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Rhodo- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “rose” or “rose-colored,” i.e., “pink” or “red.” It is used in some medical and scientific terms, including in biology and geology.

Rhodo- comes from the Greek ����ó��Dz� meaning “rose.” If this Greek root sounds familiar, it might be because it helps form the word rhododendron, a kind of shrub with pink and other colored flowers. Rhododendron literally translates to “rose tree” in Greek.

And while its ultimate origin is unclear, some scholars have connected the name of the Greek island of Rhodes, whose ancient harbor was home to the wondrous bronze statue known as the Colossus of Rhodes, to the Greek ����ó��Dz�, “rose.”

What are variants of rhodo-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, rhodo- becomes rhod–, as in rhodamine.

The combining form rhodo- is featured in the word rhodolite, meaning “a rose or reddish-violet garnet, similar to pyrope, used as a gem.”

Natural Oval Cut Loose Rhodolite Garnet

— Gandhara Gemstones (@gandaraheritage)

The first part of the word, rhodo-, means “rose,” which here is referring to the color of this precious mineral. The second combining form, –lite, ultimately comes from the Greek ��í�ٳ�Dz�, meaning “stone,” and is used to name minerals and fossils. Putting it all back together, rhodolite literally translates to “rose stone.”

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

• rhodochrosite (using the equivalent form of rhodo- in Greek)
• rhodogenesis
• rhodonite (from German Rhodonit)
• rhodophylaxis

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

• rhizo-
• rhino-

Rhodopsin (which features the variant rhod-) is a light-sensitive pigment found in the eyes of humans and many other animals. It allows many organisms to see in dim lighting. Drawing on the meaning of rhodo-, what color is this pigment?