Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

caduceus

/kəˈdu.si.əs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.03 in modern English

Syllables
ca-duceus
IPA
/kəˈdu.si.əs/
13
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The official wand carried by a herald in ancient Greece and Rome, specifically the one carried in mythology by Hermes, the messenger of the gods, usually represented with two snakes twined around it.

noun

A symbol (☤) representing a staff with two snakes wrapped around it, used to indicate merchants and messengers. It is also sometimes incorrectly substituted for the rod of Asclepius as a symbol of medicine.

Example Sentences

Etymology

Via Latin cādūceus, cādūceum, adaptation of Doric Ancient Greek καρύκειον (karúkeion, “herald’s wand or staff”). This and Attic Greek κηρύκειον (kērúkeion) are derived from κῆρυξ (kêrux, “herald, public messenger”). Related to κηρύσσω (kērússō, “to announce”).

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /kəˈdu.si.əs/

Inflected Forms

caducei (plural)

Phrases

Aesculapian staff Star of Life

Frequently Paired Words

Aesculapian staff Star of Life

Synonyms

golden wand

Questions

How do you pronounce caduceus?
The recorded pronunciation is /kəˈdu.si.əs/.
What does caduceus mean?
The official wand carried by a herald in ancient Greece and Rome, specifically the one carried in mythology by Hermes, the messenger of the gods, usually represented with two snakes twined around it.
Where does caduceus come from?
Via Latin cādūceus, cādūceum, adaptation of Doric Ancient Greek καρύκειον (karúkeion, “herald’s wand or staff”). This and Attic Greek κηρύκειον (kērúkeion) are derived from κῆρυξ (kêrux, “herald, public messenger”). Related to κηρύσσω (kērússō, “to announce”).

How to pronounce caduceus

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “caduceus”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/kəˈdu.si.əs/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “caduceus”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “caduceus” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.