سَرَطَان
saraṭānmasculine
The English word "crab" is translated into Arabic as سَرَطَان (saraṭān) or سَلْطَعون.
Meaning: crustacean (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| سَرَطَان | saraṭān | masculine |
| سَلْطَعون | salṭaʕūn | masculine |
Both terms refer to the crustacean known as a crab.
Which one should you use?
سَرَطَان is a formal term used to denote a crab, whereas سَلْطَعون is another masculine form for the same animal.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is saraṭān.
When do people say it?
To specify a sea crab using the formal term, you can say سَرَطَان الْبَحْر, which adds الْبَحْر (of the sea) to سَرَطَان.
Did you know?
- The Arabic word سَرَطَان is also the medical term for 'cancer'. This is because ancient physicians thought the swollen veins of a tumor looked like the legs of a سَرَطَان.
- While سَرَطَان is the formal term, many Arabic dialects use the word كابوريا for crab. This regional term is believed to have been borrowed from Italian or Spanish sailors during the colonial era.
- The zodiac sign 'Cancer' is called بُرْج السَرَطَان in Arabic. This translates literally as the 'Tower of the Crab'.
Example sentences for Arabic are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Layla and Youssef are looking at a tide pool.
- ليلى Laylaانظر يا يوسف، هناك سَرَطَان!Unzur ya Youssef, hunaka saratan!Look Youssef, there is a crab!
- يوسف Youssefأين؟ لا أراه.Ayna? La arahu.Where? I don't see it.
- ليلى Laylaإنه يختبئ تحت الصخرة.Innahu yakhtabi'u tahta al-sakhra.It is hiding under the rock.
- يوسف Youssefأوه، هذا السَرَطَان جميل جداً.Oh, hadha al-saratan jameelun jiddan.Oh, this crab is very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crab” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
