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The combining form –emia is used like a suffix to denote an abnormal blood condition, especially the presence of a certain kind of substance in the blood that causes disease. It is used in many medical terms, especially in pathology.

The form -emia ultimately comes from the Greek ��î����, meaning “blood.” �Ჹî���� is the same Greek root that gives us the combining form hemo- meaning “blood,” as in hemoblast.

Variants of hemo- (and closely related to -emia) are haem-, haema-, haemo-, haemat-, haemato-, hem-, hema-, hemat-, and hemato-. Learn more about their specific applications at our �������t¶��s That Use articles for the forms.

What are variants of -emia?

The spelling –aemia is a chiefly British English variant of -emia.

When combined with words or word elements ending with -p, -t, or -k, -emia becomes -hemia, as in thrombocythemia, or, in British English, -haemia ().

In pathology, anemia is a deficiency of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to tissue in the body. This condition can result in feeling weak and having a pale color. Figuratively, anemia refers to a lack of vitality or oomph, often appearing in its adjective form, anemic.

The first part of the word, an-, means “not,” “without,” or “lacking.” The -emia part of the word, as we’ve seen, concerns blood. Anemia literally translates to “lacking blood.”

The word anemia comes from the Greek an�������, which uses the equivalent forms of an- and -emia in the language.

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

• cholemia
• cholesterolemia
• copremia
• erythremia
• fibremia
• fructosemia
• galactosemia
• glycemia
• hydremia
• hyperemia
• hyperglycemia
• hypoglycemia
• ischemia
• inosemia
• leukemia (from German ����ܰ�ä������)
• levulosemia
• ketonemia
• oligemia
• pyemia (using the equivalent form of -emia in New Latin)
• sapremia
• uremia
• viremia

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

• -ensis
• -esis
• -eum

Many other words end in the letters -emia, such as academia and Bohemia, but are not using it as a combining form to denote a blood condition. Study up on their wandering ways at our entries for the words.

Treating diabetes can result in hypoglycemia, the abnormally low level of glucose in the blood. Hypo- means “under, below normal.” Glyc- refers to “sugar” and “glucose.” What does hypoglycemia literally translate to?