cancer
[ˈkaŋ.kɛr]masculine
The English word 'crab' is translated into Latin as cancer. Wiktionary also lists cancer marinus.
Meaning: crustacean (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | [ˈkaŋ.kɛr] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈkan̠ʲ.t͡ʃer] (narrow) |
masculine |
| cancer marinus | masculine |
The term cancer refers to the crustacean and is also used to denote the zodiac sign Cancer.
What does it mean word for word?
In the phrase cancer marinus, the adjective marinus means 'of the sea' or 'marine'.
Which one should you use?
While cancer is the general term, cancer marinus is used to specifically denote a crab of the sea.
Did you know?
- Ancient Roman writers like Celsus used cancer to describe tumors because the swollen veins around a growth looked like the legs of a cancer.
Examples in context
- Quid est cancer?What is a crab?This sentence is useful for asking for the identification of a cancer.Tatoeba #11155756 by carlosalberto, translation #11155747 by carlosalberto
- Cancer in aqua habitat.A crab lives in the water.
Example conversation
Quintus and Lucia are walking along the beach.
- QuintusLucia, vide illum cancrum!Lucia, look at that crab!
- LuciaUbi est cancer, Quinte?Where is the crab, Quintus?
- QuintusEst sub illo saxo.It is under that rock.
- LuciaIterum fugit!It is fleeing again!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crab” translations and entries cancer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cancer, marinus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
