How Do You Spell CERBERUS?

Pronunciation: [sˈɜːbəɹəs] (IPA)

The word "Cerberus" is often misspelled due to its complex phonetics. Its IPA transcription, \ˈsɜːrbərəs\, reveals that the emphasized syllable is "ber," pronounced as /bɜːr/. The word also contains a tricky combination of consonant sounds, including the voiceless fricative /s/ and the voiced bilabial fricative /b/. To avoid misspelling, it is crucial to practice pronouncing and memorizing the correct phonetic transcription. Cerberus is a mythical three-headed dog that guards the underworld in Greek mythology.

CERBERUS Meaning and Definition

  1. Cerberus is a noun that refers to a mythical creature in Greek mythology. In Greek mythology, Cerberus is depicted as a three-headed dog with a serpent tail, guarding the gates of the Underworld. The name "Cerberus" derives from the Greek word "kerberos," meaning "spotted."

    With its fierce and menacing appearance, Cerberus plays a crucial role in Greek mythology as the guardian of the Underworld, preventing the living from entering and the dead from escaping. Its three heads symbolize its ability to see everything that occurs in the realm of the dead. It is said that each of Cerberus' mouths possesses razor-sharp fangs capable of inflicting immense pain.

    According to myth, Cerberus was the offspring of the monster Echidna and the giant Typhon. Its encounter with the hero Hercules during the latter's twelfth labor is among its most famous tales. Hercules successfully overpowered Cerberus, subduing the creature, and allowing him to capture and bring it back to the surface world as one of his tasks set by King Eurystheus.

    Beyond its mythical context, the term "cerberus" can be used metaphorically to describe someone or something that is a steadfast and vigilant guardian or sentry. It can also represent an obstacle or challenge that prevents progress or success.

Top Common Misspellings for CERBERUS *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for CERBERUS

Etymology of CERBERUS

The word "Cerberus" originates from ancient Greek mythology. It is derived from the Greek word "Κέρβερος" (Kérberos), which was the name given to the three-headed dog that guarded the gates of the Underworld in Greek mythology. The exact etymology of the word is debated, but it is commonly believed that it can be traced back to the Greek word "κέρβερος" (kérberos) meaning "spotted" or "spotted dog". This word in turn might have its roots in an ancient Proto-Indo-European word *ḱerh₂- which means "spotted", "striped", or "variegated".

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