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Prefix · disease / suffering / feeling

path-

From Greek "pathos" (suffering, feeling): appears in medical and emotional words, like pathology and empathy.

Scientific

Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated October 2026

What does the prefix path- mean?

Path- (or patho-) comes from the Greek pathos, which meant "suffering", "feeling" or "emotion". In medicine it creates words about diseases; in the world of feelings, it appears in concepts like empathy and sympathy. It is one of the prefixes with two faces: body and emotions.

Path- also lives at the end of words

The same root also turns up at the end of words, as -pathy, where it describes a feeling or a condition, and as -path, where it names a type of person. That is why words in this family can start or end with it: some are about disease, others about emotions. Spotting the root in either position gives you a good clue to the meaning.

How it is used

Path- / patho- appears both at the start and end of words:

patho- + -logy → pathology
the study of diseases, their causes, and their effects on the body
em- + path- → empathy
the ability to feel what another person feels (em- = within, into)
a- + path- → apathy
a complete absence of feeling or interest (a- = without)

When "-pathy" ends a word, it often signals a medical disorder: neuropathy, osteopathy, psychopathy. It can also describe a treatment system (homeopathy) or a mental phenomenon (telepathy).

How it is pronounced

path-/ˈpæθ.oʊ/

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

Examples

Root word

With path-

In a phrase

ologypathologyThe pathology report confirmed the tumor was benign and did not require further treatment.
ogenpathogenWashing hands regularly remains one of the most effective ways to stop pathogens from spreading.
(em)pathyempathyGreat teachers show empathy by genuinely trying to understand how a student is struggling.
(sym)pathysympathyShe sent a sympathy card to the family after hearing about their sudden loss.
(a)pathyapathyVoter apathy reached an all-time high when only thirty percent of eligible citizens cast ballots.
(psycho)pathpsychopathClinical psychopaths show a persistent inability to feel guilt or empathy for others.
(anti)pathyantipathyThere was obvious antipathy between the two rivals every time they were in the same room.

Common mistakes

sympathy and empathy mean the same thing

sympathy = feeling sorry for someone; empathy = feeling what they feel

"Sympathy" (sym- = together with) is compassion felt from outside someone's experience. "Empathy" (em- = within/into) is imagining yourself inside their experience. Therapists and counselors often emphasize this distinction.

A trick to remember it

Think of pathology, the study of disease: path- = disease, feeling. pathology, empathy.

Practise what you learned

Exercise 1 · Form the word

Exercise 2 · Pick the right one

Which word best describes a complete lack of interest, emotion, or concern?

Frequently asked questions

What does the prefix path- mean in English?

The prefix path- from Greek "pathos" (suffering, feeling): appears in medical and emotional words, like pathology and empathy.

How do you pronounce path-?

The prefix path- is pronounced /ˈpæθ.oʊ/. For example, "pathology".

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

"ology" becomes "pathology". It is a typical example of the path- prefix.

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