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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 ��Ա�ú��ō��, meaning “lung.” �ʲԱ�ú��ō�� helps form the Greek word ��Ա�ܳ��Dz�í��, 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 ��Ա�ú��ō�� is also related to the combining form -pnea.

Want to know more? Read our 51�Թ�s That Use -pnea article.

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 51�Թ�s in the English Language.”

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

• -pnea
• pleuro-
• pulmo-

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