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The combining form -cyte is used like a suffix meaning “cell.” It is often used in medical and scientific terms, especially to name different types of cells.

The form -cyte comes from the Greek ��ý�ٴDz�, meaning “container,” “receptacle,” “body.”

A corresponding form of -cyte combined to the beginning of words is cyto-, which you can learn more about at our �y��vlogs That Use article for the form.

One example of a medical term that features the combining form -cyte is hemocyte, “a blood cell.”

The first part of the word, hemo-, means “blood.” As we’ve seen, -cyte means “cell.” Hemocyte literally translates to, well, “blood cell.”

A leukocyte is a white blood cell (leuko- meaning “white”). An erythrocyte is a red blood cell (erythro- meaning “red”).

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

• adipocyte
• blastocyte
• chondrocyte
• hepatocyte
• lemmocyte
• leptocyte
• lymphocyte
• oncocyte
• normocyte
• neurocyte
• thrombocyte
• thymocyte

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

• -cyst
• cyano-
• cyno-
• cysto-

The combining form hepato- refers to the liver. What is a hepatocyte?