[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/hypo/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [H](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/h/) / hypo

# hypo

noun (a hypo, hypos — informal, short form)

«hypo» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (informal, health) A hypo is a short word for hypoglycaemia: when the sugar in a person's blood, especially someone with diabetes, falls too low, making them shaky, sweaty, pale or confused. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hypo/#m1)
2. (informal) Hypo can be short for a hypodermic needle (a syringe). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hypo/#m2)
3. As a prefix, «hypo-» means «under» or «below», as in «hypothermia» (body too cold). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hypo/#m3)

### In the lessons

In everyday safety, if a friend with diabetes says «I'm having a hypo», they need fast sugar such as juice or sweets straight away, and an adult should be told. In science, the prefix «hypo-» appears in words like hypothermia and hypothesis. Common phrases: «have a hypo», «hypo treatment», «hypo kit», «going hypo».

### Examples

- Lily felt shaky and said she was having a hypo. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hypo/#x1)
- Her hypo kit has jelly sweets and juice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hypo/#x2)
- When someone has a hypo, give them sugar quickly and tell a teacher. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hypo/#x3)
- He keeps glucose tablets in his bag in case of a hypo. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hypo/#x4)
- Hypothermia means the body is too cold — «hypo» means under. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hypo/#x5)
- The nurse explained what a hypo feels like. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hypo/#x6)

### Note

Plural: hypos. Informal clipped word (UK, Australia, New Zealand especially). The full word is spelled «hypoglycaemia» (UK) or «hypoglycemia» (USA). The opposite, high blood sugar, is «hyperglycaemia» — «hyper-» means over. Trap: hypo = low, hyper = high.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «hypo» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hypo/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«hypo» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/hypo.html) on Mova free.