Prefix · nerves / neurology
Signals relation to the nervous system: neuron, neuroscience, neurotransmitter, neuroplasticity.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Neuro- comes from Greek "neuron" (nerve, sinew) and signals a relation to the nervous system or neurons: neuron = the basic cell of the nervous system; neuroscience = the scientific study of the nervous system; neurology = the medical specialty of the nervous system; neurotransmitter = a chemical that carries signals between neurons. Anything involving nerves or the brain can take neuro-.
Neuro- has expanded into psychology and technology: neuroplasticity = the brain's ability to reorganize and form new connections; neuromarketing = the study of brain responses to marketing stimuli; neurodiversity = the natural variation in human neurological functioning (includes autism, ADHD, dyslexia). It is one of the most rapidly growing prefixes in contemporary usage.
Attaches to medical, scientific, and modern nouns. Identical in Spanish and English:
Pronunciation: /ˈnjʊərəʊ/. Identical in Spanish and English.
neuro-/ˈnjʊərəʊ/
Tap the button to hear how the prefix sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
"Neuron" and "neutron" sound nearly identical in English but belong to completely different scientific fields. Neuron = a cell in the nervous system. Neutron = a particle in the atomic nucleus with no electrical charge.
"Plasticity" has nothing to do with the material plastic. It comes from Greek "plastos" (moulded, shaped). Neuroplasticity = the brain's ability to "mould" itself by adapting to new experiences, learning, or injury.
A trick to remember it
Neuro- = "nerve" or "neurological": neuron = the cell, neurology = the medical specialty, neuroscience = the science, neurotransmitter = the messenger between neurons. Identical in Spanish and English. Today "neurodiversity" and "neuroplasticity" are very common in modern psychology.
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"___ refers to the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life."
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
What is the difference between "neuron" and "neutron"?
The prefix neuro- signals relation to the nervous system: neuron, neuroscience, neurotransmitter, neuroplasticity. In Spanish it usually maps to neuro-.
The prefix neuro- is pronounced /ˈnjʊərəʊ/. For example, "neuron".
"n" becomes "neuron". It is a typical example of the neuro- prefix.
un-, re-, pre-, dis-, over-, in-... every beginning you need to unlock thousands of English words at once.