What does the word "part rrhea" mean? The medical meaning of the suffix -rrhea

September 21, 2025 •

3 min read

Over half of all medical terms can be broken down into prefixes, roots, and suffixes to determine their meaning, but sometimes a term is misspelled. While there is no official medical word part 'part rrhea,' it is a common misspelling of the suffix '-rrhea,' which denotes flow or discharge.

Quick Summary

The word 'part rrhea' is an incorrect term that likely refers to the medical suffix '-rrhea,' which originates from Greek and means 'flow' or 'discharge,' as found in words like diarrhea and rhinorrhea.

Key Points

The correct suffix: The term 'part rrhea' is a misspelling of the medical suffix '-rrhea,' which means 'flow' or 'discharge'.
Greek origins: The suffix '-rrhea' is derived from the Greek word rhein, meaning 'to flow'.
Common examples: Diarrhea (frequent loose stools) and rhinorrhea (runny nose) are common medical terms using the '-rrhea' suffix.
Beyond flow: It's important to distinguish '-rrhea' from similar suffixes like '-rrhage' (excessive bleeding) and '-rrhaphy' (surgical repair).
Decode medical language: Understanding prefixes, roots, and suffixes allows for the interpretation of many medical terms and improves health literacy.
Context is key: If you encounter an unfamiliar term, breaking it down into its component parts or searching for its correct spelling is an effective way to determine its meaning.

Correcting the Misconception: The Suffix -rrhea

In medical terminology, precision is key. The term 'part rrhea' is not a valid medical term or word part. It is, however, an understandable phonetic mistake for the actual Greek-derived medical suffix -rrhea. This suffix is a crucial building block in describing conditions involving the flow or discharge of bodily fluids. Understanding this small but important distinction is the first step toward decoding complex medical terms and improving one's health literacy.

The Origin and Meaning of -rrhea

Originating from the Greek word rhein, meaning 'to flow,' the suffix -rrhea is used to indicate an abnormal or excessive flow or discharge. When you encounter a medical term ending in -rrhea, you know that the condition it describes is related to some form of flowing fluid. This could be anything from a runny nose to a serious intestinal issue, and the specific root word preceding the suffix tells you exactly which part of the body is affected.

Common Medical Terms Featuring -rrhea

Several common medical conditions use the -rrhea suffix. By learning these examples, you can more easily recognize and understand related terms. Here are some of the most prominent ones:

Diarrhea: Perhaps the most widely recognized term using this suffix, diarrhea is defined as the frequent passage of loose, watery stools. The prefix dia- means 'through,' so the word literally means 'to flow through' the bowels.
Rhinorrhea: Combining the root rhino- (meaning 'nose') with -rrhea results in the medical term for a runny nose, which is characterized by the flow of mucus. This is a very common symptom of colds and allergies.
Amenorrhea: This term describes the absence of menstruation in a woman of reproductive age. Here, the prefix a- signifies 'without' or 'absence,' and men refers to the month or menstrual cycle.
Gastrorrhea: While less common in everyday conversation, gastrorrhea is a term for the excessive secretion of gastric juice or mucus from the stomach. The root gastro- refers to the stomach.

Decoding Medical Words: Beyond -rrhea

Medical terminology is a fascinating language built on common principles. By understanding the core word parts, you can decipher the meaning of many unfamiliar words. For a comprehensive list of medical suffixes and their meanings, you can refer to authoritative resources like this guide from the Hunter Business School.

Related but Distinct Suffixes

It is important to differentiate -rrhea from other similar-sounding suffixes that have different meanings, especially those also featuring a double r. Knowing these differences can prevent serious misunderstandings when discussing medical issues. The following list highlights some of these key differentiations:

-rrhagia vs. -rrhea: Both refer to flow, but -rrhagia specifically denotes a rapid or excessive flow of blood. Hemorrhage, for example, means a bursting forth of blood, distinguishing it from a general fluid discharge.
-rrhaphy vs. -rrhea: This surgical suffix means 'suturing' or 'surgical repair'. It's used in terms like herniorrhaphy (surgical repair of a hernia) and has no relation to bodily discharge.

Suffix Comparison Table

To further clarify the distinctions, the table below provides a quick comparison of the most commonly confused 'rr' suffixes in medical terminology.


Suffix	Meaning	Example Term	Example Definition
-rrhea	Flow or discharge	Diarrhea	Frequent discharge from the bowels
-rrhage	Bursting forth (often blood)	Hemorrhage	Excessive loss of blood from a vessel
-rrhagia	Rapid or excessive flow of blood	Menorrhagia	Excessive menstrual bleeding
-rrhaphy	Surgical suturing or repair	Herniorrhaphy	Surgical repair of a hernia
-rrhexis	Rupture or bursting	Enterorrhexis	Rupture of the intestines

How to Verify Medical Terms

When in doubt about a medical term's meaning or spelling, it is always best to verify using reliable sources. Medical dictionaries, reputable health websites, and academic resources are excellent places to confirm your understanding. If a term like 'part rrhea' does not appear, you can often find the correct suffix by searching for the context in which you heard it, such as 'medical term for runny nose.'

Conclusion

While the search for the meaning of 'part rrhea' leads to a common spelling error, it provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the correct medical suffix -rrhea. This suffix, meaning 'flow' or 'discharge,' is a foundational part of medical language. By understanding its meaning and seeing it in common terms like diarrhea and rhinorrhea, you gain a valuable skill in interpreting medical terminology and can communicate more accurately about health matters. Always remember to cross-reference and verify medical terms for accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

The correct spelling is -rrhea, which is a medical suffix used at the end of words to indicate 'flow' or 'discharge.' The 'part' is simply a general term for a word part, not part of the suffix itself.

Not necessarily. While terms like diarrhea imply a problematic or excessive flow, other terms use it neutrally. For example, menorrhea simply means 'menstrual flow' and is a descriptive, not necessarily negative, term.

The suffix '-rrhea' indicates a general flow or discharge, while '-rrhage' specifically refers to a rapid or excessive flow of blood, as seen in the term 'hemorrhage'.

Yes. While '-rrhea' is the standard American English spelling, the British English variant is '-rrhoea.' Both carry the same meaning of 'flow' or 'discharge'.

Yes, several suffixes look similar but have distinct meanings, such as '-rrhaphy' (surgical repair), '-rrhexis' (rupture), and '-rrhagia' (rapid bleeding).

Knowing the meaning of '-rrhea' helps you decode and understand medical terminology. When you see a word like 'rhinorrhea,' you can infer that it involves a discharge from the nose, even if you've never heard the specific term before.

The word 'diarrhea' comes from the Greek prefix dia- meaning 'through' and the suffix -rrhea meaning 'flow.' Together, they signify a flow through the bowels.