This list includes 44 Prefixes that start with P, from “pachy-” to “pyro-“. These prefixes include common everyday forms, numeric markers, and many medical or scientific elements.
Prefixes that start with P are short word parts placed before roots to change meaning or specify relationships. Many come from Latin or Greek, showing classical languages’ strong influence on English vocabulary.
Below you’ll find the table with Prefix, Origin, Meaning, Example words, and Notes.
Prefix: You see the prefix itself, shown with a trailing hyphen, so you can scan forms quickly.
Origin: You learn the language source, like Latin or Greek, to help trace meanings and related words.
Meaning: You get a concise 3–7 word definition that explains the prefix’s core sense at a glance.
Example words: You find two to four clear examples showing how the prefix changes real words in context.
Notes: You see short notes for usage, technical fields, or internal links and citation pointers to check further.
Prefixes that start with P
| Prefix | Origin | Meaning | Example words |
|---|---|---|---|
| pre- | Latin | before, in front of | predict, prefix, pre-war, preview |
| post- | Latin | after, behind, later | postpone, post-war, postscript, postmodern |
| pro- | Latin, Greek | forward, for, in favor of, before | proceed, proponent, prologue, pro-choice |
| pan- | Greek | all, every, whole | pandemic, panorama, pantheon, pan-American |
| poly- | Greek | many, much | polygon, polygamy, polyglot, polyester |
| para- | Greek | beside, beyond, abnormal, assistant | paranormal, paramedic, paragraph, paradox |
| photo- | Greek | light | photograph, photosynthesis, photon, photoelectric |
| pseudo- | Greek | false, fake, counterfeit | pseudonym, pseudoscience, pseudopod |
| psycho- | Greek | mind, soul, spirit | psychology, psychic, psychopath, psychoanalysis |
| proto- | Greek | first, original, primitive | prototype, protoplasm, protocol |
| penta- | Greek | five | pentagon, pentathlon, pentameter |
| per- | Latin | through, throughout, completely, wrongly | permeate, perfect, persist, perjury |
| peri- | Greek | around, about, near | perimeter, periscope, periodontics |
| patho- | Greek | suffering, disease, feeling | pathology, pathogen, pathetic, sympathy |
| paleo- | Greek | ancient, old | paleontology, paleolithic, paleobotany |
| ped- | Latin | foot | pedal, pedestrian, centipede, expedition |
| podo- | Greek | foot | podiatrist, tripod, octopus |
| paedo- | Greek | child, boy | paediatrics, paedology |
| patri- | Latin | father, fatherland | patriarch, patriotism, patricide, patron |
| phono- | Greek | sound, voice | telephone, phonograph, symphony, phonics |
| philo- | Greek | loving, fond of | philosophy, philanthropist, anglophile, bibliophile |
| physio- | Greek | nature, natural | physiology, physical, physician, physiotherapy |
| phyto- | Greek | plant | phytoplankton, phytonutrient, phytotoxin |
| pyro- | Greek | fire, heat | pyrotechnics, pyromaniac, pyrolysis |
| pluri- | Latin | many, several | plural, pluripotent, pluricentric |
| pneumo- | Greek | air, lung, breath | pneumonia, pneumatic, pneumothorax |
| pulmo- | Latin | lung | pulmonary, pulmonology |
| pachy- | Greek | thick, dense | pachyderm, pachycephalosaurus |
| platy- | Greek | broad, flat | platypus, plateau, platysma |
| petro- | Greek | rock, stone | petroleum, petroglyph, petrify |
| phago- | Greek | to eat, devour | phagocyte, esophagus, sarcophagus |
| pharmaco- | Greek | drug, medicine | pharmacology, pharmaceutical, pharmacopeia |
| phlebo- | Greek | vein | phlebotomy, phlebitis |
| ptero- | Greek | wing, feather | pterodactyl, helicopter, pterosaur |
| pseudo- | Greek | false, counterfeit | pseudonym, pseudoscience, pseudointellectual |
| presby- | Greek | old, elder | presbyterian, presbyopia |
| pros- | Greek | toward, in addition | prosthesis, prosody, prosenchyma |
| polio- | Greek | gray | poliomyelitis |
| pyo- | Greek | pus | pyogenic, pyoderma |
| pisci- | Latin | fish | piscivore, pisciculture, piscine |
| piezo- | Greek | pressure, to press | piezoelectricity, piezometer |
| pico- | Italian/Spanish | one trillionth (10⁻¹²) | picosecond, picometer, picofarad |
| pluto- | Greek | wealth, riches | plutocracy, plutocrat, plutomania |
| protero- | Greek | before, earlier | proterozoic |
Descriptions
pre-
One of the most common prefixes, indicating something that comes before in time, order, or place. It’s the opposite of post-.
