-phobia/-phile

forms names for intense fears or aversions, or for people and feelings marked by strong fondness

Spelled -phobia, -phobic, -phile, -philia · phobos 'fear,' philos 'loving, dear,' and philia 'love, friendship'

Greek phobos meant fear and philos loving: claustrophobia dreads enclosed rooms, while a bibliophile and an Anglophile are drawn toward books and England.

Words built from it

claustrophobia — an intense fear of enclosed spaces
claustro- (enclosed space) + -phobia (intense fear)
xenophobia — fear or dislike of foreigners or unfamiliar cultures
xeno- (stranger or foreigner) + -phobia (fear or aversion)
agoraphobia — an intense fear of situations where escape may feel difficult
agora- (public gathering place) + -phobia (intense fear)
bibliophile — a person who loves or collects books
biblio- (book) + -phile (lover of)
Anglophile — a person who strongly admires English or British culture
Anglo- (English or British) + -phile (lover of)
audiophile — a person deeply interested in high-quality sound reproduction
audio- (sound) + -phile (lover of)

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Related word parts

phil — love