-ology (English)
Where does "-ology" come from?
The English suffix '-ology' is formed by combining the interconsonantal vowel '-o-' with the suffix '-logy'[1]. It serves as an alternative form of '-logy' for phonological reasons when a preceding morpheme ends in specific consonant sounds[1], and it can also be added to ordinary English words to create names for fields of study[1].
Full etymology tree
- -ology (English), 'Alternative form of -logy, used for phonological reasons when the preceding morpheme ends in certain consonant sounds.'
- compound -o- (English), 'A linking vowel inserted interconsonantally between two morphemes, to ease pronunciation, without contributing to the meaning. It frequently joins words or combining forms of Ancient Greek or Classical Latin origin in the classical compounds of New Latin and international scientific vocabulary, but it can also be used to join modern terms and even abbreviations, either formally or informally.'
- compound -logy (English), 'A branch of learning; a study of a particular subject.'
Ancestors
- -o- (English)
- -logy (English)
Sources
Updated August 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris