Tabla de Contenidos
Prefixes are particles that are added to the beginning of the word. They can be adverbs or prepositions and are generally derived from Greek or Latin.
The use of prefixes is very important in different scientific disciplines, since they allow to easily recognize the meaning, position or other characteristics of the word in question. This is quite common in anatomy, where the use and knowledge of Greek or Latin prefixes and suffixes is essential for the correct naming of organs, glands, tissues, and other components of the organism.
Some of the most common Latin prefixes in Spanish, their meanings, are:
- ab -: away from
- ambi- : both
- bi – , bis-: twice, double
- e – , ex- : out of
- dis -: apart, without
- circum -: around
- against -: against
- endo- : inside
- epi -: above, above
- extra -: outside, beyond, besides
- in-: in
- en- , im- : no
- below -: below
- intro – , intus- : inside
- re- : again
- retro -: backwards
- semi- : medium
- sub -: down, under, below
- super -, supra -: above, superior
- trans- : through
- ultra- : beyond
- pre -: in front of, before
- by -: through
Among the most used Greek prefixes are:
- a -, an -: negation, no, without
- ana -: up, back, everything, against
- anti- : against
- apo- : away from
- tasting -: down, through, under
- di -: two, double
- day -: through
- dis – hard, difficult, bad
- ec -, ex -: out of
- ecto -: out of
- exo – :out, out
- is -: in
- ue -: good, fine, easy
- hemi- : medium
- hyper -: higher
- hiccup -: under
- goal -: with, after, beyond
- without -: with
- peri -: around, near
- pro -: before, in front of, in favor of
- proso -: ahead, in front
- mega- : big
- micro- : small
- macro- : big
- cycle -: round, circular
- cryo -: cold
- thermos -: hot
- meso- : medium
- multi- : many
- neo- : new
- homo -: similar, the same
- straight -: different
In addition, there are several Greek prefixes that indicate numbers:
- hen- : one
- say -: two
- tri- : three
- tetra- : four
- penta -: five
- hex -, hexa -: six
- hepta- : seven
- octo -: eight
- bulrush -: nine
- deca- : ten
- dodeca -: twelve
Examples of Greek and Latin Suffixes
Suffixes are particles that are added to the end of a word. Generally, they determine whether the word is a noun, adjective, verb, or adverb. The most common Latin suffixes are:
- – a : indicates an agent or trade
- – áceo : resemblance
- – al , – ar , -alla : relationship, belonging
- – ambre : set
- – ble : that has the capacity to
- – duction : that leads
- – ez : quality of
- – fero : that has or carries
- – form : with the shape or appearance of
- – fugo : who flees
- – cida : that kills
- – dad, – tad : quality of…
- – bear : quality, related to, similar to
- – paro : that engenders
- – fart : that has feet
- – peto : that is directed towards
- – sound : what sounds
- – triz : feminine
- – ura , – dura – ture : quality of
- – voro : what eats
The most used Greek suffixes are:
- – algia : pain
- – andria : man, masculine
- – anthropo : human being
- – atra , atria : healing
- – cephalus : head
- – cycle : circular
- – chrome : color
- – edro : face, base
- – phage : eat
- – filia , filo : preference, attraction
- – phobia , – phobo : fear
- – phone , – phone : voice, sound
- – geno: that generates
- – itis : inflammation
- – lysis : to break
- – logy : science or study
- – mania : passion, obsession
- – morph : shape
- – plasty : modeling
- – foot : feet
- – rragia : sprout, break
- – therapy : treatment
- – thermo , thermal : heat
- – thesis : placement, position, conclusion
- – tomy : cut, incision, portion
- – trope : that goes towards
Bibliography
- Cervantes Institute; Moreno Fernández, F. The wonderful history of Spanish. (2017). Spain. Booket.
- Del Hoyo, J. Etymology: The surprising origin of our words and their strange connections. (2013). Spain. Editorial Ariel.
- Roberts, EA Indo-European Etymological Dictionary of the Spanish Language. (2013). Spain. Editorial Alliance.
