Medical Suffix
-emia
-emia means a blood condition (from the Greek haima, meaning blood).
What does -emia mean?
The suffix -emia means a condition of the blood, or the presence of a substance in the blood. It comes from the Greek word haima, meaning blood. It appears at the end of many words describing blood states. For example, hyperglycemia is high blood sugar, hypoglycemia is low blood sugar, and anemia is a low level of healthy red blood cells. It is one of the most widely used suffixes in medicine.
Example words using -emia
Related word parts
Frequently asked questions
What does -emia mean?
The suffix -emia means a condition of the blood, or a substance present in the blood, and comes from Greek.
What is hyperglycemia?
It is high blood sugar, combining hyper- (high) and glyc/o (sugar) with -emia.
What is hypoglycemia?
It is low blood sugar, combining hypo- (low) and glyc/o (sugar) with -emia.
Study reference only — not medical advice. Always consult qualified sources for clinical decisions.
Medically reviewed by Nouman Jan, BSN · Last reviewed: August 2026