paguro
/paˈɡu.ro/masculine
The Italian word for hermit crab is paguro. Wiktionary also lists bernardo l’eremita.
Meaning: crustacean (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| paguro | /paˈɡu.ro/ | masculine |
| bernardo l’eremita | masculine |
The term refers to the crustacean known in English as a hermit crab.
Which one should you use?
paguro is the standard and most common term for a hermit crab, whereas bernardo l’eremita is a more descriptive or playful alternative.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of paguro is paguri.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /paˈɡu.ro/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The Greek origin of paguro relates to 'bare' or 'naked', a nod to the crab's habit of seeking 'clothing' in shells.
- The phrase bernardo l’eremita gives the crab a human first name. 'Bernardo' is a traditional Italian name and 'eremita' means 'hermit'.
- The term paguro is used strictly for the hermit crab, whereas other crabs are simply called granchio.
Examples in context
- Bene, abbiamo vari crostacei, tra cui il granchio eremita.Well, we have various crustaceans, including the hermit crab.
- Certo! E magari incontriamo qualche bel granchio paguro lungo la riva.Of course! And maybe we'll come across some lovely hermit crabs along the shore.
- Ho visto un piccolo paguro sulla spiaggia.I saw a small hermit crab on the beach.
- Il paguro vive dentro una conchiglia.The hermit crab lives inside a seashell.
- Attento, quel paguro si muove velocemente!Watch out, that hermit crab is moving fast!
Example conversation
Sofia and Lorenzo are walking along the shore during their vacation.
- SofiaLorenzo, guarda quel paguro vicino alla pietra!Lorenzo, look at that hermit crab near the rock!
- LorenzoÈ davvero piccolo e molto strano.It is really small and very strange.
- SofiaVuoi prenderlo con il tuo secchiello?Do you want to catch it with your bucket?
- LorenzoNo, preferisco lasciarlo stare qui.No, I prefer to leave it here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hermit crab” translations and entries paguro, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
