spermo-

1. a combining form of sperm ¹, used also with the meaning “seed,” “germ,” “semen,” in the formation of compound words:

   spermophyte.

Words That Use Spermo-

What does spermo- mean?

Spermo- is a combining form used like a prefix representing “sperm.” Sperm are the reproductive cells contained in semen. Spermo- means “sperm” both literally and figuratively, as in “germ” or “seed.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

Spermo- comes from the Greek spérma, meaning “seed.”

What are variants of spermo-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, spermo- becomes sperm-, as in spermous.

The forms spermi- and spermato- are also combining forms from Greek spérma that are variously used to mean “sperm” or “seed.”

Related combining forms used as suffixes include -sperm, -spermal, -spermic, and -spermous.

Want to learn more? Check out our Words That Use entries for each of these seven forms.

Examples of spermo-

One example of a scientific term that features the combining form spermo- is spermophile, “any of various burrowing rodents of the squirrel family.”

One of the various meanings of spermo- is “seed,” while the combining form -phile means “lover of” or “enthusiast for.” Spermophile literally translates to “lover of seeds,” an accurate description of acorn-burying squirrels.

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

• spermogonium (from the equivalent form of spermo- in Latin)
• spermolith
• spermophyte (from the equivalent form of spermo- in Latin)
• spermotoxic
• spermotoxin

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

• spheno-
• spor-
• sporo-

Break it down!

A synonym for toxin is “poison.” With this in mind, what bodily substance does a spermotoxin poison?