Alanna Madden
February 2, 2021
Grammar Tips
Words with the prefix hypo mean ‘below normal,’ ‘beneath,’ or ‘under.’ The prefix and adjective hyper means ‘excessively,’ ‘above normal,’ or ‘hyperactive.’
Compose bold, clear, mistake-free, writing with Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant
The words hypo and hyper sound and look similar, but they are actually opposite terms. As prefixes, hyper- appears in words that describe something as ‘above,’ ‘excessive,’ or ‘beyond normal.’ Meanwhile, the prefix hypo- conveys the meaning of ‘under’ or ‘below normal.’
The words “hypo” and “hyper” also occur as abbreviations for terms like “hyperactive” or “hypodermic,” but most words with the prefixes (abbreviated or not) retain an element of their original sense.
The prefix hypo- describes something as ‘under,’ ‘beneath,’ or ‘below normal,’ and often occurs in terms like “hypoglycemia” (‘abnormally low blood-glucose levels’) or “hypodermic” (‘beneath the skin’). Additional examples include:
English speakers may also write “hypo” as an abbreviated noun (for terms containing the prefix), or with nouns to describe anything that is ‘under,’ ‘below,’ ‘slow,’ or ‘deficient’ (“Hypo” 857).
The prefix hyper- describes something as ‘excessive,’ ‘over,’ ‘above,’ or ‘beyond normal.’ For example, the prefix appears in terms like “hyperventilate” (‘to breathe too quickly and over-oxygenate blood’) and “hypertension” (‘to have excessively high blood pressure’).
Additional example with the prefix hyper- include:
The prefix hyper- also occurs in the adjective “hyperactive” (‘excessively active’), which we can abbreviate as “hyper” to mean ‘excitable,’ ‘high-strung,’ ‘emotionally stimulated,’ or simply ‘excessive’ (hyphens may be necessary).
[Adj.] Crazy, energetic, excitable, flighty, fluttery, high-strung, hysterical, insane, jittery, jumpy, lively, manic, nervous, overexcited, skittish, spasmodic, spirited, tireless, untiring, wild.
[Adj.] Calm, collected, composed, cool, dull, easygoing, enerving, imperturbable, nerveless, unexcitable, unflappable, unshakable, unstimulating.
According to the New Oxford English Dictionary, the prefixes hypo- and hyper- originate from Greek, where huper- (hyper) means ‘over, ‘beyond’ and hupo- (hypo) means ‘under, beneath’ (857).
To remember the difference between “hyper” and “hypo,” associate the letter “o” of “hypo” with the word “low.” For instance, if you use a “hypoallergenic” shampoo, that means your product contains low amounts of allergens (or lower than standard).
Remembering “hyper” is a bit easier if you associate it with feeling over-stimulated or energetic. In either case, there’s an abundance of energy, so when “hyper” pops-up in a term, you know it’s describing something excessive.
In summary:
“Hyperthyroidism” and “hypothyroidism” are healthcare terms that are very easy to confuse. Both thyroid disorders can cause goiters, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and weight changes. But what’s more confusing is how either condition can arise from an autoimmune disease or a genetic predisposition (including environmental triggers or genetic mutations). So, how are they different?
As paraphrased from Melloni’s Pocket Medical Dictionary (MPMD), hyperthyroidism is a condition caused by excessive hormone production or ingestion of thyroxine (thyroid hormone). Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include weight loss, rapid heart rate, tremors, increased bowel movement, and sensitivity to heat (209).
Hypothyroidism is the opposite of hyperthyroidism because it’s a condition caused by low thyroxine production (213). The symptoms of hypothyroidism also follow an inverse pattern to hyperthyroidism, such as a slower rate of metabolism (i.e., weight gain), lower heart rate, sensitivity to cold, constipation, thinning hair, and more.
There’s also a big difference between what causes hypothyroidism versus hyperthyroidism. For instance, Grave’s disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, although it can also occur from thyroiditis (‘inflammation of the thyroid’) or hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules.
In contrast, the onset of hypothyroidism can occur from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hyperthyroid treatments (e.g., radioactive iodine or levothyroxine), thyroid surgery, radiation therapy, medications, or even other autoimmune illnesses. Iodine deficiency, pregnancy, congenital diseases, or issues with the pituitary gland are less common sources of hypothyroidism.
If you’re interested in learning more about hypo- or hyperthyroidism, it’s best to seek medical advice from a doctor–– not a grammarian. But if you need a few leads on how to use these terms in a sentence, we’ve got you covered.
*P.S.: We highly recommend reading the American Thyroid Association’s informative brochures about different thyroid disorders and treatments.
If you enjoy learning the grammatical nuances of the healthcare terminology, check out the following articles from The Word Counter:
The prefix hypo- is, in fact, found in the word hypochondria, which Lexico defines as “[an] abnormal anxiety about one’s health, especially with an unwarranted fear that one has a serious disease.” The noun’s meaning departs from our traditional understanding of hypo-, where Greek hupo- means ‘under.’
However, the noun “hypochondria” actually originated from Greek hupokhondria, meaning ‘under the sternal cartilage.’ The theory behind the term is fairly ironic, as the meaning stems from the belief that a hypochondriac’s anxiety arose from their liver and spleen.
Test how well you understand the difference between hyper and hypo with the following multiple-choice questions.
Answers
