- List of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names
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Contents
This list of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names is intended to help those unfamiliar with classical languages to understand and remember the scientific names of organisms. The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants is largely derived from Latin and Greek words, as are some of the names used for higher taxa, such as orders and above. At the time when biologist Carolus Linnaeus (1707–1778) published the books which are now accepted as the starting point of binomial nomenclature, Latin was used in Western Europe as the common 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, or for certain purposes in botany, medicine 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. Instead, the words listed below are the common adjectives and other modifiers that repeatedly occur in the scientific names of many organisms (in more than one genus).
Only root words are listed, while variants are omitted. So, verus is listed without the variants for Aloe vera or Galium verum. Words that are very similar to their English forms have also been omitted.
List of words
In this table L = Latin, G = Greek, and LG = similar in both languages.
A
Latin/Greek Language English Example acaulis G ἄκαυλος Stemless Stemless Gentian, Gentiana acaulis; Dwarf Thistle, Cirsium acaule acutus L Sharpened, pointed American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus; Angled Sunbeam (Butterfly), Curetis acuta; Northern Pintail duck, Anas acuta agrestis G ἀγρός Of the field, wild Field Vole, Microtus agrestis; Green Field-speedwell, Veronica agrestis albus L White American White Ibis, Eudocimus albus; White Oak, Quercus alba; Mistletoe, Viscum album americana L American American Black Bear, Ursus americanus; American Hazel Nut, Corylus americana amphi- G ἀμφί Of all kinds, on all sides Amphipoda; Amphibian ampulla L Bottle, flask Northern Bottlenose Whale, Hyperoodon ampullatus anthropos G ἄνθρωπος Man, human being Paranthropus apis L bee Salvia apiana, white sage aquaticus L Found near water Eastern Mole, Scalopus aquaticus archaeos, archaeo- G ἀρχαῖος, ἀρχαιο- Ancient Archaeopteryx arctos G ἄρκτος Bear Grizzly Bear, Ursus arctos horribilis; Common Bearberry, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi argentatus L Silvery Herring Gull, Larus argentatus arthron G ἄρθρον Joint Arthropoda arvensis L In the field Skylark, Alauda arvensis astron, astro-, astero- G ἄστρον, ἀστρο-, ἀστερο- 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 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 βραχίων Arm Przewalski's Gerbil, Brachiones przewalskii; Brachiopoda (phylum); Brachiosaurus brachys, brachy- G βραχύς, βραχυ- Short Brazilian Gold Frog, Brachycephalus didactylus bradys, brady- G βραδύς, βραδυ- Slow Pygmy Three-toed Sloth, Bradypus pygmaeus branchia LG βράγχια 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 canis L Dog Coyote, Canis latrans; Dipylidium caninum (a tapeworm) canus L Gray (haired), pale gray Grey-headed Woodpecker, Picus canus; Woolly Groundsel, Senecio canus cauda L Tail Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus; Thintail Skate, Dipturus leptocaudus caulos G καυλός Stem, stalk Stemless Gentian, Gentiana acaulis cephale, cephalo- G κεφαλή Head Mediterranean Gull, Larus melanocephalus; Blue-Spotted Grouper, Cephalopholis argus ceps L Head Pygmy Sperm Whale, Kogia breviceps ceros G κέρας Horn Narwal, Monodon monoceros cestus L Girdle, belt Cestoda chilensis L From Chile Paradise Tanager, Tangara chilensis chlorοs G χλωρός Green Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus chroma G χρῶμα Color Clown Loach, Chromobotia macracanthus cneme G κνήμη Shin, leg White-legged Damselfly, Platycnemis pennipes cola L Dweller Eurasian Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola corax G κόραξ 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 κρόκος Yellow Saffron, Crocus sativus; Bicoloured White-toothed Shrew, Crocidura leucodon cyanos G κυανός Blue-green Azure-winged Magpie, Cyanopica cyana D
Latin/Greek Language English Example dactylοs G δάκτυλος Finger or toe Black-legged Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla deca G δέκα Ten Alfonsino, Beryx decadactylus decem L Ten Colorado Potato Beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata derma G δέρμα Skin Yellow Staining Mushroom, Agaricus xanthodermus di- G δι- Two Christmas Orchid, Dipodium punctatum didelphis G δίδελφυς Double-wombed Didelphis virginiana dino-, deino- G δεινός, δεινο- Terrible dinosaur, Deinotherium diplo- G διπλός, διπλο- Double Two-eyed Orange Spider, Diploglena capensis disc-, disk- G δίσκος Disc Common Fungus Moth, Metalectra discalis dodeca G δώδεκα Twelve Henderson's Shootingstar, Dodecatheon hendersonii dolicho- G δόλιχος Elongated, long Knight Anole, Anolis dolichocephalus domesticus L From the house, domestic House Sparrow, Passer domesticus dorsum L Back Back-striped Weasel, Mustela strigidorsa dulcis L Sweet Almond, Prunus dulcis E
