Suffix · forms nouns
From Greek "tome" (cutting): names surgical incisions without removing the organ. Anatomy, tracheotomy.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
The suffix -tomy (and its variant -otomy) comes from Greek "tome" (cutting) and indicates a surgical incision — without removing the organ. From "trachea" comes "tracheotomy" (cutting open the trachea to aid breathing); from "ana-" (up, apart) comes "anatomy" (cutting apart to study). Spanish: tracheotomy → traqueotomía, lobotomy → lobotomía, anatomy → anatomía.
The distinction between -tomy and -ectomy is fundamental: -tomy = cut or incise (the organ stays in place afterwards): tracheotomy = trachea is opened, it remains. -ectomy = excise/remove (the organ is taken out): trachelectomy = trachea is removed. "Anatomy" is the oldest use: the ancient Greeks called dissection "cutting up" (ana + tome) to study the body. "Dichotomy" is the most common everyday use: "a false dichotomy" = a false choice between only two options when more exist.
anatomy = dissection for study (ana = apart: cutting apart) tracheotomy = surgical opening of the trachea lobotomy = surgical section of the frontal lobe of the brain craniotomy = opening the skull phlebotomy = incision into a vein to draw blood laparotomy = incision into the abdomen osteotomy = cutting through bone episiotomy = perineal incision during childbirth gastrotomy = incision into the stomach vagotomy = severing the vagus nerve dichotomy = division into two (logical/abstract use)
Name of the location or structure (in Greek form) + tomy.
Family: -tomy (incision/cut), -tomize (verb: lobotomize), -tomic (adjective: anatomic/anatomical). "Dichotomy" has a crucial everyday use: "a false dichotomy" = one of the most cited logical fallacies.
-tomy / -otomy/təmi/ · sounds like 'TUH-mee'
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
tracheotomy = trachea is opened to help breathing (still there). trachelectomy = trachea is removed (gone). The organ remains or disappears — that is the key.
"Anatomy" covers all body structures: organs, muscles, bones, vessels, nerves. The word means "cutting apart" (ana + tome): dissection to study. Not just the skeleton.
"dichotomy" /daɪˈkɒtəmi/. "a false dichotomy" = a logical fallacy that forces a choice between just two options when more exist.
A trick to remember it
-tomy / -otomy = surgical incision (organ stays). Key words: anatomy (dissection for study), tracheotomy (open the trachea), lobotomy (section the frontal lobe), phlebotomy (vein puncture), dichotomy (division into two). Difference from -ectomy: organ stays vs organ is removed.
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
What is the difference between "tracheotomy" and "trachelectomy"?
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
"A false dichotomy" means...
The suffix -tomy / -otomy from Greek "tome" (cutting): names surgical incisions without removing the organ. Anatomy, tracheotomy. In Spanish it usually maps to -tomía / -otomía.
The ending -tomy / -otomy is pronounced /təmi/ · sounds like 'TUH-mee'. For example, "anatomy".
"ana (apart)" becomes "anatomy". It is a typical example of the -tomy / -otomy suffix.
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