What it means
The beginning of words for something that is faster than normal. tachycardiatak-ih-KAR-dee-uhA heart rate faster than normal; in an adult, more than 100 beats per minute.tachy- fastcardi/o heart-ia conditionFull entry is a fast heart rate, over 100 beats per minute in an adult; tachypneatak-ip-NEE-uhA breathing rate faster than normal, above 20 breaths per minute in an adult.tachy- fast-pnea breathingFull entry is fast breathing. Its opposite is brady-, meaning slow.
Remember it
Tachy- like a tachometer, the gauge that shows how fast an engine is turning.
Easy to confuse with
brady-
A word beginning that means slow.
Related terms
tachycardia
A heart rate faster than normal; in an adult, more than 100 beats per minute.
tachypnea
A breathing rate faster than normal, above 20 breaths per minute in an adult.
brady-
A word beginning that means slow.