Constellation Origin & Pronunciation

All modern constellations were codified in the European scientific subculture prior to the 19th century. As Latin was the international language of science up to that time, Latin governs the pronunciation of constellation names. Latter day English speaking astronomers parsed the Latin using English pronunciation norms — we say "ō–RĪ–ǝn" and not "ō–RĒ–ôn" — and regional variations took hold. The result is a contemporary hodgepodge of competing pronunciation norms. There are also different conventions for pronouncing Latin. The main difference relevant here concerns the genitive dipthong ae, which is pronounced ā in ecclesiastical (Catholic Church) Latin and ē in English (scientific) Latin. As in the Romance languages and not as in English, syllables usually begin with a consonant and end with a vowel, and double consonants at the end of a syllable are split so that the second consonant starts the next syllable. The next to last syllable is stressed only if it contains a long vowel or dipthong, otherwise the stress falls on the third from last syllable. In general I've relied on the pronunciation given by the American Heritage Dictionary, and use its phonetic symbols. But I've amended a few pronunciations to respect the Latin or to match the nominative and genitive stems. On the one hand, it's usually picayune to focus on pronunciation. On the other hand, the current confusion in pronunciation standards, the result of decades of indifference, should be rolled back. Constellation Names Desktop Image
Pronunciation Key
	ā – paste	ă – past
		â – bare
	ē – beet	ĕ – bet
	ī – bite	ĭ – bit
	ō – go	ŏ – got
		ô – paw
	ū – coot	ŭ – cut
		û – urge
	ǝ – the, about
	j – jet	g – get
	primary accented syllables are in CAPS and joined with a hyphen (–); secondary accented syllables are joined with a dot (·). ᐅ – Indicates an unusual or commonly mispronounced name.
Entry Format
Abbr.	Nominative	Nominative Pronunciation
	Genitive	Genitive Pronunciation
	Figure	Origin
Gray italic text — most or all of the constellation is located below declination –40°, the southern limit of ancient constellations.

And	Andromeda	ăn–DRŎ–mĭ–dǝ
	Andromedae	ăn–DRŎ–mĭ–dē
	the Chained Maiden	Ptolemy, 150 (daughter of Cepheus)
Ant	Antlia	ANT–lē–ǝ
	Antliae	ANT–lē–ē
	the Air Pump	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763
Aps	Apus	Ā–pŭs
	Apodis	ā–PŌ–dĭs
	the Bird of Paradise	Petrus Plancius, 1597
Aqr	Aquarius	ǝ–KWÂR–ē–ǝs
	Aquarii	ǝ–KWÂR–ē–ī
	the Water Bearer	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 15 (eleventh sign of the zodiac)
Aql	Aquila	ᐅ ĂK–wē–lǝ (accent on first syllable)
	Aquilae	ᐅ ĂK–wē–lē
	the Eagle	Ptolemy, 150
Ara	Ara	ÂR–ǝ
	Arae	ÂR–ē
	the Altar	Ptolemy, 150
Ari	Aries	ÂR–ēz
	Arietis	âr–Ī–ǝ–tĭs
	the Ram	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150 (first sign of the zodiac)
Aur	Auriga	ᐅ ô–RĪ–gǝ ("aw" first syllable, long "I" second syllable)
	Aurigae	ᐅ ô–RĪ–gē
	the Charioteer	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150
Boo	Boötes	ᐅ Bō–Ō–tēz (two long "O"s, awkward to pronounce)
	Boötis	ᐅ Bō–Ō–tĭs
	the Herdsman	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150 (among oldest constellations; also "Bear Watcher")
Cae	Caelum	ᐅ SĒ–lŭm (soft "C", as in "Caesar")
	Caeli	ᐅ SĒ–lī
	the Engraving Tool	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763
Cam	Camelopardalis	ᐅ kǝ–mĕl·ō–PĂR–dǝ–lĭs (accent on 2nd and 4th syllables)
	Camelopardalis	ᐅ kǝ–mĕl·ō–PĂR–dǝ–lĭs
	the Giraffe	Petrus Plancius, 1612
Cnc	Cancer	KĂN–sǝr
	Cancri	KĂNG–krī
	the Crab	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150 (fourth sign of zodiac)
CVn	Canes Venatici	ᐅ KĀ–nēz vĭ–NĂT–ĭ–sī (hard "C", accent on third to last syllable)
	Canum Venaticorum	ᐅ KĀ–nŭm vǝ–năt·ĭ–KŌR–ǝm (accent on next to last syllable)
	the Hunting Dogs	Johannes Hevelius, 1651
CMa	Canis Major	KĀ–nĭs MĀ–jǝr
	Canis Majoris	KĀ–nĭs mǝ–JÔR–ĭs
	the Great Dog	Ptolemy, 150
CMi	Canis Minor	KĀ–nĭs MĪ–nǝr
	Canis Minoris	KĀ–nĭs mī–NÔR–ĭs
	the Lesser Dog	Ptolemy, 150
Cap	Capricornus	kăp·rĭ–KÔR–nǝs "Capricorn" is the astrological form!
