Common Prefixes

A-

Without, away from Ex: aphasia (without speech)

An-

Without Ex: anoxia (without oxygen)

Ante-

Before, in front of Ex: antepartum (before birth)

Anti-

Against Ex: antibiotic (against life)

Auto-

Self Ex: autograft (a graft from ones own body)

Brady-

Slow Ex: bradycardia (slow heartbeat)

Dys-

Painful, Difficult Ex: dyspnea (difficulty breathing)

Endo-

Within, Inner Ex: endoscope (instrument to view within)

Epi-

Upon, over Ex: epigastric (upon or over the stomach)

Eu-

Normal, good Ex: eupnea (normal breathing)

Hetero-

Different Ex: heterograft (a graft from another persons body)

Homo-

Same Ex: homozygous (having two identical genes)

Hyper-

Over, above Ex: hypertrophy (overdevelopment)

Hypo-

Under, below Ex: hypoglossal (under the tongue)

Infra-

Under, beneath, below Ex: infraorbital (below under the eye socket)

Inter-

Among, between Ex: intervertebral (between the vertebrae)

Intra-

Within, inside Ex: intravenous (inside, within a vein)

Macro-

Large Ex: macroephalic (having a large head)

Micro-

Small Ex: microcephalic (having a small head)

Neo-

New Ex: neonate (newborn)

Pan-

All Ex: pancarditis (inflammation of all the heart)

Para-

Beside, beyond, near Ex: paranasal (near or alongside the nose)

Per-

Through Ex: percutaneous (through the skin)

Peri-

Around Ex: pericardial (around the heart)

Post-

After Ex: postpartum (after birth)

Pre-

Before, in front of Ex: prefrontal (in front of the frontal bone)

Pseudo-

False Ex: pseudocyesis (false pregnancy)

Retro-

Backward, behind Ex: retrograde (movement in a backward condition)

Sub-

Below, under Ex: subcutaneous (under, below the skin)

Super-

Above, excess Ex: supernumerary (above the numeral number)

Supra-

Above Ex: suprapubic (above the pubic bone)

Tachy-

Rapid, fast Ex: tachycardia (fast heartbeat)

Trans-

Through, across Ex: transurethral (across the urethra)

Ultra-

Beyond, excess Ex: ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves)