Liste lateinischer und griechischer Wörter in der biologischen Systematik

This list of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names is intended to help those unfamiliar with classical languages understand and remember the scientific names of organisms. The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants is largely derived from Latin and Greek, as are some of the names used for higher taxa such as orders and above. At the time when Carolus Linnaeus (1707–1778) published the books that are now accepted as the starting point of binomial nomenclature, Latin was used in Western Europe as the language of science, and scientific names were in Latin or Greek: Linnaeus continued this practice.

Although Latin is now largely unused except by classical scholars and for certain purposes by botanists and the Roman Catholic Church, Latin can still be found in scientific names. It is helpful to be able to understand the source of scientific names. While the 'Latin names' do not always correspond to the current English common names, they are often related, and if their meanings are understood they are easier to recall.

Often a genus name or specific descriptor is simply the Latin or Greek name for the animal (e.g. Canis is Latin for a dog). These words are not included in the table below, because they will only occur for one or two taxa. The words listed below are the common adjectives and other modifiers that repeatedly occur in the scientific names of many organisms.

Words that are very similar to their English forms are not included.

See also

• List of Greek words with English derivatives
• List of Latin words with English derivatives

List of words

In this table L = Latin, G = Greek, and LG = similar in both languages.

A

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
acaulis	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Stemless	Stemless Gentian, Gentiana acaulis; Dwarf Thistle, Cirsium acaule
acutus	L	Sharpened, pointed	American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus
agrestis	L	From the field, wild	Field Vole, Microstus agrestis; Green Field-speedwell, Veronica agrestis
albus	L	White	American White Ibis, Eudocimus albus; White Oak, Quercus alba; Mistletoe, Viscum album
ampulla	L	Bottle, flask	Northern Bottlenose Whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus
anthropos	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Man, human being	Paranthropus
archaeos, archaeo-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Ancient	Archaeopteryx
arctos	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Bear	Grizzly Bear, Ursus arctos
argentatus	L	Silvery	Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
arvensis	L	From the field	Skylark, Alauda arvensis
astron, astro-, astero-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Star	Starfish (class), Asteroidea
aureus	L	Golden, gold coin	Golden Jackal, Canis aureus; Staphylococcus aureus (bacteria)
australis	L	Southern	Southern Right Whale, Eubalaena australis

B

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
baccata	L bacca, berry	Berry-bearing	Common yew, Taxus baccata
blanda	L	Pleasant, smooth, alluring	Greek Windflower, Anemone blanda
borealis	L	Northern	Northern Right Whale Dolphin, Lissodelphis borealis
brachion	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Arm	Brachiopoda (phylum); Brachiosaurus
brachys, brachy-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Short	Brazilian Gold Frog, Brachycephalus didactylus
bradys, brady-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Slow	Three-toed sloth, Bradypus
branchia	LG Vorlage:Polytonic	Gills	Lamellibranchia (class, syn. Bivalva); Branchiopoda (class, brine shrimps)
brevis	L	Short	Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Ceratogymna brevis

C

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
caecus	L	Blind	Blind Mole, Talpa caeca; Northern Eyed Hawkmoth, Smerinthus caecus
caeruleus	L	Blue	Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus; Blue Passion Flower, Passiflora caerulea
canadensis	L	From Canada	Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis
canus	L	Gray (haired), pale gray	Grey-headed Woodpecker, Picus canus
cauda	L	Tail	Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus; Thintail Skate, Dipturus leptocaudus
caulos	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Stem, stalk	Stemless Gentian, Gentiana acaulis
cephale	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Head	Mediterranean Gull, Larus melanocephalus
ceps	L	Head	Pygmy Sperm Whale, Kogia breviceps
ceros	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Horn	Narwal, Monodon monoceros
chilensis	L	From Chile	Paradise Tanager, Tangara chilensis
chlorοs	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Green	Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
cneme	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Shin, leg	White-legged Damselfly, Platycnemis pennipes
cola	L	Dweller	Eurasian Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
corax	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Crow, raven	Common Raven, Corvus corax
coronatus	L	Crowned	Crowned Lemur, Eulemur coronatus
costatus	L	Ribbed	Striped Raphael catfish, Platydoras costatus
crass-	L	Thick	Creeping blueberry, Vaccinium crassifolium
cristatus	L	Crested	Aardwolf, Proteles cristatus
crocos	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Yellow	Saffron, Crocus sativus; Bicoloured White-toothed Shrew, Crocidura leucodon
cyanos	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Blue-green	Azure-winged Magpie, Cyanopica cyana

D

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
dactylοs	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Finger or toe	Black-legged Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla
deca	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Ten	Lesser African threadfin, Galeoides decadactylus
decem	L	Ten	Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata
derma	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Skin	Yellow Staining Mushroom, Agaricus xanthodermus
di-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Two	Diptera
dino-, deino-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Terrible	dinosaur, Deinotherium
diplo-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Double	Diplodocus
dodeca	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Twelve	Shooting star, Dodecatheon ("twelve gods")
dolicho-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Elongated	Caribbean Anole, Anolis dolichocephalus
domesticus	L	From the house, domestic	House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
dorsum	L	Back	Black-striped Weasel, Mustela strigidorsa
dulcis	L	Sweet	Almond, Prunus dulcis
dynam-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Power, Force	Dynamics, Thermodynamics

E

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
eburneus, eburni-	L	Ivory-colored	Ivory Gull, Pagophila eburnea
echinatus	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Prickly, spiny	Edisto Crayfish, Procambarus echinatus; Shortleaf Pine, Pinus echinata
echinos, echino-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Hedgehog, sea-urchin, spiny	Globe thistle sp., Echinops ritro; Sea-urchin cactus, Echinopsis; Echinodermata
edulis	L	Edible	Oyster, Ostrea edulis; Common Cockle, Cerastoderma edule
electr-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	1. Amber, amber-colored; 2. Electric (modern usage)	Broad-billed Motmot, Electron platyrhynchum; Electric Eel, Electrophorus electricus
enanti	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Opposite	Enantiornithes
ennea	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Nine	Scurvy-grass Sorrel, Oxalis enneaphylla; Banded Sunfish Enneacanthus obesus
ensatus	L	Sword-like	California Giant Salamander, Dicamptodon ensatus
ensi-, ensis	L	Sword, lance	Jackknife Clam, Ensis minor; Swordleaf Rush, Juncus ensifolius
erectus	L	Upright	Homo erectus ("upright man"); Upright chickweed, Moenchia erecta
erion, erio-	G	Wool, woolly	Common Cottongrass, Eriophorum angustifolium
erosus	L	Indented, jagged, serrated	Jícama, Pachyrhizus erosus; Serrated Hinge-back Tortoise, Kinixys erosa
erythros, erythro-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Red	Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus; Dog's-tooth Violet, Erythronium dens-canis

F

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
familiaris	L	Domestic, common	Dog, Canis familiaris
flavus	L	Golden yellow, light yellow	Yellow Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia flava; Yellow-necked Mouse, Apodemus flavicollis
flor-	L	Flower	Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora; Largeflower aster, Symphyotrichum grandiflorum
folium	L	Leaf	American Beech, Fagus grandifolia
fulvus	L	Deep yellow, tawny	Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva; Yellow Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus fulvus
fuscus	L	Dark, dark brown	Sooty Tern, Sterna fuscata; Dusky Hopping Mouse, Notomys fuscus

G

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
gaster	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Belly	Common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster
geo-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Earth	Geography, Geology
glabra	L glaber	Smooth; hairless	Omphiscola glabra (a snail), Rhus glabra (a sumac)
glycys	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Sweet	Soybean, Glycine max
gyrinos	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Tadpole	as "Labyrinthodont amphibian", e.g. Crassigyrinus, Proterogyrinus

H

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
haema-, hema-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Blood	Haemosporida; Bacteria sp., Haemophilus influenzae
hali-, halio-	G	Of the sea, salt	Grey Seal, Halichoerus grypus; Black Abalone, Haliotis cracherodii
haplo-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Simple, single	Mountain Beaver, Apoldontia rufa; Mongolosaurus haplodon
hedra-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Seat, facet	Chinese Ephedra, Ephedra sinica; (Polyhedron; Tetrahedron)
heli-, helio-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Sun	Sunflower, Helianthus annuus; Sun Spurge, Euphorbia helioscopia
hexa-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Six	Water Primrose, Ludwigia hexapetala
hippo-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Horse	Seahorse, Hippocampus; Lesser Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros
hirsuta	L	Hairy	Hairy Bittercress, Cardamine hirsuta; Hairy Fruit-eating Bat, Artibeus hirsutus
homo	L	Human, man	Modern human, Homo sapiens; Neandertal, Homo neanderthalensis
hortensis	L	From the garden	Orphean Warbler, Sylvia hortensis
hydro-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Water	Chinese Water Deer, Hydropotes inermis
hyper-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Over, above	St John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum
hypo-, hyp-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Under, beneath	Zebra Pleco catfish, Hypancistrus zebra; Common Cat's-ear, Hypochoeris radicata

I

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
indicus	L	Indian	Malaysian Tapir, Tapirus indicus

L

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
lateralis	L	Side	Black-footed Rock Wallaby, Petrogale lateralis
leucοs	G Vorlage:Polytonic	White	White-winged Tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
lineatus	L	Lined or striped	Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata
lutea	L	Yellow, saffron-colored	Yellow Vetch, Vicia lutea; Red-billed Leiothrix, Leiothrix lutea

M

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
maculatus	L	Spotted	Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius
major	L	Greater	Great Tit, Parus major
malabaricus	L	From Malabar	Sturnus malabaricus, Chestnut-tailed Starling
mauro-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Dark, Black	Dark Shrew, Crocidura maurisca
maximus	L	Largest	Royal Tern, Sterna maxima
megas	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Large, great	Megalodon shark, prefix Mega
melano-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Black	Black-browed Albatross, Thalassarche melanophris
micro	G Vorlage:Polytonic	small	Littleleaf pussytoes, Antennaria microphylla
minimus	L	Smallest	Least Flycatcher, Empidonax minimus
minor	L	Smaller	Great Frigatebird, Fregata minor
mono-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Single	Swinhoe's Storm-petrel, Oceanodroma monorhis
montanus	L	Mountains	Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus
morpho-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Shape	Lagomorpha
mys	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Mouse	As rodent, e.g. Phoberomys, Telicomys.

N

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
nanοs	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Dwarf	Brown-capped Woodpecker, Dendrocopos nanus
nona	L	Ninth	Honey fungus Armillaria nabsnona
nothos	G Vorlage:Polytonic	False, bastard	Nothofagus
notos	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Southern	Hopping mouse, Notomys
novaehollandiae	L	From New Holland (Australia)	Emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae
novaeseelandiae	L	From New Zealand	Southern Boobook Ninox novaeseelandiae
noveboracensis	L	From New York	Northern Waterthrush, Seiurus noveboracensis
novem	L	Nine	Nine-banded Armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus

O

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
obscurus	L	Dark	Dusky Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obscurus
occidentalis	L	Western	Eastern Arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis
ocean	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Ocean	seaside tube lichen, Hypogymnia oceanica
octo-, octa-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Eight	Octopus
-odon, -odus	G Vorlage:Polytonic, Vorlage:Polytonic	Tooth	Dimetrodon, Rhizodus
oeos-	G	Tubular
officinalis	L	For the workshop; medicinal	Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis
oleum	L	Oil	Jack O'Lantern, Omphalotus olearius
opsis	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Face, appearance	Carolina Parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis
orientalis	L	Eastern	Oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis
ortho-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Straight	Orthoptera

P

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
pachy-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Thick, stout	Pachycephalosaurus
palustris	L	Of the marsh	Mugger Crocodile, Crocodylus palustris
pan- panto-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	All	Pandemic, Panorama, Pantomime, Pantotheria
parvus	L	Small	Mountain Pygmy Possum, Burramys parvus
pedi-	L pes, pedis	Foot	Showy lady slipper, Cypripedium reginae
pelag-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Open sea	Pelagic Cormorant, Phalacrocorax pelagicus
penn-	L penna	Feather (specifically remex)	Great Auk, Pinguinus impennis
pennatus	L	Winged	Booted Eagle, Aquila pennata
penta-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Five	Chalcides pentadactylus, a type of skink
petra	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Rock, stone
phobia	G Vorlage:Polytonic	fear	Arachnophobia, Agoraphobia
phyllo-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Leaf	Garden Lupin, Lupinus polyphyllus
physi-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Nature	Physics
phyto-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Plant	Phytoplankton
platy-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Flat or broad	Flathead trout, Salmo platycephalus
poly-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Many	Polymer
pratensis	L	From the meadow	Meadow Foxtail, Alopecurus pratensis
protos	G Vorlage:Polytonic	First	Proton
pter-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Wing or remix	White-winged Tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
pubescens	L	Downy	Downy oak, Quercus pubescens
punctatus	L	Spotted	Thirteen-spotted lady beetle, Hippodamia tredecimpunctata

