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Thalasso– is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “sea.” It is occasionally used in a variety of scientific and technical terms.

Thalasso– comes from Greek �ٳ�á����������, meaning “sea.” The Latin translation of �ٳ�á���������� is mare, also meaning “sea,” which is the source of words such as marine and maritime. Check out our entries for both words to learn more.

What are variants of thalasso-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, thalasso– becomes thalass-, as in thalassic.

An example of a technical term that features thalasso– is thalassocrat, “a nation that has dominion over the seas.”

We know thalasso– means “sea,” and the –crat portion of the word refers to “ruler,” from Greek –�������ŧ��. Thalassocrat literally translates to “sea ruler.”

What are some words that use the combining form thalasso– or thalass-?

• thalassaemia (using the equivalent form of thalass– in Latin)
• thalassemia
• thalassocracy
• thalassography
• thalassotherapy

What are some other forms that thalasso– may be commonly confused with?

• thalamo-
• thallo-

The combining form –graphy is used to denote a process of drawing, representing, or recording. With this in mind, what is the practice of thalassography?