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Prefix · blood · hematologic

hemo-

Means "blood": hemoglobin, hematology, hemorrhage, hemophilia, hematoma.

In Spanish: hemo- / hema-Scientific

Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated July 2026

Blood, the vital fluid

Hemo- (also hema-, hemato-) comes from Greek "haima" (blood) and appears in specialised medical vocabulary. Hemoglobin = the protein that carries oxygen in blood; hematology = the medical specialty of blood study; hemorrhage = severe bleeding (hemo- + rhegnynai = to burst); hemophilia = a disorder in which blood does not clot properly; hematoma = a collection of blood under the skin (a severe bruise). Spanish equivalent "hemo-": hemoglobina, hematología, hemorragia, hemofilia, hematoma.

Blood in medicine

Hemo- is central to medicine: blood consists of erythrocytes (red blood cells, which contain hemoglobin), leukocytes (white blood cells), and platelets (which help clotting). A hematologist (hematólogo) treats blood diseases such as anaemia, leukaemia, and haemophilia. Haemorrhage can be internal or external. Note: American spelling uses "hemo-"; British spelling uses "haemo-" (haemoglobin, haemorrhage).

How it is used

Combines with Greek roots in haematological medical vocabulary:

  • hemo- / hemat- + medicine
    globin → hemoglobinology → hematologyorrhage → hemorrhageophilia → hemophiliaoma → hematoma
  • hemo- + process/technique
    stasis → hemostasisdialysis → hemodialysislysis → hemolysisphobia → hemophobia

Pronunciation: /ˈhiː.moʊ/. Spanish equivalent "hemo-": hemoglobina (hemoglobin), hematología (hematology), hemorragia (hemorrhage), hemofilia (hemophilia), hematoma. American spelling: "hemo-"; British spelling: "haemo-" (haemoglobin, haemorrhage).

How it is pronounced

hemo-/ˈhiː.moʊ/

Tap the button to hear how the prefix sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.

Examples

Root word
With hemo-
In a phrase
  • globinhemoglobinHemoglobin in red blood cells picks up oxygen in the lungs and delivers it to tissues.
  • atologyhematologyShe specialised in hematology and spent her career treating leukaemia patients.
  • orrhagehemorrhageThe surgeon worked quickly to stop the internal hemorrhage before it became fatal.
  • atomahematomaA large hematoma formed on his thigh after the fall, turning deep purple overnight.
  • ophiliahemophiliaPeople with hemophilia must avoid injuries since even minor cuts can cause prolonged bleeding.
  • ostasishemostasisHemostasis is the body's natural process of stopping blood flow after an injury.
  • odialysishemodialysisWithout a transplant, he needed hemodialysis three times a week to filter his blood.

Common mistakes

confusing "hematoma" with "hemorrhage"
"hematoma" = a localised collection of clotted blood under the skin (a severe bruise); "hemorrhage" = active, often severe bleeding that can be life-threatening

"Hematoma" (hemat- = blood + -oma = mass): blood that has pooled and clotted outside blood vessels, forming a lump or discolouration. "Hemorrhage" (hemo- + Greek "rhegnynai" = to burst): active bleeding, which can be internal (invisible) or external. A hematoma is stagnant blood; a hemorrhage is blood actively flowing where it should not.

A trick to remember it

Hemo- = blood. Spanish equivalent "hemo-": hemoglobina (hemoglobin), hematología (hematology), hemorragia (hemorrhage), hemofilia (hemophilia), hematoma. American spelling: "hemo-"; British: "haemo-". Hemoglobin carries oxygen; hemorrhage is its escape.

Practise what you learned

Exercise 1 · Form the word

Low ___ levels cause fatigue and shortness of breath because red blood cells carry less oxygen.

Hint: hemo- + globin = ?

Exercise 2 · Pick the right one

What is the difference between a "hematoma" and a "hemorrhage"?

Frequently asked questions

What does the prefix hemo- mean in English?

The prefix hemo- means "blood": hemoglobin, hematology, hemorrhage, hemophilia, hematoma. In Spanish it usually maps to hemo- / hema-.

How do you pronounce hemo-?

The prefix hemo- is pronounced /ˈhiː.moʊ/. For example, "hemoglobin".

Can you give an example of a word with hemo-?

"globin" becomes "hemoglobin". It is a typical example of the hemo- prefix.

Other useful prefixes

  • bio-

    Signals relation to life or biological processes: biology, biography, biodiversity, biofuel.

  • cardio-

    Means "heart": cardiogram, cardiology, cardiovascular, cardiac, cardiomyopathy.

  • derm-

    Means "skin": dermatology, dermal, dermatitis, dermatologist, epidermis.

Learn every English prefix

un-, re-, pre-, dis-, over-, in-... every beginning you need to unlock thousands of English words at once.

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