post-
Indicates something that comes after in time or sequence. You’ll find it everywhere, from history to email (postscript).
pro-
A versatile prefix that can mean moving forward, supporting a cause, or happening before something else (as in prologue).
pan-
Used to signify something that encompasses everything or is all-inclusive. A pandemic, for example, is a disease affecting all people.
poly-
This prefix means ‘many’ and is used to build countless words in math, science, and everyday language.
para-
A multi-talented prefix that can mean beside (paragraph), beyond (paranormal), or related to assistance (paramedic).
photo-
This prefix is all about light, from taking pictures (‘light-writing’) to the way plants create energy (photosynthesis).
pseudo-
A useful prefix for calling something out as false or an imitation. A pseudonym is a false name used by an author.
psycho-
From the Greek word for ‘soul’ or ‘mind,’ this prefix is the foundation for all words related to the human mind.
proto-
Indicates the first or original form of something. A prototype is the first model of a new design.
penta-
A numerical prefix for the number five, commonly seen in geometry (pentagon) and sports (pentathlon).
per-
Indicates movement through, completion, or sometimes a negative action like swearing falsely (perjury).
peri-
This prefix means ‘around,’ like the perimeter of a shape or the periscope that lets you look around.
patho-
Relates to disease and suffering (pathogen) but also to feeling or emotion, as seen in words like ‘sympathy’ and ‘pathetic’.
paleo-
Takes us back in time, referring to ancient or prehistoric eras, like the study of dinosaurs (paleontology).
ped-
This Latin root gives us words related to feet. Don’t confuse it with the Greek `paedo-`, which means ‘child’.
podo-
The Greek equivalent of the Latin `ped-`, also meaning ‘foot.’ It’s common in scientific terms, especially for animals.
paedo-
From the Greek word for ‘child,’ this prefix is common in medical and scientific terms related to children.
patri-
Refers to the concept of ‘father,’ whether it’s a male leader (patriarch) or one’s fatherland (patriotism).
phono-
If you can hear it, this prefix is probably involved. It’s the basis for words related to sound.
philo-
Signifies a love or fondness for something, from wisdom (philosophy) to books (bibliophile).
physio-
Relates to nature and the body. Physiology is the study of how living things function naturally.
phyto-
A key prefix in biology for anything related to plants, from microscopic sea life (phytoplankton) to plant-based nutrients.
pyro-
This prefix brings the heat, appearing in words for fireworks (pyrotechnics) and the obsession with fire (pyromania).
pluri-
An alternative to ‘poly-‘, this Latin prefix also means ‘many’ or ‘several,’ as in the word ‘plural’.
pneumo-
This prefix is all about air, breath, or the lungs. It’s very common in medical terms like pneumonia.
pulmo-
The Latin counterpart to the Greek `pneumo-`, this prefix is also used in medical terms specifically related to the lungs.
pachy-
A scientific prefix meaning ‘thick.’ Its most famous use is in pachyderm, the group of thick-skinned animals like elephants.
platy-
Used to describe things that are broad or flat, like the duck-billed platypus or a high, flat area of land (plateau).
petro-
Originally meaning ‘rock,’ this prefix is used for things made of stone (petroglyph) and for oil (‘rock oil’).
phago-
This prefix relates to eating or devouring. A phagocyte is a cell that engulfs invaders, and an esophagus is the tube for eating.
pharmaco-
The prefix for all things related to drugs and medicine, from the study of them (pharmacology) to the companies that make them.
phlebo-
A medical prefix you might hear at the doctor’s office, it refers to blood veins. A phlebotomist is trained to draw blood.
ptero-
This prefix is for things that have wings or are related to flight, from extinct flying reptiles to modern helicopters.
pseudo-
Indicates something is fake, false, or a sham. A pseudonym is a false name, often used by authors.
presby-
Refers to old age or elders. Presbyopia is the farsightedness that often develops in middle and old age.
pros-
A less common prefix meaning ‘toward’ or ‘in addition to.’ A prosthesis is an artificial part added to the body.
polio-
A medical prefix meaning ‘gray,’ specifically referring to the gray matter of the nervous system. It gives the disease polio its name.
pyo-
A medical prefix for words related to pus. A pyogenic infection is one that produces pus.
pisci-
From the Latin word for ‘fish,’ this prefix describes fish-eaters (piscivores) and fish farming (pisciculture).
piezo-
A scientific prefix for concepts involving pressure. Piezoelectricity is electricity generated from mechanical pressure.
pico-
A standard metric prefix used in science to denote a very small quantity: one trillionth of a unit.
pluto-
Refers to wealth. A plutocracy is a government ruled by the wealthy.
protero-
A scientific prefix, particularly in geology and biology, that means ‘earlier’ or ‘former,’ like the Proterozoic eon.