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The combining form -phobia is used like a suffix meaning “fear.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in psychology and biology.

The form -phobia comes from Greek ���ó���Dz�, meaning “fear” or “panic.” The Latin translation is timor, “fear,” which is the source of words such as timid and timorous.

What are variants of –phobia?

While -phobia doesn’t have any variants, it is related to two other combining forms: -phobic and -phobe. Want to know more? Check out our �������t¶��s that Use articles for each form.

An example of a word you may have encountered that features -phobia ������agoraphobia, “an irrational or disproportionate fear of being in crowds, public places, or open areas.”

The agora- part of the word comes from Greek �����ǰ���́, meaning “assembly” or “marketplace.” And -phobia means “fear,” as we’ve seen. So, agoraphobia literally translates to “fear of the marketplace.”

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

• arachnophobia
• cainotophobia
• claustrophobia
• hydrophobia
• necrophobia
• teratophobia
• thanatophobia

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

• -phone
• -phony
• -phore

The combining form hydro- means “water.” With this in mind, what does the scientific term hydrophobia mean in everyday language?