Suffix · forms nouns
From Greek "kytos" (hollow vessel, cell): names specific types of cells. Erythrocyte, leukocyte, lymphocyte.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
The suffix -cyte comes from Greek "kytos" (hollow vessel, cell) and names specific types of cells. The first part of the compound identifies the function, colour or location of the cell. From "erythro-" (red) comes "erythrocyte" (red blood cell); from "leuko-" (white) comes "leukocyte" (white blood cell); from "lympho-" (lymph) comes "lymphocyte" (immune system cell). Spanish: erythrocyte → eritrocito, leukocyte → leucocito, lymphocyte → linfocito.
Blood cells: erythrocyte = red blood cell (erythro = red): carries oxygen. leukocyte = white blood cell (leuko = white): immune defence. thrombocyte = platelet (thrombo = clot): blood clotting. monocyte = large white blood cell (mono = one). lymphocyte = lymph cell (immune system: T cells, B cells, NK cells). Other cells: hepatocyte = liver cell (hepato = liver). osteocyte = bone cell (osteo = bone). adipose cell / adipocyte = fat cell (adipo = fat). chondrocyte = cartilage cell (chondro = cartilage).
When you get a blood count (CBC = Complete Blood Count), the main values measured are -cytes: RBC (Red Blood Cell count) = erythrocyte count. WBC (White Blood Cell count) = leukocyte count. Platelet count = thrombocyte count. "Elevated lymphocyte count" may indicate viral infection or leukaemia. "Low neutrophil count" (neutropenia) is common during chemotherapy. Knowing the -cyte vocabulary lets you read English lab reports without a dictionary.
Colour, function or location of the cell + cyte.
Family: -cyte (cell), -cytic (adjective: lymphocytic, erythrocytic), -cytosis (excess of cells in blood: leukocytosis = excess white cells). Also: cyto- as prefix = cell-related (cytology, cytoplasm, cytotoxic).
-cyte/saɪt/ · rhymes with 'site'
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
"leukocyte" = any white blood cell — normal, abundant, necessary. "leukemia" = cancer where abnormal leukocytes are massively overproduced.
"thrombocyte" = platelet, the small cell that initiates clotting. "thrombus" = the clot itself. The platelet is not the clot — it builds it.
In English: erythrocyte (erythro- with y, from Greek). Not "eritrocyte". The ending is always -cyte (with y).
A trick to remember it
-cyte = cell type. Key ones: erythrocyte (red blood cell, carries oxygen), leukocyte (white blood cell, immunity), thrombocyte/platelet (clotting), lymphocyte (immune system). They appear in blood tests: RBC (red blood cells), WBC (white blood cells). Adjective: -cytic. Reverse prefix: cyto- (cytoplasm, cytology, cytotoxic).
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
What is the difference between "leukocyte" and "leukemia"?
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
A "thrombocyte" is...
The suffix -cyte from Greek "kytos" (hollow vessel, cell): names specific types of cells. Erythrocyte, leukocyte, lymphocyte. In Spanish it usually maps to -cito.
The ending -cyte is pronounced /saɪt/ · rhymes with 'site'. For example, "erythrocyte".
"erythro (red)" becomes "erythrocyte". It is a typical example of the -cyte suffix.
From Greek "haima" (blood): indicates a blood condition or the presence of a substance in the blood. Anemia, leukemia, hyperglycemia.
From Greek "-osis" (process, condition): indicates a disease, pathological state or biological process. Fibrosis, psychosis, metamorphosis.
From Greek "soma" (body): names cellular structures or bodies. Chromosome, ribosome.
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.