कर्कट
karkaṭa/kɐɾ.kɐ.ʈɐ/masculine
The Sanskrit word for "crab" is कर्कट (karkaṭa).
कर्कट is a noun used to refer to the crustacean known as a crab.
Meaning: crustacean (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word कर्कट is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced karkaṭa. It has three syllables.
Did you know?
- In Vedic astrology, कर्कट is the name for the zodiac sign of Cancer. It is associated with the moon and represents a specific period of the lunar calendar.
- As the name of the zodiac sign, कर्कट lives on in many Indian languages, where Cancer is still called Karka or Karkataka.
- The word कर्कट may not actually be an ancient Indo-Aryan word, but instead comes from a 'substrate language' that existed in India before Sanskrit was spread.
Examples in context
- कर्कटं पश्यामि।I see a crab.
- तत्र एकः कर्कटः अस्ति।tatra ekaḥ karkaṭaḥ asti.There is a crab there.
- कर्कटः जलमध्ये वसति।karkaṭaḥ jalamadhye vasati.The crab lives in the water.
- कर्कटः विलक्षणः अस्ति।karkaṭaḥ vilakṣaṇaḥ asti.The crab is unique.
Example conversation
Aryan and Mira are walking on the beach.
- मीरा Miraआर्यन, तत्र पश्यतु!Āryan, tatra paśyatu!Aryan, look over there!
- आर्यन Aryanकिं तत्र कर्कटः अस्ति?kiṃ tatra karkaṭaḥ asti?Is there a crab there?
- मीरा Miraआम्, लघुः कर्कटः अस्ति।ām, laghuḥ karkaṭaḥ asti.Yes, there is a small crab.
- आर्यन Aryanसः अति सुन्दरः अस्ति।saḥ ati sundaraḥ asti.It is very beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crab” translations and entries कर्कट, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries कर्कट, CC BY-SA 4.0.
