of science.
Prefix |
Meaning |
Prefix |
Meaning |
Suffix |
Meaning |
a or an |
not or non. |
epi |
above |
-cyst |
pouch |
meso |
middle |
exo |
outer, external |
-derm |
skin, layer |
endo |
inside, inner |
gastro |
stomach |
-saccharide |
sugar |
aero |
needing oxygen or air |
hemo |
blood |
-itis |
inflammation |
anti |
against. |
hetero |
different |
-logy |
study of |
arth |
joint, jointed |
homo |
same |
-meter |
measurement |
auto |
self |
macro |
large |
-osis |
condition |
bio |
related to life |
micro |
small |
-phase |
stage |
chloro |
green |
multi |
consisting of many units |
-phage |
eater |
cyto |
cell |
photo |
pertaining to light |
-pod |
foot |
di |
double |
pre |
before |
-stasis |
stationary condition |
mono |
singular or one |
lipo |
pertaining to fat |
-lysis |
to break |
Geo |
pertaining to the earth |
poly |
many |
-synthesis |
to build or make |