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name

Charon

KEH-uh-ron

Charon (name) means In Greek mythology, the ferryman who carried the souls of the dead across the river Styx. Example: “The dead had to pay Charon a coin to cross into the underworld.”

name
1
In Greek mythology, the ferryman who carried the souls of the dead across the river Styx.
"The dead had to pay Charon a coin to cross into the underworld."
2
The largest moon of the dwarf planet Pluto.
"Charon is roughly half the diameter of Pluto itself."

How to use Charon

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe mythical ferryman of the dead, and the name of Pluto's largest moon.

Word forms

Charons plural

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Test yourself on “Charon” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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Can you complete this real example?

The dead had to pay _____ a coin to cross into the underworld.

Etymology

From Latin Charon, from Ancient Greek Kharon. The moon was named in 1978 by astronomer James Christy, partly after the mythological ferryman and partly after his wife Charlene, nicknamed "Char."

Origin: Ancient Greek · First attested 1978

Class of 1978 Charon joined the language around 1978.
See the full Class of 1978 →

Rhymes for Charon

See all rhymes for Charon →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Charon” mean?

The word “Charon” means in Greek mythology, the ferryman who carried the souls of the dead across the river Styx. In plain terms, the mythical ferryman of the dead, and the name of Pluto's largest moon.

How do you pronounce “Charon”?

“Charon” is pronounced KEH-uh-ron (/ˈkɛəɹən/ in IPA).

How do you use “Charon” in a sentence?

Here is “Charon” used in a sentence: “The dead had to pay Charon a coin to cross into the underworld.”

What is another word for “Charon”?

Words with a similar meaning to “Charon” include ⯕.

What part of speech is “Charon”?

“Charon” is a name.

Where does the word “Charon” come from?

The word “Charon” dates back to around 1978 and comes from Ancient Greek. From Latin Charon, from Ancient Greek Kharon. The moon was named in 1978 by astronomer James Christy, partly after the mythological ferryman and partly after his wife Charlene, nicknamed "Char.".

How many meanings does “Charon” have?

“Charon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in Greek mythology, the ferryman who carried the souls of the dead across the river Styx.

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