Tele- is a prefix from Greek meaning “far” or “distant” that attaches to the beginning of words. It tells you that whatever follows involves distance or reaching across space.

You see tele- everywhere in modern life. A telephone lets you hear someone's voice from far away. Television brings you pictures from distant places. When you use a telescope, you're seeing distant objects in the sky up close. A telegram was a message sent over long distances before email.

The prefix shows up in newer words too. Telecommuting means working from home instead of going to an office miles away. Telemedicine lets doctors treat patients without being in the same room. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many students experienced telelearning, attending school remotely through video calls.

Notice how tele- always carries that same basic meaning of bridging distance. Whether you're telephoning your grandmother across the country or using a telephoto lens to photograph a bird far away, you're using technology to overcome the barrier of space.