Suffix · forms nouns
From Greek "therapeia" (healing, treatment): names medical or therapeutic methods. Chemotherapy, physiotherapy.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
The suffix -therapy comes from Greek "therapeia" (service, healing) and names methods of medical, psychological or wellness treatment. From "chemo-" (chemical) comes "chemotherapy"; from "physio-" (physical) comes "physiotherapy". The Spanish equivalent is -terapia: chemotherapy → quimioterapia, physiotherapy → fisioterapia, psychotherapy → psicoterapia.
Formal medical therapies: chemotherapy: cancer treatment using chemical agents. radiotherapy / radiation therapy: treatment with radiation. physiotherapy: physical treatment of injuries and mobility. immunotherapy: boosts the immune system. Psychological and wellness therapies: psychotherapy: psychological talking treatment. cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). hydrotherapy: treatment with water. aromatherapy: use of essential oils. art therapy / music therapy: creative therapies.
"Therapy" by itself is the general word for any therapeutic treatment or session with a mental health professional: "She goes to therapy twice a week." The professional is: therapist = general term physiotherapist = fisioterapeuta psychotherapist = psicoterapeuta In informal American English, "therapy" on its own almost always refers to psychotherapy.
Greek/Latin root (method or means of treatment) + therapy.
-therapist forms the professional title: physiotherapist, psychotherapist, speech therapist. And -therapeutic is the adjective: therapeutic relationship, therapeutic dose.
-therapy/θɛrəpi/ · sounds like 'THEH-ruh-pee'
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
"Therapy" implies a systematic, repeated process (chemotherapy, physiotherapy). "Treatment" is more general: "the treatment for a cold". Not every "treatment" is "therapy".
British English: "physiotherapy" and "physiotherapist". American English: "physical therapy" and "physical therapist". Both are correct depending on variety.
The root is "chemo-" (from Greek "khemia", chemistry/alchemy). "chemotherapy". The prefix is "chemo-", not "quimio-".
A trick to remember it
-therapy = medical or therapeutic treatment. First identify the method: chemo- (chemical), physio- (physical), psycho- (mental), hydro- (water). Informally, "therapy" alone = talking to a therapist/psychologist. Professional: -therapist.
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
"Physiotherapy" in American English is called...
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
"She goes to therapy" usually means...
The suffix -therapy from Greek "therapeia" (healing, treatment): names medical or therapeutic methods. Chemotherapy, physiotherapy. In Spanish it usually maps to -terapia.
The ending -therapy is pronounced /θɛrəpi/ · sounds like 'THEH-ruh-pee'. For example, "chemotherapy".
"chemo (chemical)" becomes "chemotherapy". It is a typical example of the -therapy suffix.
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