List of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names
ImbricataMinutaTinctoriaErectaGiganteumAngolensisGlossary of scientific namesAmericanumVulgareAromatica
This list of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names is intended to help those unfamiliar with classical languages to understand and remember the scientific names of organisms.wikipedia
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Latin
Latin languageLat.la
The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants is largely derived from Latin and Greek words, as are some of the names used for higher taxa, such as orders and above.
In particular, Latin (and Ancient Greek) roots are used in English descriptions of theology, the sciences, medicine, and law.









Binomial nomenclature
scientific namebinomial namebinomial authority
The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants is largely derived from Latin and Greek words, as are some of the names used for higher taxa, such as orders and above.





Glossary of scientific naming
ex errorenomen vanumnomen suppressum
For proper parts of the names themselves, see glossary of scientific names.
List of Latin words with English derivatives
List of English words of Latin originLatinLatin words
List of Greek and Latin roots in English
Greek rootGreek rootsGreek and Latin roots in English
List of commonly used taxonomic affixes
used in taxonomyeu-in taxonomy
Classical language
classical languagesclassicalclassics
This list of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names is intended to help those unfamiliar with classical languages to understand and remember the scientific names of organisms.
Animal
Animaliaanimalsmetazoa
The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants is largely derived from Latin and Greek words, as are some of the names used for higher taxa, such as orders and above.









Plant
Plantaeplantsflora
The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants is largely derived from Latin and Greek words, as are some of the names used for higher taxa, such as orders and above.









Greek language
GreekAncient GreekModern Greek
The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants is largely derived from Latin and Greek words, as are some of the names used for higher taxa, such as orders and above.






Taxon
taxagrouppolytypic
The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants is largely derived from Latin and Greek words, as are some of the names used for higher taxa, such as orders and above.

Order (biology)
ordersuborderorders
The binomial nomenclature used for animals and plants is largely derived from Latin and Greek words, as are some of the names used for higher taxa, such as orders and above.

Carl Linnaeus
LinnaeusL.Carl von Linné
At the time when biologist Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) published the books that are now accepted as the starting point of binomial nomenclature, Latin was used in Western Europe as the common language of science, and scientific names were in Latin or Greek: Linnaeus continued this practice.








Western Europe
WesternWestern EuropeanWest European
At the time when biologist Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) published the books that are now accepted as the starting point of binomial nomenclature, Latin was used in Western Europe as the common language of science, and scientific names were in Latin or Greek: Linnaeus continued this practice.



Classics
classicistclassical scholarclassical
Although Latin is now largely unused except by classical scholars, or for certain purposes in botany, medicine and the Roman Catholic Church, it can still be found in scientific names.






Botany
botanistbotanicalplant biology
Although Latin is now largely unused except by classical scholars, or for certain purposes in botany, medicine and the Roman Catholic Church, it can still be found in scientific names.









Catholic Church
Roman CatholicCatholicRoman Catholic Church
Although Latin is now largely unused except by classical scholars, or for certain purposes in botany, medicine and the Roman Catholic Church, it can still be found in scientific names.









Chimpanzee
chimpanzeescommon chimpanzeePan troglodytes
For instance Pan troglodytes, the chimpanzee, and Troglodytes troglodytes, the wren, are not necessarily cave-dwellers.









Eurasian wren
wrenwrensTroglodytes troglodytes
For instance Pan troglodytes, the chimpanzee, and Troglodytes troglodytes, the wren, are not necessarily cave-dwellers.








Genus
generageneric namegeneric
Sometimes a genus name or specific descriptor is simply the Latin or Greek name for the animal (e.g. Canis is Latin for dog).

Species
specificspecific epithetspecific name
Sometimes a genus name or specific descriptor is simply the Latin or Greek name for the animal (e.g. Canis is Latin for dog).









Lemma (morphology)
lemmacitation formdictionary form
Adjectives vary according to gender, and in most cases only the lemma form (nominative singular masculine form) is listed here.
Nominative case
nominativenom.NOM
Adjectives vary according to gender, and in most cases only the lemma form (nominative singular masculine form) is listed here.
Grammatical number
numbersingularnumbers
Adjectives vary according to gender, and in most cases only the lemma form (nominative singular masculine form) is listed here.