What does the prefix pyro- mean?
Pyro- comes from the Greek pyr (pyros), which means "fire". It shows a relation to fire or to intense heat. It appears in scientific and everyday vocabulary.
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Prefix · element · fire
pyro-
Means "fire": pyrotechnics, pyromaniac, pyrolysis, pyroclastic, pyrometer.
Scientific
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
Between science and spectacle
Pyro- connects two worlds. On one side, science: chemical reactions with heat, instruments to measure very high temperatures and the most dangerous flows of a volcano. On the other, spectacle: fireworks. It also appears in words about people with an uncontrollable attraction to fire.
How it is used
Combines with Greek and Latin roots in scientific and everyday contexts:
- pyro- + process/sciencelysis → pyrolysismeter → pyrometergraphy → pyrographyclastic → pyroclastic
- pyro- + attitude/spectaclemaniac → pyromaniacmania → pyromaniatechnics → pyrotechnics
Pronunciation: /ˈpaɪ.roʊ/ — the y sounds like /aɪ/ as in "pie".
How it is pronounced
pyro-/ˈpaɪ.roʊ/
Tap the button to hear how the prefix sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
Examples
Root word
With pyro-
In a phrase
- technicspyrotechnicsThe closing ceremony featured spectacular pyrotechnics that lit up the sky.
- maniacpyromaniacA pyromaniac has an uncontrollable compulsion to start and watch fires.
- lysispyrolysisPyrolysis breaks down organic material by applying extreme heat without oxygen.
- meterpyrometerThe pyrometer measured the furnace temperature without touching the surface.
- graphypyrographyPyrography uses a heated tool to burn detailed patterns into wood.
- clasticpyroclasticA pyroclastic flow is one of the deadliest hazards of a volcanic eruption.
- maniapyromaniaPyromania is a rare impulse-control disorder involving compulsive fire-setting.
Common mistakes
pronouncing pyro- with /ɪ/ as in "pin" or /iː/ as in "pee"
the y in pyro- is /aɪ/ as in "pie": /ˈpaɪ.roʊ/
In English, the letter y at the start of a Greek-origin root sounds /aɪ/ in words like pyro-, cycle, dynamic. "Pyrotechnics" = /ˌpaɪ.rəʊˈtek.nɪks/. Practice the vowel: pie → pyro → pyrotechnics.
A trick to remember it
Think of fireworks lighting up the sky: pyro- = fire. pyromania, pyrotechnics.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
What is a pyroclastic flow?
Frequently asked questions
What does the prefix pyro- mean in English?
The prefix pyro- means "fire": pyrotechnics, pyromaniac, pyrolysis, pyroclastic, pyrometer.
How do you pronounce pyro-?
The prefix pyro- is pronounced /ˈpaɪ.roʊ/. For example, "pyrotechnics".
Can you give an example of a word with pyro-?
"technics" becomes "pyrotechnics". It is a typical example of the pyro- prefix.
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