Latin/Greek Language English Example eburneus, eburni- L Ivory-colored Ivory Gull, Pagophila eburnea echinatus G ἐχῖνος Prickly, spiny Edisto Crayfish, Procambarus echinatus; Shortleaf Pine, Pinus echinata echinos, echino- G ἐχῖνος Hedgehog, sea-urchin, spiny Great Globe Thistle, Echinops sphaerocephalus; Diadema Urchin, Echinothrix diadema; San Pedro Cactus, Echinopsis pachanoi edulis L Edible Oyster, Ostrea edulis; Common Cockle, Cerastoderma edule, Passion Fruit, Passiflora edulis elatior L Taller True Oxlip, Primula elatior electr- G ἤλεκτρον 1. Amber, amber-colored;
2. Electric (modern usage)Broad-billed Motmot, Electron platyrhynchum;
Electric Eel, Electrophorus electricuselegans L Elegant Crimson Rosella, Platycercus elegans enanti G ἔναντι Opposite Enantiornithes ennea G ἐννέα 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 ἔριον Wool, woolly Common Cottongrass, Eriophorum angustifolium erosus L Indented, jagged, serrated Jícama, Pachyrhizus erosus; Serrated Hinge-back Tortoise, Kinixys erosa erythros, erythro- G ἐρυθρός Red[1][2] Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus; Dog's-tooth Violet, Erythronium dens-canis F
Latin/Greek Language English Example familiaris L Domestic, common Dog, Canis lupus familiaris felis L Cat Black-footed Cat, Felis nigripes; Cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis flavus L Golden yellow, light yellow Yellow Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia flava; Yellow-necked Mouse, Apodemus flavicollis flor- L Flower Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora; Great White Trillium, Trillium 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, gastro-, gastr- G γαστήρ Belly Common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster geo- G γαῖα, γῆ Earth Geography, Geology glabra L glaber Smooth;[1] hairless Smooth Sumac, Rhus glabra; Omphiscola glabra (a snail) glycys G γλυκύς Sweet Soybean, Glycine max gyrinos G γυρῖνος Tadpole Spring Salamander Gyrinophilus porphyriticus; e.g. Crassigyrinus, Proterogyrinus H
Latin/Greek Language English Example haema-, hema- G αἷμα Blood Haemosporida; Bacteria sp., Haemophilus influenzae hali-, halio- G ἅλς Of the sea, salt Grey Seal, Halichoerus grypus; Black Abalone, Haliotis cracherodii haplo- G ἁπλόος Simple, single Mountain Beaver, Apoldontia rufa; Mongolosaurus haplodon hedra- G ἕδρα Seat, facet Chinese Ephedra, Ephedra sinica; (Polyhedron; Tetrahedron) heli-, helio- G ἥλιος Sun Sunflower, Helianthus annuus; Sun Spurge, Euphorbia helioscopia hexa- G ἕξα- Six Water Primrose, Ludwigia hexapetala hippo- G ἵππος 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; Neanderthal, Homo neanderthalensis hortensis L From the garden Orphean Warbler, Sylvia hortensis hydro- G ὕδωρ, ὑδρο- Water Chinese Water Deer, Hydropotes inermis hyper- G ὑπέρ Over, above St John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum hypo-, hyp- G ὑπό 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 K
Latin/Greek Language English Example kestos (see Latin cestus) G κεστός Girdle, literally "stitched" Cestoda L
Latin/Greek Language English Example lateralis L Side Black-flanked Rock-wallaby, Petrogale lateralis latus L Flank Horse-eye jack, Caranx latus lepis G λεπίς a scale, rind, husk, flake Liza macrolepis Large-scale mullet lepton G λεπτόν Light Leptictidium auderiense, Leptospira kirschneri lepus L Hare Black-tailed Jackrabbit, Lepus californicus leucοs G λευκός 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 macro G μακρός Long, Large Big-headed Mole Rat, Tachyoryctes macrocephalus maculatus L Spotted Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius major L Greater Great Tit, Parus major malabaricus L From Malabar Chestnut-tailed Starling, Sturnus malabaricus mauro- G μαῦρος, μαυρο- Dark, Black Dark Shrew, Crocidura maurisca maximus L Largest Royal Tern, Sterna maxima megas G μέγας Large, great Megalodon shark, Carcharodon megalodon mephitis L Bad odor Striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis melano- G μελανός, μελανο- Black Black-browed Albatross, Thalassarche melanophris micro G μικρόν small Littleleaf Pussytoes, Antennaria microphylla minimus L Smallest Least Flycatcher, Empidonax minimus minor L Smaller Great Frigatebird, Fregata minor mono- G μονός, μονο- Single Swinhoe's Storm-petrel, Oceanodroma monorhis montanus L Mountains Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus morpho- G μορφή Shape Menelaus Blue Morpho, Morpho menelaus mys G μῦς Mouse As rodent, e.g. Phoberomys, Telicomys. N