R

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
repandus	L	Curved upwards, turned up	Peruvian Apple Cactus, Cereus repandus; Hedgehog Mushroom, Hydnum repandum
repens	L	1. Creeping, crawling (rēpens); 2. Unexpected (rĕpens)	Creeping Buttercup, Ranunculus repens; White Clover, Trifolium repens
reptans	L	Creeping, crawling	Creeping Cinquefoil, Potentilla reptans; Reptilia
rhis, rhinos	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Nose	Orange Leaf-nosed Bat, Rhinonicteris aurantia
rhiza	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Root	Bushy Seedbox, Ludwigia helminthorrhiza; Rhizobium (nitogen-fixing soil bacteria)
rhynchos	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Beak or snout	Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
rhyti-, rhytis	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Wrinkled, folded	Shaggy Moss, Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus; Rhytidodon (syn. Rutiodon)
rostra	L	Beak, bill, snout	Common Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
rostralis	L	With a beak	Buttoned Snout moth, Hypena rostralis
ruber, rubra, rubrum	L	Red	Red Valerian, Centranthus ruber; Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra; Red Maple, Acer rubrum
rufus	L	Reddish, red	Red Wolf, Canis rufus

S

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
sapiens	L	Wise	recent subspecies of humans: Homo sapiens sapiens ("very wise man")
sativus	L	Sown, cultivated	Pea, Pisum sativum
saura	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Lizard	Lancetfish, Alepisaurus, dinosaur
septem-	L	seven	Seven-spot Ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata
silvestris	L	Of the wood; wild	Wild Cat, Felis silvestris
sinensis	L	From China	Tea, Camellia sinensis
specios-	L	showy	Lagerstroemia speciosa, Lilium speciosum
sperma	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Seed	African daisies, Osteospermum
sphen-	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Wedge	Tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus
stoichion	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Element	Stoichiometry
stoma	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Mouth, opening	Stomate, Gnathostomata
striatus	L	Striped	Striated Heron, Butorides striatus
suchοs	G	Crocodile (from Egyptian)	Eusuchia, Koolasuchus

T

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
tardus, tardi-	L	Slow, late	Great Bustard, Otis tarda; Chisos Mountains Oak, Quercus tardifolia
tele-, tel-	G τηλε-	Far, distant	New South Wales Waratah, Telopea speciosissima
tenuis	L	Thin, slender, fine	Slender Rush, Juncus tenuis; Plealeaf Knotweed, Polygonum tenue
tetra-	G τετρα-	Four	Four-leaved Allseed, Polycarpon tetraphyllum; Tetrapoda
tinctorius	L	For dyeing	Woad, Isatis tinctoria
tomentosus	L	Furry	Fuzzy Mock-orange, Philadelphus tomentosus
tres, tris, tri-	LG	Three	Black-legged Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla
trich-, thrix	G	Hair	Cloud ear fungus, Auricularia polytricha
triquetrus	L	Triangular, three-cornered	Three-cornered Garlic, Allium triquetrum

U

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
unus	L	One	Monotropa uniflora

V

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
variabilis	L	Variable	Grey Bunting, Emberiza variabilis
variegatus	L	Variegated	Variegated Laughingthrush, Garrulax variegatus; Croton, Codiaeum variegatum
velox, velocis	L	Swift	Swift Fox, Vulpes velox; Velociraptor
ventralis	L	Ventral, of the belly	Hispaniolan Parrot, Amazona ventralis; Southern Dwarf Chameleon, Bradypodion ventrale
vernus, vernalis	L	Spring	Spring Gentian, Gentiana verna; Spring Pheasant's Eye, Adonis vernalis
verrucosus	L	Rough skinned	Javan Warty Pig, Sus verrucosus; Reef Stonefish, Synanceia verrucosa
verus	L	True, genuine	True Aloe, Aloe vera; Lady's Bedstraw, Galium verum
villosus	L	Hairy, shaggy	Hairy Woodpecker, Picoides villosus; Hairy Vetch, Vicia villosa
viridis	L	Green	Green Alder, Alnus viridis; Frog Orchid, Coeloglossum viride
virosus	L	Poisonous	Poisonous Lettuce, Lactuca virosa; Cowbane, Cicuta virosa
volans	L	Flying	Southern Flying Squirrel, Glaucomys volans
vulgaris	L	Common	Common Octopus, Octopus vulgaris; Common Privet, Ligustrum vulgare

W, X, Y, Z

Latin/Greek	Language	English	Example
xanthos	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Yellow	Yellow Staining Mushroom, Agaricus xanthodermus
zygos	G Vorlage:Polytonic	Joined	Zygoptera

External links

• "The Botanary" at "Dave's Garden".
• Dictionary of botanical epithets
• Classical word roots and combining forms
• European Species Names in Linnaean, Czech, English, German and French