	Capricorni	kăp·rĭ–KÔR–nī
	the Sea Goat	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150 (tenth sign in zodiac; goat with fish tail)
Car	Carina	kǝ–RĒ–nǝ
	Carinae	kǝ–RĒ–nē
	the Keel	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763 (from the ancient constellation Argo Navis)
Cas	Cassiopeia	ᐅ kăs·ē–ǝ–PĒ–ǝ (the "O" is not long)
	Cassiopeiae	ᐅ kăs·ē–ǝ–PĒ–yē
	the Seated Queen	Ptolemy, 150 (Andromeda's mother)
Cen	Centaurus	sĕn–TÔR–ǝs
	Centauri	sĕn–TÔR–ī
	the Centaur	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150 (one of the most southern of ancient constellations)
Cep	Cepheus	ᐅ SĒ–fē–ǝs (accent on first syllable)
	Cephei	ᐅ SĒ–fē–ī
	the King	Ptolemy, 150 (Andromeda's father)
Cet	Cetus	SĒ–tǝs
	Ceti	SĒ–tī
	the Sea Monster	Ptolemy, 150 (Andromeda's attacker)
Cha	Chamaeleon	kǝ–MĒ–lē–ǝn
	Chamaeleontis	kǝ–mē·lē–ÔN–tĭs
	the Chameleon	Petrus Plancius, 1597
Cir	Circinus	SÛR–sǝ–nǝs
	Circini	SÛR–sǝ–nī
	the Drafting Compass	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763
Col	Columba	kǝ–LŬM–bǝ
	Columbae	kǝ–LŬM–bē
	the Dove	Petrus Plancius, 1597 (Noah's dove)
Com	Coma Berenices	ᐅ KŌ–mǝ bĕr·ǝ–NĪ–sēz (penultimate accent, long "I")
	Comae Berenices	ᐅ KŌ–mē bĕr·ǝ–NĪ–sēz
	Berenice's Hair	Tycho Brahe (?), 1602 (Queen of Egypt c. 240 BCE)
CrA	Corona Australis	kǝ–RŌ–nǝ ŏ–STRĀ–lĭs
	Coronae Australis	kǝ–RŌ–nē ŏ–STRĀ–lĭs
	the Southern Crown	Ptolemy, 150 (most southern ancient constellation)
CrB	Corona Borealis	kǝ–RŌ–nǝ bōr·ē–ĂL–ĭs
	Coronae Borealis	kǝ–RŌ–nē bōr·ē–ĂL–ĭs
	the Northern Crown	Ptolemy, 150
Crv	Corvus	KÔR–vǝs
	Corvi	KÔR–vī
	the Crow	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150
Crt	Crater	KRĀ–tǝr
	Crateris	krā–TÂR–ĭs
	the Cup	Ptolemy, 150
Cru	Crux	KRŬKS
	Crucis	KRŪ–sĭs
	the Southern Cross	Petrus Plancius, 1597 (carved out of ancient Centaurus)
Cyg	Cygnus	SĬG–nǝs
	Cygni	SĬG–nī
	the Swan	Ptolemy, 150
Del	Delphinus	dĕl–FĪ–nǝs
	Delphini	dĕl–FĪ–nī
	the Dolphin	Ptolemy, 150
Dor	Dorado	dǝ–RÄ–dō
	Doradus	dǝ–RÄ–dǝs
	the Dolphinfish	Petrus Plancius, 1597
Dra	Draco	DRĀ–kō
	Draconis	dră–KŌ–nