Hyper or Hypo? It’s All Greek to Me!

Difference Between Hyper and Hypo

Today, we will learn about two words: hyper and hypo. They look alike, but they are very different. Let’s understand more about these words.

History

Hyper comes from Greek. It means “over” or “above.” Hypo also comes from Greek and means “under” or “below.”

How to Use Them

You use hyper when you want to say something is too much. Use hypo when you want to say something is too little.

Examples of Hyper

• She is hyperactive; she cannot sit still.
• The dog was hyper and jumped everywhere.
• He has hypertension, meaning his blood pressure is too high.
• The speaker likes to hyperbolize his stories; he makes them sound grander.
• Some kids get hyperexcited during birthdays.

Examples of Hypo

• She has hypothermia because she was out in the cold too long.
• Hypoglycemia means having too little sugar in your blood.
• The turtle stays in a hypoactive state during winter.
• Hypotension means low blood pressure.
• Some animals undergo hypometabolism in cold weather.

Trick to Remember the Difference

Think of hyper as higher – more of something. Think of hypo as lower – less of something.

Summary

Hyper means more of something. Examples are hyperactive and hypertension. Hypo means less of something. Examples are hypothermia and hypoglycemia. Remember, hyper is higher, hypo is lower.