krab pustelnik
/ˈkrap pusˈtɛl.ɲik/word by wordmasculine
In Polish, the English phrase 'hermit crab' is translated as krab pustelnik. Wiktionary also lists rak pustelnik and pustelnik.
Meaning: crustacean (noun)
Ways to say it
| Polish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| krab pustelnik | /ˈkrap pusˈtɛl.ɲik/ (word by word) | masculine |
| rak pustelnik | /ˈrak pusˈtɛl.ɲik/ (word by word) | masculine |
| pustelnik | /pusˈtɛl.ɲik/ | masculine |
The term refers to the crustacean known as the hermit crab.
Which one should you use?
krab pustelnik is a common way to name the animal. You can also use rak pustelnik, which substitutes the word for crab with a word for crayfish or crab. Additionally, pustelnik can be used alone to refer to the hermit crab in certain contexts, though this word more commonly refers to a human hermit.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkrap pusˈtɛl.ɲik/. The first of three syllables is stressed.
Did you know?
- In Polish, the word rak can refer to a crayfish, a crab or even a cancer tumor.
- The word pustelnik is derived from pusty, which means 'empty'. This reflects the animal's habit of living in 'empty' shells.
- If you use only the word pustelnik, a Polish person will likely picture a lonely man in a desert rather than a sea creature.
Examples in context
- Widziałeś tamtego dużego kraba pustelnika na plaży?Have you seen that big hermit crab on the beach?
- Opowiem ci historię o malutkim krabiku pustelniczym, który podróżował przez morza i oceany…Let me tell you a story about a tiny hermit crab that journeyed through seas and oceans…
Example conversation
Krzysztof and Anna are visiting an aquarium.
- KrzysztofPopatrz, tam jest krab pustelnik!Look, there is a hermit crab!
- AnnaOjej, jaka on ma ładna muszla.Oh, what a beautiful shell it has.
- KrzysztofKrab pustelnik zmienia muszle, gdy urośnie.A hermit crab changes shells when it grows.
- AnnaTo jest naprawdę fascynujące, Krzysztofie.That is really fascinating, Krzysztof.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hermit crab” translations and entries pustelnik, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (krab, pustelnik, rak) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries krab, pustelnik, rak, CC BY-SA 4.0.
