What does the prefix hypo- mean?
Hypo- comes from the Greek hypo, which means "under" or "below". It is the exact opposite of hyper-. The idea is always "less than normal" or "below the expected threshold".
ESEN
Prefix · deficient / below the limit
hypo-
Signals a level below normal: hypothermia, hypoglycemia, hypotension, hypothesis.
Scientific
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Hypo- in medicine and chemistry
In medicine, hypo- is one of the most important prefixes: it names levels that are too low of something the body needs, like temperature, sugar or pressure. In chemistry it shows a level lower than usual. Recognizing hypo- can be literally vital, because it tells you something is below what is safe.
How it is used
Attaches mainly to medical and scientific terms with no spelling change:
- hypo- + medical termthermia → hypothermiaglycemia → hypoglycemiatension → hypotensiondermic → hypodermic
- hypo- + chemical/scientific termchlorite → hypochloriteventilation → hypoventilationnatremia → hyponatremia
Pronunciation: /ˈhaɪpəʊ/. Do not confuse with hyper- (/ˈhaɪpər/), which signals the opposite level.
How it is pronounced
hypo-/ˈhaɪpəʊ/
Tap the button to hear how the prefix sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Root word
With hypo-
In a phrase
- thermiahypothermiaThe hiker fell into an icy river and developed hypothermia quickly.
- glycemiahypoglycemiaDiabetic patients can experience hypoglycemia when blood sugar drops too low.
- tensionhypotensionHe had chronic hypotension and felt dizzy every time he stood up.
- dermichypodermicThe nurse used a hypodermic needle to administer the vaccine.
- thesishypothesisThe scientist proposed a hypothesis that needed to be tested further.
- chloritehypochloriteSodium hypochlorite is the active ingredient in household bleach.
- ventilationhypoventilationSevere obesity can cause hypoventilation and low blood oxygen levels.
Common mistakes
hypothesis and hyperbole are related because both start with hyp-
hypothesis uses hypo- etymologically (an idea placed as a foundation); it is not the opposite of hyperbole
"Hypothesis" comes from hypo- (under/foundational) + thesis (a position or placing): literally an idea placed as a starting point or foundation. It has no semantic relationship with "hyperbole," which comes from hyper- (over) + bole (a throw).
hypodermic = related to skin in general
hypodermic = going beneath the skin specifically
"Hypodermic needle" = a needle that goes under the skin to inject or extract fluids. Hypo- (below) + dermic (skin). "Dermal" and "cutaneous" describe the skin in general.
A trick to remember it
The opposite of hyper-: picture the speedometer needle below normal. hypothermia (body temperature below normal).
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"The scientist proposed a ___ that would need to be tested through repeated controlled experiments."
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
What is the correct medical antonym of "hyperglycemia"?
Frequently asked questions
What does the prefix hypo- mean in English?
The prefix hypo- signals a level below normal: hypothermia, hypoglycemia, hypotension, hypothesis.
How do you pronounce hypo-?
The prefix hypo- is pronounced /ˈhaɪpəʊ/. For example, "hypothermia".
Can you give an example of a word with hypo-?
"thermia" becomes "hypothermia". It is a typical example of the hypo- prefix.
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