Latin/Greek Language English Example nanοs G νάνος Dwarf Brown-capped Woodpecker, Dendrocopos nanus nona L Ninth Honey Fungus Armillaria nabsnona nothos G νόθος False, wrong Bluefin Notho Killifish, Nothobranchius rachovii; New Zealand Red Beech, Nothofagus fusca notos G νότος Southern Fawn Hopping Mouse, Notomys cervinus novaehollandiae L From New Holland (Australia) Emu, Dromaius novaehollandiae novaeseelandiae L From New Zealand Southern Boobook Ninox novaeseelandiae noveboracensis L From New York (Novum Eboracum) 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 ὠκεανός Ocean Posidonia oceanica octo-, octa- G ὀκτω-, ὀκτα- Eight Common Octopus, Octopus vulgaris -odon, -odus G ὀδών, ὀδούς Tooth Dimetrodon, Rhizodus oeso- G οἰσέμεν, οἰσ- Carry Oesophagostomum, Oesophagostomum bifurcum officinalis L For the workshop; medicinal Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis oleum L Oil Jack O'Lantern mushroom, Omphalotus olearius ophis G Serpent Carphophis vermis Western wormsnake ops G ὤψ Face Triceratops opsis G ὄψις Face, appearance Carolina Parakeet, Conuropsis carolinensis orientalis L Eastern Oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis ortho- G ὀρθός, ὀρθο- Straight Orthoptera P
Latin/Greek Language English Example pachy- G παχύς, παχυ- Thick, stout Pachycephalosaurus palustris L Of the marsh Mugger Crocodile, Crocodylus palustris pan- panto- G πᾶν, genitive παντός All Pancratium (a flower) parvus L Small Mountain Pygmy Possum, Burramys parvus pedi- L pes, pedis Foot Showy Lady Slipper, Cypripedium reginae pelag- G πέλαγος Open sea Pelagic Cormorant, Phalacrocorax pelagicus penn- L penna Feather (specifically remex) Great Auk, Pinguinus impennis pennatus L Feathered Booted Eagle, Aquila pennata penta- G πέντα- Five Five-Fingered Skink, Chalcides pentadactylus petra G πέτρα Rock, stone Rock Daisy, Erigeron petrophilus; Roberts's Flat-headed Bat, Sauromys petrophilus phago G φάγο eat Scatophagus tetracanthus African scat (fish) pholis, pholid- L Scale Green-Spotted Grouper, Cephalopholis argus phyllo- G φύλλον Leaf Garden Lupin, Lupinus polyphyllus physi- G φύσις Nature Symphysia ("naturally joined") (a plant)[3] phyto- G φυτόν Plant Astrophytum, Astrophytum myriostigma (a cactus) platy- G πλατύς, πλατυ- Flat and broad Flathead Trout, Salmo platycephalus poly- G πολύς, πολυ- Many Common Knotgrass, Polygonum aviculare; Polymer pratensis L To the meadow Meadow Foxtail, Alopecurus pratensis protos G πρῶτος First Protozoa pseudes G ψευδής False or fake Pastel flower, Pseuderanthemum variabile pter- G πτερόν Wing or remix White-winged Tern, Chlidonias leucopterus pubescens L Downy Downy Oak, Quercus pubescens pulchellus L Pretty little[4] Green Pygmy Goose, Nettapus pulchellus 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, rhino- G ῥις, ῥινο- Nose Orange Leaf-nosed Bat, Rhinonicteris aurantia rhiza G ῥίζα Root Bushy Seedbox, Ludwigia helminthorrhiza; Rhizobium (nitogen-fixing soil bacteria) rhynchos G ῥύγχος Beak or snout Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos rhyti-, rhytis G ῥυτίς 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 sanguis L Blood Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis sapiens L Wise recent subspecies of humans: Homo sapiens sapiens ("very wise man") sativus L Sown, cultivated Pea, Pisum sativum saura, -saur G σαύρα Lizard Lancetfish, Alepisaurus; Maiasaura (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 Queen's Crape-myrtle, Lagerstroemia speciosa; Japanese Lily, Lilium speciosum sperma G σπέρμα Seed African daisies, Osteospermum sphen- G σφήν Wedge Tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus stoma G στόμα Mouth, opening Stomate, Gnathostomata striatus L Striped Striated Heron, Butorides striatus suchοs G σοῦχος 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- L G τρία Three Black-legged Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla trich-, thrix G θρίξ, τριχ- 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 ura G οὐρά Of the tail Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura 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 versicolor L Many-colored Varied Honeyeater, Lichenostomus versicolor; Vietnam Mouse-deer, Tragulus versicolor 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 ξανθός Yellow Yellow Staining Mushroom, Agaricus xanthodermus zygos G ζυγός Joined Zygoptera See also
References
- ^ a b "The Botanary". http://davesgarden.com/botanary/.
- ^ Chuck Griffith. "Dictionary of Botanical Epithets". http://www.winternet.com/~chuckg/dictionary.html.
- ^ Umberto Quattrocchi (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. CRC Press. pp. 2610. ISBN 0849326737. http://books.google.com/books?id=zIOvJSJs-IkC&pg=PA2610&lpg=PA2610&dq=symphysia+growing+together.
- ^ Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short (1879). "pulchellus". A Latin Dictionary. http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0059%3Aentry%3D%2339482.
External links
Categories:- Lists of words
- Latin words and phrases
- Etymologies
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