What do the prefixes SYM and SYN mean?

What do the prefixes SYM and SYN mean?

• A. Across
• B. Together, With
• C. Three
• D. Shape

Answer: (B)

SYM and SYN both convey the idea of together or with. They come from the Greek sun-, meaning “with” or “together,” and in medical terms show that parts or actions are joined or occurring in unison. You’ll often see the form change to sym- before certain consonants (like m, p, b) to make pronunciation easier, as in symbiosis or symmetry, while syn- appears in other words like synthesis or synchronize. So the best interpretation is that these prefixes mean together, with.

SYM and SYN both convey the idea of together or with. They come from the Greek sun-, meaning “with” or “together,” and in medical terms show that parts or actions are joined or occurring in unison. You’ll often see the form change to sym- before certain consonants (like m, p, b) to make pronunciation easier, as in symbiosis or symmetry, while syn- appears in other words like synthesis or synchronize. So the best interpretation is that these prefixes mean together, with.