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Melano- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “black, dark-colored.” In biology and medicine, melano- is specifically used to refer to melanin, “any of a class of insoluble pigments, found in all forms of animal life, that account for the dark color of skin, hair, fur, scales, feathers, etc.”

Melano- comes from the Greek ��é�����, meaning “black.” The word melancholy is also derived in part from this root.

What does the Greek word for black have to do with a gloomy state of mind? Discover the connection at our entry and video for melancholy.

What are variants of melano-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, melano- becomes melan-, as in melanin.

One medical term that uses the combining form melano- is melanoglossia, a condition known as “black tongue” and caused by a buildup of such things as dead cells and bacteria on the tongue. (Brush your teeth!)

The beginning of the word, melano-, means “black,” as we’ve seen. The second part of the word, –glossia, comes from the Greek ����ô������, meaning “tongue.” Melanoglossia literally translates to “black tongue.” Learn more about –glossia at our entry for glossa.

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

• melanoblast
• melanocyte
• melanocytoma
• melanodermatitis
• melanoleukoderma
• melanophage

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

• megalo-
• myelo-

Melanoblastoma is a type of skin tumor. Based on the meaning of melano-, would you expect a melanoblastoma to be light or dark in color?