It's commonly used in English to create words that indicate a love for or a fondness of something.
Here are some examples:
* Philology: The study of language and literature.
* Philosopher: A person who loves wisdom and seeks knowledge.
* Philatelist: A person who collects stamps.
* Philodendron: A type of plant, literally meaning "tree-loving."
* Philadelphia: A city in Pennsylvania, named by William Penn, meaning "brotherly love."
So, when you see "Phil-" at the beginning of a word, it generally means the word relates to something the person is fond of or passionate about.