Anyone know of Magical way to remember Prefixes & Suffixes

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Just starting out in LPN Program. Any ideas on how to remember prefixes and suffixes. Example: colpo-, costo-, dacry-

I have pages of them and am wondering how I'll remember them all.

Thanks,

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Specializes in LTC.

This is what I do but it doesn't work every time:

Find a word that contains the word part you are studying. Memorize the definition of the word by prefix, root and suffix. It's easier for me to remember a whole word than a word part. I don't know if this is the best way to remember but it helps me with the really difficult word parts.

Example

intercostal = pertaining to the space between two ribs

inter- = situated between

cost- = rib

-al = pertaining to

I hope this helps more than it confuses.;)

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Make notecards with the suffix/prefix on one side and the definition/meaning on the other. Review them a couple times a day. Worked for me. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, IM, OB/GYN, neuro, GI.
Make notecards with the suffix/prefix on one side and the definition/meaning on the other. Review them a couple times a day. Worked for me. Good Luck!

I agree and take the ones out that you know as you go along. Also some prefixes and suffixes have the same meaning so group those together.

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Just starting out in LPN Program. Any ideas on how to remember prefixes and suffixes. Example: colpo-, costo-, dacry-

I have pages of them and am wondering how I'll remember them all.

Thanks,

Here are some tips coming from a person who just finished their medical terminology class last wensday:).

1. Definitely use flash card and flip them when necessary.

2. Second learn general suffixes like the one you will see on medical reports for example -ctomy, -stomy, or -tomy (those are procedures you will encounter during your clinicals) Once you will learn the suffixes which I was told my my proffesor are more important than prefixes cause they "ride the train" in that case your word. By knowing the ending of your word you will most likely be able to establish the meaning of the procedure or condition.To prove my theory let mi give you an personal example: Today my friend called me to tell me a great news that he passed his lpn board exam and I asked him what kind of questions was he exposed to and he was like well even if i tell you you wont know cause you are not even in the program yet:) I was like why dont you give it a shot, maybe I will know....yeah right::lol2: So he cites the question what is paracentesis and gives me A,B,C choices for anwers assured of himself I wont have a clue what he is talking about. Since I remembered from the class what the suffix meant -centesis which by the way means puncture of the skin to collect fluid I'm choosed the answer that mentions that. I could hear his jaw being dropped over the phone. No doubt, he was suprised and I felt like im on the top of things:lol2:

At least when I start nursing school and have my patient's medical report at front of I will have a slight idea what is wrong with them.:idea:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

I'm all for the notecards too, put them in an index card binder so you can take them with you everywhere, I had to sit down and write them out over and over so they'd stick for me lol

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Thanks so much everyone for your replies.

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