The prefix dys means:

The prefix dys means:

• A. difficult or painful
• B. easy
• C. new
• D. fast

Answer: (A)

The prefix dys- signals that something is abnormal, difficult, or painful. In medical terms, attaching dys- to a root word describes a condition that is off normal and often troublesome. For example, dysphagia means difficulty swallowing, dyspnea means difficult breathing, and dysuria means painful or difficult urination. Because of this meaning, the option that describes “difficult or painful” best fits the prefix dys-. The other ideas don’t match the sense of dys-: easy would be the opposite, and new or fast aren’t related to the abnormal, painful, or difficult nuance that dys- conveys.

The prefix dys- signals that something is abnormal, difficult, or painful. In medical terms, attaching dys- to a root word describes a condition that is off normal and often troublesome. For example, dysphagia means difficulty swallowing, dyspnea means difficult breathing, and dysuria means painful or difficult urination. Because of this meaning, the option that describes “difficult or painful” best fits the prefix dys-.

The other ideas don’t match the sense of dys-: easy would be the opposite, and new or fast aren’t related to the abnormal, painful, or difficult nuance that dys- conveys.