Pronunciation: [hˈɜːkjʊlˌiːz] (IPA) 
The word "Hercules" is spelled with a "k" sound instead of a "c" sound in the English language, despite its Greek origin. This is because it was originally spelled with a kappa (κ) in Greek, which makes the "k" sound. The English spelling of "Hercules" uses the letters "h," "e," "r," "c," "u," "l," and "e" in that order. In IPA phonetic transcription, "Hercules" is pronounced /ˈhɜːrkjuliːz/, with the stress on the second syllable.
Hercules is a noun derived from Greek mythology and represents a legendary hero known for extraordinary strength and bravery. In Greek mythology, Hercules was the Latin equivalent of the Greek hero Heracles. He was the son of Zeus, the supreme god, and Alcmene, a mortal woman.
As a noun, Hercules primarily refers to a figure of great physical strength or power. It describes someone who possesses remarkable endurance, vigor, or a muscular physique reminiscent of the mythological hero. The term is often used metaphorically to describe individuals who exhibit extraordinary fortitude or resilience in the face of challenges or adversity.
Additionally, Hercules can refer to a famous set of twelve labors or tasks that he was commanded to complete as penance for killing his wife and children in a fit of madness. These labors included remarkable feats like slaying the Nemean lion and capturing the Cretan Bull. The labors of Hercules have since become symbolic of difficult and arduous tasks.
In a broader sense, the word Hercules can also be used to describe a constellation in the northern sky, recognizable by its distinctive shape resembling a kneeling figure. The constellation Hercules is one of the largest and contains many notable celestial objects, including various galaxies and globular clusters. Thus, Hercules can also refer to this constellation in an astronomical context.
A hero in the Greek mythology celebrated for his feats of strength, the son of Jupiter and Alcmena.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* 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.
The word Hercules comes from the Latin Hercules. The Latin term is derived from the Greek name Herakles. In Greek mythology, Herakles was a hero and demigod who possessed great strength and was known for numerous adventures and accomplishments. The name Herakles itself is composed of the Greek words Hera (meaning Hera, the queen of the gods) and kleos (meaning glory or fame). Hence, Hercules can be understood to mean the glory of Hera or the fame of Hera.
