This list includes 43 Prefixes that start with S, from “sapro-” to “synchro-“. These prefixes appear across English, medical, scientific, and everyday vocabulary.
[Prefixes that start with S] are word-building elements that attach to roots to modify or refine meaning. Many come from Greek or Latin; for example, “syn-” means “together” in words like “synchronize”.
Below you’ll find the table with Prefix, Origin, Meaning, Examples, and Notes.
Prefix: Shows the prefix in its simplest form so you can identify it quickly and match it to roots.
Origin: Gives the original language or source, helping you spot historical patterns and common families.
Meaning: Provides a concise gloss so you can understand the prefix’s basic semantic role quickly.
Examples: Lists two to four clear words that show the prefix used in everyday and technical contexts.
Notes: Offers usage tips, variant forms, typical fields of use, and brief source hints for further reading.
Prefixes that start with S
| Prefix | Origin | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| sub- | Latin (sub-) | under, below | submarine, submerge, subplot |
| super- | Latin (super-) | above, beyond | superior, supernatural, supervise |
| supra- | Latin (supra-) | above, over | suprarenal, supraorbital, supranational |
| sur- | Old French (sur-, from Latin super) | over, above | surpass, surcharge, surname |
| se- | Latin (se-) | apart, away | separate, secede, seduce |
| self- | English (self-) | of the self, same person | selfless, self-esteem, self-report |
| semi- | Latin (semi-) | half, partly | semicircle, semifinal, semiconductor |
| sesqui- | Latin (sesqui-) | one and a half | sesquicentennial, sesquipedalian |
| sex- | Latin (sex-) | six; relating to sex | sextet, sexagenarian, sexless |
| sept- | Latin (sept-) | seven | septennial, September, septet |
| simul- | Latin (simul-) | together, likeness | simulate, simultaneous, simile |
| syn- | Greek (syn-) | together, with | synchronize, synonym, synthesis |
| synchro- | Greek (syn + chronos) | same time | synchronize, synchronicity, synchrotron |
| socio- | Latin (socius) | social, companion-related | sociology, sociopath, socioeconomic |
| solo- | Latin/Italian (solus) | alone, single | soloist, solo flight, soloist |
| sol- | Latin (sol-) | sun; (rare) alone | solar, solstice, solo |
| somni- | Latin (somnus) | sleep | insomnia, somnambulism, somnolent |
| somato- | Greek (soma) | body | somatic, psychosomatic, somatotype |
| sono- | Latin (sonus) | sound | sonogram, sonar, sonorous |
| spectro- | Latin (spectrum) | spectrum, range | spectroscopy, spectrogram, spectrometer |
| sphero- | Greek (sphaira) | sphere, round | spheroid, spherule, geosphere |
| spheno- | Greek (sphēnē) | wedge | sphenoid, sphenopalatine |
| spondyl- | Greek (spondylos) | vertebra, spine | spondylitis, spondylosis, spondylogram |
| spiro- | Latin (spira/spirare) | coil; breathe (varies) | spirochete, spirometer, spiral |
| stereo- | Greek (stereos) | solid; spatial; sound | stereotype, stereochemistry, stereoscope |
| stetho- | Greek (stēthos) | chest | stethoscope, stethic |
| steno- | Greek (stenos) | narrow, contracted | stenography, stenosis, stenographer |
| stoma- | Greek (stoma) | mouth, opening | stoma, stomatitis, stomatal |
| strato- | Latin/Greek (stratus/stratos) | layer, spread | stratosphere, stratify, stratocumulus |
| subter- | Latin (subter-) | underneath, secretly | subterfuge, subterranean, subterrain |
| sulfo- | Latin/chemical (sulfur) | sulfur-containing | sulfone, sulfonamide, sulfuric |
| sapro- | Greek (sapros) | rotten, decaying | saprophyte, saprogenic, saprolite |
| sarco- | Greek (sarx/sarkos) | flesh, muscle | sarcoma, sarcopenia, sarcophagus |
| scoto- | Greek (skotos) | darkness | scotophobia, scotoma, scotosensitivity |
| schizo- | Greek (schizein) | split, divide | schizophrenia, schism, schizoid |
| scapho- | Greek (skaphos) | boat-shaped | scaphoid, scaphopod, scaphocephaly |
| scler(o)- | Greek (skleros) | hard | sclerosis, scleroderma, sclerotic |
| scolio- | Greek (skolios) | crooked | scoliosis, scoliotic |
| sino- | Latin (Sinae) | China, Chinese | Sino-American, Sino-Japanese, sinology |
| sinu- | Latin (sinus) | curve, cavity | sinuous, sinus, sinusitis |
| saur(o)- | Greek (saûros) | lizard | dinosaur, saurian, sauropod |
| stylo- | Greek (stylos) | pillar; pen-shaped | styloid, stylus, stylometry |
| spect-?excluded | — | — | — |
Descriptions
sub-
Very productive general-English prefix meaning under/below; assimilates in forms like suc-, suf-, sup- in some words.
