gynæc-

Etymology
From the, stem of.

Prefix

 * 1) woman, female

Usage notes

 * When combined with a word or another affix which begins with a consonant, this prefix concatenates with (as ).
 * This prefix has so many variant forms because its etymon (γυναικ-) contains three spelling elements subject to different transcription conventions:
 * The alpha-iota diphthong (αι) is traditionally transcribed as or  — the Roman transcription. Variably, it is also reduced to  (especially in American English) or transcribed as, the latter being closer to the Greek (favoured in some academic circles).
 * Letters kappa (κ) are traditionally transcribed as, under Roman influence; however, some academics prefer , which is closer to the Greek. The latter affects pronunciation, effecting in place of  where κ precedes , , , , or ; in practice, this only affects the rare variant.
 * Upsila (υ) are traditionally transcribed as, owing to the Romans’ desire to distinguish its sound (, later ) in their Grecogenous words from the sound of the native Ⅴ . Some, especially in academic circles, prefer to transcribe the upsilon as , since phonologically is closer than  to ῠ and  is closer than  to ῡ.
 * Because the υ in γῠναικ- is short, the initial is the Grecian gamma (γ), and αι is a diphthong, this prefix’s etymology suggests that the  be hard, the  pronounced as a short vowel, and the  pronounced as a long vowel; i.e., probably as * . However, whereas the  is indeed usually pronounced hard (as, not ), contrary to the etymology, the  is usually pronounced long and the  usually pronounced short.

Derived terms

 * gynæcoid pelvis
 * gynæcological →
 * gynæcologically
 * gynæcologist
 * gynæcophoric
 * gynæcological →
 * gynæcologically
 * gynæcologist
 * gynæcophoric
 * gynæcophoric
 * gynæcophoric
 * gynæcophoric
 * gynæcophoric
 * gynæcophoric
 * gynæcophoric

Related terms

 * gynæcocrat
 * gynæcocratic
 * gynæcocratical
 * gynæcocrat
 * gynæcocratic
 * gynæcocratical
 * gynæcocratical