Prefix · environment / ecology
Signals relation to the environment or ecology: ecosystem, ecology, eco-friendly, ecotourism.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Eco- comes from Greek "oikos" (house, home) and signals a relation to the natural environment, ecology, or sustainability. ecology = the science of how living organisms interact with their surroundings (their shared "home"); ecosystem = the system of life and interactions within an environment; ecovillage = a sustainable community. The idea is that nature is the shared "home" of all living beings.
In modern use, eco- also signals environmentally sustainable products, practices, or approaches: eco-friendly, eco-tourism, eco-label. Notably, "economics" shares the same root "oikos" (household/home) — the economy is the management of the "household" of resources. Today the two fields are distinct, but the etymological connection is real.
Attaches to nouns and adjectives. Identical in Spanish and English:
Pronunciation: /ˈiːkəʊ/. Do not confuse with "echo" (reflected sound), which comes from Greek "echo" (a sound-related term). They are different roots that happen to sound similar in Spanish.
eco-/ˈiːkəʊ/
Tap the button to hear how the prefix sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
"Eco-" in ecology comes from Greek "oikos" (house, household, environment). "Echo" (the reflection of sound) comes from Greek "echo," a mythological nymph associated with voice. They are completely different roots that happen to sound similar.
"Eco-friendly" is not a strictly regulated term. It signals a lower environmental impact compared to conventional alternatives, but does not guarantee zero impact. Look for specific certifications (FSC, ENERGY STAR, etc.) for more concrete claims.
A trick to remember it
Eco- = "environment": ecology = the science of the environment, ecosystem = a living system, eco-friendly = not harmful to the environment. Identical in Spanish and English. Fun fact: "economics" and "ecology" share the root "oikos" (home) — the economy manages the household; ecology studies it.
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"She only buys ___ products with verified environmental certifications to reduce her footprint."
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
What do "ecology" and "economics" have in common etymologically?
The prefix eco- signals relation to the environment or ecology: ecosystem, ecology, eco-friendly, ecotourism. In Spanish it usually maps to eco-.
The prefix eco- is pronounced /ˈiːkəʊ/. For example, "ecology".
"logy" becomes "ecology". It is a typical example of the eco- prefix.
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