pneumono-

1. a combining form meaning “lung,” used in the formation of compound words:

   pneumonoconiosis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pneumono-¹

Combining form representing Greek pneúmōn lung

Words That Use pneumono-

What does pneumono- mean?

Pneumono- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “lung.” It is often used in medical and scientific terms.

Pneumono- 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.”

What are variants of pneumono-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, pneumono- becomes pneumon-, as in pneumonectomy. The combining form pneumo-, as in pneumogastric, is also used as a variant of pneumono-.

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

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

Examples of pneumono-

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

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

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

• pneumonocele
• pneumonocentesis
• pneumonoconiosis
• pneumonocyte
• pneumonopexy
• pneumonorrhaphy
• pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (from New Latin)

That’s right, pneumono- appears in pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, which is often cited as the longest word appearing in major dictionaries. Curious about other lengthy lexemes in English? Find them in our slideshow, “The Longest Words in the English Language.”

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

• -pnea
• pleuro-
• pulmo-

Break it down!

The combining form –cyte means “cell.” Keeping that in mind, where are pneumonocytes found in the body?