Learn Greek › B1 › καρκίνος
καρκίνος
crab /karˈkinos/
nounB1#1090 most common
Also: cancer (the disease), Cancer (zodiac sign)
Example sentences
Ο καρκίνος ζει στη θάλασσα.
The crab lives in the sea.
Είδα έναν καρκίνο στην παραλία.
I saw a crab on the beach.
Ο γιατρός του είπε ότι έχει καρκίνο.
The doctor told him he has cancer.
Ο καρκίνος του πνεύμονα είναι πολύ σοβαρή ασθένεια.
Lung cancer is a very serious disease.
Το ζώδιο του Καρκίνου αντιστοιχεί σε όσους γεννιούνται τον Ιούνιο και τον Ιούλιο.
The zodiac sign Cancer corresponds to those born in June and July.
Η έγκαιρη διάγνωση του καρκίνου αυξάνει σημαντικά τις πιθανότητες επιβίωσης.
Early diagnosis of cancer significantly increases the chances of survival.
Declension
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ο καρκίνος | οι καρκίνοι |
| Genitive | του καρκίνου | των καρκίνων |
| Accusative | τον καρκίνο | τους καρκίνους |
| Vocative | καρκίνε | καρκίνοι |
Word family
καρκίνωμαcarcinoma, a cancerous tumor
καρκινικόςcancerous, relating to cancer
καρκινοπαθήςcancer patient
καρκινογόνοςcarcinogenic, cancer-causing
καρκινοβατώto crawl sideways like a crab, to act in a roundabout way
Etymology
Καρκίνος comes from Ancient Greek karkínos, meaning crab. Ancient physicians, including Hippocrates, applied the same word to tumors, because the swollen veins around a growth looked like the legs of a crab. Latin borrowed the same image separately in the word cancer. The Greek word also named the zodiac constellation Cancer, again from its crab shape.
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