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The combining form –zoa is used like a suffix meaning “animals” or “organisms.” It is occasionally used in scientific terms, particularly to name classes in zoology. In zoology, class has a specific meaning that refers to taxonomy.

The form –zoa comes from Greek ��ô����, meaning “animals.” The word zoo also ultimately comes from this Greek root. Zoo is shortened from zoological garden.

What are variants of –zoa?

While –zoa doesn’t have any variants, it is related to the form –zoon, which is the singular form of –zoa, as in protozoon.

When combined as a prefix, –zoa becomes zoo– or zo–, as in zooplankton or zooid. Want to know more? Read our 51�Թ�s That Use articles for zoo-, zo-, and –zoon.

One example of a scientific term that features –zoa is Protozoa, “a major grouping or superphylum of the kingdom Protista, comprising the protozoans.” Protozoans are single-celled organisms like amoebas. Protozoa comes from a New Latin term that uses the equivalent form of –zoa in that language.

The proto– part of the word means “first” or “earliest form of.” The –zoa part of the word means “organisms.” Protozoa literally translates to “earliest form of organisms.”

What are some words that use the combining form –zoa?

• ectozoa
• epizoa (using the equivalent form of –zoa in Latin)
• hematozoa
• Metazoa (using the equivalent form of –zoa in Latin)
• spermatozoa (using the equivalent form of –zoa in Latin)
• Sporozoa (using the equivalent form of –zoa in Latin)

What are some other forms that –zoa may be commonly confused with?

• -zygous

The combining form hemato– means “blood.” With this in mind, what does the scientific term hematozoa literally mean?