DictionaryRoot: hypo-
Greek
hypo-
under, below; deficient
Forms
- hypo-
- hyp- — Used before a vowel without an initial h sound in Greek.
- hyph- — Used before a vowel that began with an h sound in Greek.
Origin
Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *upo, ‘under.’
Note
Being below can describe location, rank, or an amount below the usual level.
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noun
hypoglycemia
high-poh-gly-SEE-mee-uh/ˌhaɪpoʊɡlaɪˈsimiə/
An abnormally low level of sugar in the blood.
Etymology
The pieces describe a blood condition with too little sugar: “sweet” points to sugar, while “under” marks a level below normal.