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The combining form andro- is used like a prefix meaning “male.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

The form andro- comes from Greek ����ḗr, meaning “man.” The name of the princess Andromeda from Greek mythology comes from this same Greek root. Her name has been translated as “ruler of man.”

What are variants of andro-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, andro- becomes andr-, as in andragogy.

Though these aren’t true variants, andro- is related to the combining forms -androus and -andry. Want to know more? Check out our 51�Թ�s that Use articles for each form.

One example of a word you may have encountered that features the form andro- is androgynous, “neither clearly masculine nor clearly feminine in appearance.” Androgynous comes from the Greek ���Ի��ógynos, meaning “hermaphrodite,” which uses the equivalent form of andro-.

The andro- part of the word means “male,”  while the -gynous part, from Greek -gynos, means “of females.” Androgynous literally means roughly “like a male and a female.”

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

• androblastoma
• androcracy
• androdioecious
• androgenous
• andrology

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

• anthr-
• anthro-

The combining form -cracy means “government”  or “rule.” With this in mind, what is an androcracy?