Understanding word parts like techno-, -phobe, and -phile

It is easy to figure out what these words mean if we look at their individual parts. The word technophobe is made up of techno +  phobe, and technophile is made up of techno + phile.

Techno probably seems familiar to you already. It is a short form of technology, which refers to the use of science and engineering for practical purposes, often involving computers.

A phobe is a person who has a specific fear of something, as in arachnophobe, a person (like me!) who is afraid of spiders.

A phile is close to the opposite, someone who likes something very much, as in Anglophile, a person who loves England and English things.

Once you understand techno, phobe, and phile, it is easy to guess that a technophobe is someone who is afraid of using technology (usually computers and other digital devices), and a technophile is the opposite, someone who loves technology (again, usually digital devices).

Knowing the meanings of techno, phobe, and phile will also help you understand lots of other words, such as these three:

• technocrat: a scientist or technical expert who has a lot of power in politics or industry
• audiophile: a person who cares a lot about high-quality sound reproduction
• germophobe:  a person who has an abnormal fear of germs

Also, note that all of these nouns can be changed to adjectives, by adding the adjective ending –ic at the end, like this:

• technocratic: of, relating to, a technocrat or technocracy 
• anglophilic: of, or relating to, a person who loves England and English things
• germophobic: of, or relating to, a person who has an abnormal fear of germs