before vowels nephr-, word-forming element meaning "kidney, kidneys," from Greek nephros "a kidney" (plural nephroi), from PIE *negwhro- "kidney" (source also of Latin nefrones, Old Norse nyra, Dutch nier, German Niere "kidney").
nephew
Nephilim
nephrectomy
nephridium
nephritis
nephro-
nephrolithiasis
nephrology
nephron
nepotism
Neptune