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Greek medical word roots: meanings, examples and quiz
Learn six Ancient Greek medical word roots with examples, word-part breakdowns, and an eight-question quiz. Check answers and retry missed questions free.
Starting point: You do not need to read Ancient Greek. This lesson explains English vocabulary built from classical word parts.
How to study a medical word root
- Read the word part and its meaning in the table.
- Read the example as a complete word. Check how its parts contribute to its meaning.
- Cover the table and try the quiz. Read the explanation even when you answer correctly.
- Retry missed questions, then return another day to check recall.
A slash marks the boundary before a combining vowel: cyt/o pairs the root cyt with o. A word may use a different ending or omit that vowel. Word parts are clues; the complete word and its context determine the meaning.
Six word roots to learn
| Word part | Meaning | Source word | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| cyt/o | Cell | κύτος (kytos) | cytology: The study of cells. |
| hidr/o | Sweat | ἱδρώς ἱδρῶτος (hidros hidrotos) | hyperhidrosis: Sweating beyond what is needed for temperature control. |
| somat/o | Body | σῶμα σώματος (soma somatos) | somatic: Relating to the body. |
| esthesi/o | Sensation | αἴσθησις (aisthesis) | anesthesia: Loss of sensation. |
| carp/o | Wrist | καρπός (karpos) | carpal: Relating to the wrist. |
| trache/o | Windpipe | τραχεῖα (tracheia) | tracheal: Relating to the airway between the larynx and bronchi. |
Worked example: cytology
cyt/o (cell) + -logy (study of).
The study of cells. First find the root in the table, then compare the meaning of the complete word. The ending contributes meaning too.
A spelling trap: hidr- and hydr-
Hidr- refers to sweat; hydr- refers to water. Compare the letters before you assign a meaning. The similar spelling does not make these the same word part.
Check your recall
Choose one answer for each question. Get an explanation, then retry the questions you missed. Your score lasts for this page visit.
Answer key and explanations
- Cell — cyt/o means cell. Example: cytology. The study of cells.
- Sweat — hidr/o means sweat. Example: hyperhidrosis. Sweating beyond what is needed for temperature control.
- Body — somat/o means body. Example: somatic. Relating to the body.
- Sensation — esthesi/o means sensation. Example: anesthesia. Loss of sensation.
- Wrist — carp/o means wrist. Example: carpal. Relating to the wrist.
- Windpipe — trache/o means windpipe. Example: tracheal. Relating to the airway between the larynx and bronchi.
- cyt/o — cyt/o (cell) + -logy (study of)
- somat/o — somat (body) + -ic (relating to)
For teachers and independent learners
Use the table for a supported first attempt. For a recall check, start at the quiz and keep the table covered. Ask learners to explain one example in their own words. The score is a practice aid, not a proficiency assessment.
All questions and the answer key remain available without JavaScript. No account or payment is needed.
Continue learning
- Practice Greek letters online or on paper
- Browse the medical terminology reference
- Try the Latin medical roots lesson
Sources and scope
Forms, source words, and examples come from the Word Radicals curriculum. Each linked entry gives its source information. Compare word-part meanings in MedlinePlus: Word Parts and What They Mean. This is a vocabulary lesson, not clinical guidance.