-odynia

1. a combining form meaning “pain,” of the kind or in the place specified by the initial element:

   pododynia.

Word History and Origins

Origin of -odynia¹

< New Latin < Greek, equivalent to odýn ( ē ) pain + -ia -y ³

Words That Use -odynia

What does -odynia mean?

The combining form -odynia is used like a suffix meaning “pain.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in pathology.

The form -odynia ultimately comes from the Greek odýnē, meaning “pain.” Similar in meaning and use to -odynia are the combining forms -algia, -algy, and algo-.

What are variants of –odynia?

The corresponding form of -odynia combined like a prefix to the beginning of words is odyno-, as in odynophagia.

Examples of -odynia

One example of a medical term that features the combining form -odynia is gastrodynia, meaning “stomach ache.”

The combining form gastr- means “stomach.” You might be familiar with the form from such words as gastritis. And as we now know, -odynia means “pain.” Gastrodynia literally translates to “stomach pain.”

What are some words that use the combining form –odynia?

• allodynia
• cardiodynia
• colpodynia
• cephalodynia
• hepatodynia
• mastodynia
• omodynia
• osteodynia
• pleurodynia
• sacrodynia
• vaginodynia

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

• -opsy
• dynamo-

Break it down!

The combining form cardi- means “heart.” With this in mind, what does the medical condition of cardiodynia involve?