This page lists 11 Greek words that start with U, running from “Urania” to “Utopian”. The words come from ancient Greek roots and cover myth, the sky, the body, and ideal societies. You will meet them in astronomy, medicine, and everyday English.

Greek words are terms that come from the Greek language and often reach English through science, medicine, and literature. A good example is “utopia”, which Thomas More coined in 1516 from Greek parts meaning “not” and “place”.

Below you’ll find the table with the word, English translation, part of speech, example usage, and description for each entry.

Word: the Greek-origin term as it appears in English, listed alphabetically so you can scan quickly and find the entry you want.

English translation: the literal meaning of the word’s Greek roots, which helps you see why the term means what it does today.

Part of speech: whether the word works as a noun, proper noun, or adjective, so you know how to use it in a sentence.

Example usage: a short sentence showing the word in context, so you can see how it sounds and copy the pattern in your own writing.

Description: a plain explanation of what the word means, where it comes from, and any useful background, such as its Greek roots or spelling variants.

Greek words

WordEnglish translationPart of speechExample usage
UraniaHeavenly onenounUrania was the Greek Muse of astronomy.
UranographyWriting about the heavensnounThe museum’s old uranography showed the constellations as animals and heroes.
UranologyStudy of the heavensnounUranology was an old term for the study of astronomy.
UranusSkyproper nounIn myth, Uranus was the sky itself and the father of the Titans.
UremiaUrine in the bloodnounThe doctor warned that kidney failure could lead to uremia.
UreterUrinary ductnounEach kidney is connected to the bladder by a ureter.
UrethraUrinary passagenounThe urethra carries urine out of the body from the bladder.
UrologyStudy of urinenounShe trained in urology to treat kidney and bladder problems.
UroborosTail-eating onenounThe uroboros symbol shows a snake swallowing its own tail.
UtopiaNo placenounThey dreamed of building a utopia free from poverty.
UtopianOf no placeadjectiveThe plan sounded utopian but ignored the cost.

Descriptions

Urania
The Muse of astronomy in Greek mythology, usually shown holding a globe and a compass. Her name comes from ouranos, the Greek word for sky or heaven.
Uranography
The art of mapping and describing the sky, especially drawing star charts and constellations. It comes from the Greek ouranos (sky) and graphein (to write).
Uranology
An old-fashioned word for the scientific study of the sky and heavenly bodies. It joins the Greek ouranos (sky) and logos (study).
Uranus
In Greek myth, the sky personified and the first ruler of the universe. The seventh planet from the Sun carries the Latinized form of his Greek name, Ouranos.
Uremia
A medical condition in which waste products normally removed in urine build up in the blood. It comes from the Greek ouron (urine) and haima (blood).
Ureter
One of the two tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The word comes from the Greek oureter, meaning a urinary canal.
Urethra
The tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. The word comes from the Greek ourethra, from ouron (urine).
Urology
The branch of medicine dealing with the urinary system and related organs. The name combines the Greek ouron (urine) and logia (study).
Uroboros
An ancient symbol of a serpent or dragon eating its own tail, standing for cycles and eternal return. The name comes from the Greek oura (tail) and boros (eating). Also spelled ouroboros.
Utopia
An imagined perfect society. Thomas More coined the word in 1516 from the Greek ou (not) and topos (place), so it literally means a place that does not exist.
Utopian
Describes an idealistic vision of a perfect society, often one that is unrealistic. It derives from utopia, built from the Greek ou (not) and topos (place).
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