Common Prefixes • CHAPTER 1 25
Prefix Term Meaning
retro- retro/version
backward, behind rĕt-rō-VĔR-shŭn
-version: turning
super- super/ior
upper, above soo-PĒ-rē-or
-ior: pertaining to
Pronunciation Help Long sound a ̄in ra ̄te e ̄in re ̄birth ı ̄in ı ̄sle o ̄in o ̄ver u ̄in u ̄nite
Short sound a ̆in a ̆lone e ̆in e ̆ver ̆ıin ı ̆t o ̆in no ̆t u ̆in cu ̆t
*The prefix a-is usually used before a consonant.
†The prefix an-is usually used before a vowel.
Competency Verification:Check your answers in Appendix B: Answer Key, page 562. If you are not satisfied with
your level of comprehension, review the common prefixes tables. You may also visit the medicallanguagelab.com to
review the chapter’s flash-card exercises of suffixes and prefixes before proceeding to Chapter 2.
Visit the Medical Terminology Simplifiedonline resource center at DavisPlusfor an
audio exercise of the terms in the Word Elements tables. It will help you master
pronunciations and meanings of the medical terms.