pneumo-

1. variant of pneumato- or pneumono-:

   pneumococcus.

pneumo-

combining_form

1. of or related to a lung or the lungs; respiratory

   pneumonitis

   pneumoconiosis

Word History and Origins

Origin of pneumo-¹

from Greek pneumōn lung or pneuma breath

Example Sentences

“Finding Pneumo with RDB,” read a handmade sign pinned onto her back.

From Wall Street Journal

He sued Pneumo Abex LLC, which owned a brake manufacturing plant in Virginia that employed his uncle.

From Los Angeles Times

Although “pneumo shots” protect against several bacterial strains that are the most common causes of pneumonia, they do not protect against all of them.

From New York Times

Words That Use pneumo-

What does pneumo- mean?

Pneumo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “lung” or “breath.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology and anatomy.

Pneumo- comes from the Greek pneúmōn, meaning “lung.” Pneúmōn helps form the Greek word pneumonía, source of the English pneumonia, “inflammation of the lungs with congestion.”

Pneumo- is a variant of both the combining forms pneumato-, meaning “air, breath, spirit,” and pneumono-, meaning “lung.” Learn more in our Words That Use articles for these forms.

What are variants of pneumo-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, pneumo- becomes pneum-, as in pneumectomy.

The Greek pneúmōn is also related to the combining form -pnea.

Want to know more? Read our Words That Use -pnea article.

Examples of pneumo-

One example of a medical term that features pneumo- is pneumotomy, also known as pneumonotomy, meaning “incision of the lung,” a surgical procedure.

As we know, pneumo- can mean “lung.” The second part of the word, -tomy, means “cutting, incision.” Pneumotomy literally translates to “lung incision.”

What are some words that use the combining form pneumo-?

• pneumoangiography
• pneumobacillus (from New Latin)
• pneumocele
• pneumocystic
• pneumogram
• pneumopericardium
• pneumostome
• pneumothorax

What are some other forms that pneumo- may be commonly confused with?

• -pnea
• pleuro-
• pulmo-

Break it down!

A pneumolith is a type of calculus, or stone or concretion, that can form in the body. Based on the meaning of pneumo-, where in the body is a pneumolith found?