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 notesIn plain EnglishThe mythical ferryman of the dead, and the name of Pluto's largest moon.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Charon.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Charons
Fill the gap
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."
Class of 1978
Charon joined the language around 1978.
See the full Class of 1978 →
Synonyms
View more →
⯕
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include Charon:
