This list includes 15 prefixes that start with U, from “ulno-” to “uvulo-“. Many are Latin or Greek in origin and commonly appear in medical, anatomical, and scientific terms.
Prefixes that start with U are short word elements placed before roots to change or refine meaning. A notable example is “ultra-” meaning “beyond”, which entered English through Latin and now appears across many fields.
Below you’ll find the table with Prefix, Origin, Meaning, and Example words.
Prefix: The prefix itself, shown in quotes or plain text so you can spot common forms and variants.
Origin: The source language or root, so you can trace where the prefix and its meaning come from.
Meaning: A concise gloss that summarizes the prefix’s basic sense for quick identification in words.
Example words: A short list of 2–4 real words showing how the prefix functions in context.
Prefixes that start with U
| Prefix | Origin | Meaning | Example words |
|---|---|---|---|
| un- | Old English ‘un-‘ (Wikt) | Not; opposite of; reversal of an action | unhappy, unable, undo, unlock |
| uni- | Latin ‘ūnus’ meaning one (OED) | One; single; having one only | unicycle, uniform, unilateral, unison |
| under- | Old English ‘under’ (MW) | Below; beneath; less than required | underground, underpaid, underestimate, underwater |
| ultra- | Latin ‘ultrā’ meaning beyond (OED) | Beyond; extremely; on the other side of | ultraviolet, ultrasound, ultramodern, ultralight |
| up- | Old English ‘up’ or ‘upp’ (Wikt) | Upward; to a higher level or state | upgrade, uphill, upturn, upbeat |
| ur- | German ‘ur-‘ meaning original (MW) | Original; primitive; earliest form of | ur-text, ur-language, ur-civilization |
| uro- | Ancient Greek οὖρον (oûron) meaning urine (OED) | Relating to urine or the urinary system | urology, urogenital, urinalysis |
| utero- | Latin ‘uterus’ meaning womb (MW) | Pertaining to the uterus or womb | utero-placental, uterotonic, uteroscope |
| umbilico- | Latin ‘umbilīcus’ meaning navel (MW) | Relating to the navel or umbilical cord | umbilical, umbilicoplasty, umbiliform |
| ulno- | Latin ‘ulna’ meaning elbow, arm bone (Wikt) | Relating to the ulna bone in the forearm | ulnocarpal, ulnoradial, ulnar |
| unguli- | Latin ‘ungula’ meaning hoof, claw (OED) | Relating to a hoof, nail, or claw | unguligrade, unguiculate |
| uretero- | Ancient Greek οὐρητήρ (ourētḗr) (OED) | Relating to the ureter (tube from kidney) | ureteroscopy, ureteritis, ureterolithotomy |
| urethro- | Ancient Greek οὐρήθρα (ourḗthra) (MW) | Relating to the urethra (tube from bladder) | urethritis, urethroscope, urethroplasty |
| uvulo- | Latin ‘ūvula’ meaning little grape (Wikt) | Relating to the uvula | uvulectomy, uvulitis, uvulopalatal |
| ulo- | Ancient Greek οὖλον (oûlon) meaning gum (MW) | Pertaining to the gums of the mouth | ulitis, ulotomy, ulorrhagia |
Descriptions
un-
The most common ‘u’ prefix by far. Extremely productive in forming adjectives, adverbs, and verbs expressing negation or reversal.
uni-
A very common prefix used to create words meaning “one” or “single.” Found in everyday, formal, and technical language.
under-
A highly productive native English prefix with literal meanings of ‘below’ and figurative meanings of ‘insufficiently’ or ‘subordinate’.
ultra-
Used to mean “beyond a limit” in technical terms (ultrasound) or “extremely” in general language (ultramodern). Very productive.
up-
A common native prefix indicating upward motion or improvement. Used widely in forming new verbs, nouns, and adjectives.
ur-
A scholarly prefix borrowed from German, used to denote the original or prototypical form of something. Mostly found in academic writing.
uro-
A combining form used in medical and scientific terminology related to the urinary tract. Highly specific and technical.
utero-
A medical combining form used to create terms related to the uterus. Exclusively found in anatomical and clinical contexts.
umbilico-
A medical and anatomical combining form related to the navel (belly button). Common in obstetrics and anatomy.
ulno-
An anatomical combining form specific to the ulna, one of the two long bones in the forearm. Used in medicine.
unguli-
A technical combining form used in zoology to describe animals based on their hooves, claws, or nails. Quite specialized.
uretero-
A highly specific medical combining form for terms about the ureter, the tube carrying urine from the kidney to the bladder.
urethro-
Another specific medical combining form, this one pertaining to the urethra, the tube through which urine exits the body.
uvulo-
A medical combining form used in terms related to the uvula, the small fleshy tissue hanging at the back of the throat.
ulo-
A specialized medical combining form used in dentistry and oral medicine to refer to the gums. It is quite rare in general use.