nephr-

1. variant of nephro- before a vowel.

   nephralgia.

When To Use

What does nephr- mean?

Nephr- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “kidney.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy and pathology.Nephr- comes from the Greek nephrós, meaning “kidney, kidneys.” The Latin word for kidney is rēnēs, yielding such English words as renal.Nephr- is a variant of nephro-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use nephro- article.