What does the prefix hyper- mean?
Hyper- comes from the Greek hyper, which means "over", "above" or "in excess". It shows a level that goes beyond normal or expected. The idea is always "too much" or "beyond the limits".
ESEN
Prefix · excessive / above the limit
hyper-
Signals excess or a level above normal: hyperactive, hypertension, hyperbole, hyperlink.
Scientific
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Do not confuse it with hypo-
Hyper- and hypo- are opposites and look very similar when written, so it is easy to make mistakes. A trick to tell them apart: hyper- is "above" (think of hyperactive, with more energy than normal) and hypo- is "below". In medicine this difference matters a lot, because it completely changes the meaning of a condition.
How it is used
Attaches to medical, scientific, and technical nouns and adjectives:
- hyper- + medical nountension → hypertensionglycemia → hyperglycemiathermia → hyperthermiaactivity → hyperactivity
- hyper- + technical/rhetorical nounlink → hyperlinkbole → hyperboletext → hypertextspace → hyperspace
Pronunciation: /ˈhaɪpər/. Do not confuse with "hypo-" (/ˈhaɪpəʊ/), which signals the opposite: below normal.
How it is pronounced
hyper-/ˈhaɪpər/
Tap the button to hear how the prefix sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Root word
With hyper-
In a phrase
- activehyperactiveThe child was hyperactive and could barely sit still in class.
- tensionhypertensionThe doctor diagnosed hypertension and prescribed blood pressure medication.
- bolehyperboleSaying she waited forever was hyperbole — it was only ten minutes.
- linkhyperlinkClick any hyperlink in the document to jump to the source.
- texthypertextThe web is built on hypertext, letting documents link to each other.
- glycemiahyperglycemiaUntreated diabetes can lead to chronic hyperglycemia.
- sensitivehypersensitiveHe was hypersensitive to criticism and took even mild feedback badly.
Common mistakes
hyper- and hypo- are variants of the same prefix
hyper- = above; hypo- = below; they are exact antonyms
"Hypertension" = blood pressure too HIGH. "Hypotension" = blood pressure too LOW. In medicine, confusing these two can have serious consequences. Memorise: hyper- = HIGH (think "hyperER = Excess"), hypo- = LOW (think "hypO = nOt enough").
hyperbole is pronounced /ˈhaɪpərboʊl/ (rhymes with "bowl")
hyperbole is pronounced /haɪˈpɜːrbəli/ with four syllables: hy-PER-bo-lee
"Hyperbole" does not rhyme with "bowl." It has four syllables. This is one of the most commonly mispronounced words in English, even by native speakers.
A trick to remember it
Picture a speedometer needle past the limit: hyper- = above normal, in excess. hyperactive.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
What is the medical antonym of "hypertension"?
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
How is "hyperbole" correctly pronounced in English?
Frequently asked questions
What does the prefix hyper- mean in English?
The prefix hyper- signals excess or a level above normal: hyperactive, hypertension, hyperbole, hyperlink.
How do you pronounce hyper-?
The prefix hyper- is pronounced /ˈhaɪpər/. For example, "hyperactive".
Can you give an example of a word with hyper-?
"active" becomes "hyperactive". It is a typical example of the hyper- prefix.
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