Prefixes and suffixes

Prefixes

Write a definition for each of the prefixes below.

Intra- ________________________ Inter- ________________________

Pre- _______________________ Post- _______________________

Vocabulary
Use a medical dictionary and list as many words as you can beginning with each of the
following prefixes. This online dictionary has A-Z listings www.online-medical-dictionary.org.

Intra-

Inter-

Pre-

Post-

Negative prefixes
Negative prefixes are word parts which are used at the beginning of a work to add the
meaning not. They include a-, ab-, an-, ir-, il-, in-, im-, non-, and un-

Add the correct negative prefix to these words.

1. ________esthesia 5. ________normal
2. ________septic 6. ________sensible
3. ________proper 7. ________conscious
4. ________regular 8. ________oxia
Vocabulary
Use a medical dictionary and list as many words as you can beginning with each of the
following prefixes.

a-

ab-

an-

ir-

il-

im-

non-

Surgical procedures
These suffixes (endings of words) indicate surgical procedures. Use a medical dictionary and
write the meaning of these suffixes and name a procedure for each one.

1. -ectomy ________________________________________________________________

Procedure:

2. -rrhaphy ________________________________________________________________

Procedure:

3. stomy__________________________________________________________________

Procedure:

4. tomy___________________________________________________________________

Procedure:

Adapted from Tiersky, E & Tiersky, M 1992, The language of medical English, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River,
New Jersey. 15/01/2016