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Suffix · forms nouns

-phobia

Names an intense irrational fear: claustro + phobia = claustrophobia.

Scientific

Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated August 2026

What this suffix does

The suffix -phobia comes from the Greek "phobos" (fear, terror) and is used to name phobias or intense irrational fears. From "claustro" (enclosed space) you get "claustrophobia"; from "arachn" (spider) you get "arachnophobia"; from "xeno" (foreigner) you get "xenophobia". It is a very productive suffix: new -phobias are constantly being coined for modern fears (nomophobia = fear of being without your phone).

The adjective and the person

Every -phobia generates the adjective -phobic and the person -phobe: claustrophobia = claustrophobic (adj.) / a claustrophobe (person) xenophobia = xenophobic (adj.) / a xenophobe (person) "claustrophobic" is the most frequent adjective in conversation: "I feel claustrophobic in the elevator".

How it is formed

Greek or Latin root of the feared object or situation + phobia.

Greek root + phobia
arachn (spider) = arachnophobiaacro (height) = acrophobiaagora (open space) = agoraphobia
Latin root + phobia
claustro (enclosure) = claustrophobiaaqua (water) = aquaphobia
modern root + phobia
nomo (norm, phone) = nomophobiaxeno (foreigner) = xenophobia

Most roots are Greek. Many do not exist as standalone English words (arachn-, claustro-), so the most practical approach is to learn the most common phobias as fixed vocabulary.

How it is pronounced

-phobia/foʊbiə/ · sounds like 'FOH-bee-uh'

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

Examples

Base word

With -phobia

In a phrase

claustroclaustrophobiaHer claustrophobia makes riding in crowded elevators feel completely unbearable.
arachnarachnophobiaArachnophobia is one of the most commonly reported animal phobias around the world.
agoraagoraphobiaCognitive behavioral therapy is often used to treat agoraphobia in adults.
acroacrophobiaHis acrophobia was so severe that he refused to climb even a short ladder.
xenoxenophobiaSchools can help combat xenophobia by teaching students about different cultures early.
hydrohydrophobiaHydrophobia, an intense fear of water, can severely limit a person's daily activities.
pyropyrophobiaShe developed pyrophobia after witnessing a house fire in her neighborhood as a child.
nomonomophobiaDo you feel anxious without your phone? That reaction might be called nomophobia.
claustroclaustrophobicThe tiny windowless office made everyone on the team feel extremely claustrophobic.
xenoxenophobeAnyone who openly mocks foreign visitors risks being labeled a xenophobe by observers.

Common mistakes

claustrophobia = fear of Santa Claus

claustrophobia = fear of enclosed spaces

claustro- comes from Latin "claustrum" (enclosed space), not from "Claus".

A trick to remember it

Think of claustrophobia, the fear of enclosed spaces: -phobia = fear. The adjective is -phobic (claustrophobic, xenophobic) and the person is a -phobe.

Practise what you learned

Exercise 1 · Form the word

Exercise 2 · Pick the right one

What is "agoraphobia"?

Exercise 3 · Pick the right one

In English, "xenophobia" is spelled with...

Frequently asked questions

What does the suffix -phobia mean in English?

The suffix -phobia names an intense irrational fear: claustro + phobia = claustrophobia.

How do you pronounce -phobia?

The ending -phobia is pronounced /foʊbiə/ · sounds like 'FOH-bee-uh'. For example, "claustrophobia".

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

"claustro" becomes "claustrophobia". It is a typical example of the -phobia suffix.

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