2 syllables: Cro, nus. Stress on Cro.
KROH-nuhs
/ˈkɹoʊnəs/
Cronus is pronounced KROH-nuhs (/ˈkɹoʊnəs/). It has two syllables (Cro-nus), with the stress on "Cro". Cronus is a proper noun from Greek mythology, most famously the leader of the Titans who overthrew his father and was overthrown by Zeus. In modern use, Cronus also appears in astronomy and literature as a mythic figure. The name is typically pronounced with two syllables and a long o, and is often anglicized in scholarly and popular contexts.
nounCronus is a proper noun from Greek mythology, most famously the leader of the Titans who overthrew his father and was overthrown by Zeus. In modern use, Cronus also appears in astronomy and literature as a mythic figure. The name is typically pronounced with two syllables and a long o, and is often anglicized in scholarly and popular contexts.
"Cronus is often invoked in discussions of ancient myth and iconography."
"Some translators render Cronus as Saturn, highlighting his counterpart in Roman mythology."
"In astronomy, Cronus is referenced in certain mythological star names and allegories."
You say it CRONE-us, with the first syllable stressed. IPA US: /ˈkroʊ.nəs/, UK/AU: /ˈkrəʊ.nəs/. Start with a clear 'k' sound, then a long 'o' as in 'go', and finish with a soft 'nəs' with a light schwa. You’ll hear the first syllable carry the main emphasis in most discussions.
Common errors: treating it as CRON-us with a short 'o' like in 'con' or flattening the r to a rolled sound. Correct by maintaining a long 'o' in the first syllable (/kroʊ/ US) or a clear diphthong /roʊ/ and ensuring the second syllable 'nus' uses a quick schwa before 's' (nəs). Avoid adding a heavy 'r' after the vowel when speaking non-rhotically.
In US English you typically hear /ˈkroʊ.nəs/, with a prominent long 'o'. UK/AU often use /ˈkrəʊ.nəs/, where the first vowel is a rising diphthong but slightly less rhotic. Rhotic accents may insert a subtler 'r' influence in some speakers, but the standard pronunciation remains with a two-syllable cadence and a clear /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ in the first syllable.
The difficulty comes from the diphthong in the first syllable and the unstressed second syllable with a soft 's' ending. Maintaining the long 'o' sound in the first syllable while keeping the 'nus' syllable light and quick requires precise vowel control and voiceless endings. Non-native speakers often misplace the stress or substitute an 'a' vowel in the first syllable.
Cronus features a two-syllable rhythm with a peak on the first syllable: CROne-us in broad terms, but in careful pronunciation you should avoid adding extra consonants or an appended 'r' sound. The 'n' should be light and short, and the final 's' should be voiceless. For lexical consistency, use /ˈkroʊ.nəs/ in US contexts and /ˈkrəʊ.nəs/ in UK/AU contexts.
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Cronus derives from Greek Κρόνος (Kronos/Kronos), a primordial Titan whose name is often linked to the Greek word χρόνος (chronos), meaning time. The association between Cronus and chronological concepts reflects ancient myths in which time, generations, and cosmic order are central themes. The earliest attested form appears in classical Greek literature, where Kronos is portrayed as the ruler of the Titans and father to the Olympian gods. When Greek religion and later Roman adaptation entered broader Hellenic world usage, Cronus gained enduring literary and cultural significance, influencing later mythographic works and medieval compendia. In modern scholarship, the name Cronus is used primarily in mythological, astronomical, and literary contexts, with occasional transliterations Kronos in Greek transliteration and Kronos in Latin texts. The evolution of the name mirrors the cultural translation of myth across languages, preserving its association with time, succession, and cosmic order while adapting to the phonological systems of Greek, Latin, and English. First known use in English appears in medieval and early modern translations of Greek myths, commonly Anglicized as Cronus or Kronos, with Saturn as the Roman counterpart providing cross-reference in later periods.
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Words that rhyme with "Cronus"
-cus sounds
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