super-
Common in everyday and technical use; indicates superiority or excess.
supra-
More formal/medical variant of super-; frequent in anatomy and legal/academic terms.
sur-
Borrowed via French; overlaps in meaning with super- but often seen in verbs/nouns.
se-
Latin prefix meaning apart/away; common in formal and legal vocabulary.
self-
Productive English prefix forming compounds about the person; ranges informal to formal.
semi-
Very common; used in everyday and technical contexts to mean half or partial.
sesqui-
Rare Latin numeric prefix (1.5×); literary and specialized uses.
sex-
Dual senses: numeral (“six”) and relating to sex/gender—context determines meaning.
sept-
Latin numeral root for seven; appears in calendrical and technical terms.
simul-
Means “together” or “likeness”; used in general, literary, and technical vocabulary.
syn-
Very productive Greek prefix meaning together/with; assimilates to sym-, syl-, sys- before certain consonants.
synchro-
Combining form meaning “together in time”; common in technical and scientific contexts.
socio-
Widely used in social sciences and modern compounds relating to society or companions.
solo-
General-use combining form meaning alone or single; overlaps with sol- (sun) in form but differs in sense.
sol-
Primary sense is “sun”; a separate sense from solo/solus can cause confusion.
somni-
Medical/clinical combining form meaning sleep; common in health-related vocabulary.
somato-
Scientific and medical combining form meaning body; frequent in biology and psychology.
sono-
Used in audio, acoustic, and medical-imaging terms; technical but seen in everyday words.
spectro-
Scientific/technical combining form dealing with spectral range or measurement.
sphero-
Scientific/geometric combining form indicating spherical shape or domain.
spheno-
Anatomical combining form used in naming bones and cranial structures.
spondyl-
Medical combining form for spinal/vertebral conditions and anatomy.
spiro-
Two related Latin roots (coil and breathe) yield different senses; used in biology and respiratory terms.
stereo-
Has senses for solidity/3‑D and later audio (stereophonic); used in science and media.
stetho-
Medical combining form used in terms relating to the chest; primarily clinical.
steno-
Used in medical contexts (stenosis) and shorthand (stenography); meaning “narrow.”
stoma-
Biological and medical combining form referring to mouths, openings, or pores.
strato-
Used in geology, meteorology, and organizational senses (layers, strata).
subter-
Less common variant of sub- emphasizing under/secret; appears in literary and formal use.
sulfo-
Chemical prefix used to indicate sulfur-containing groups; technical vocabulary in chemistry.
sapro-
Biological prefix indicating decay or putrefaction; common in microbiology.
sarco-
Medical/anatomical combining form meaning flesh; appears in pathology and zoology.
scoto-
Medical/technical combining form relating to darkness or absence of light.
schizo-
Indicates splitting or division; used psychologically and historically in words for schisms.
scapho-
Describes boat-shaped anatomical structures or taxa; technical in anatomy and paleontology.
scler(o)-
Medical combining form meaning hardening; common in pathology and clinical terms.
scolio-
Medical combining form specifically for curvature, especially of the spine.
sino-
Geopolitical and cultural prefix referring to China; common in international relations.
sinu-
Anatomical and literary combining form meaning curve or cavity; used in medical and descriptive language.
saur(o)-
Paleontological combining form used to mean “lizard” in reptile names and clade names.
stylo-
Anatomical and descriptive combining form; also used for pen-shaped structures and stylistic study.
spect-?excluded
Excluded: “spect-” as a standalone prefix is a root rather than common productive prefix; retained forms such as spectro- are listed above.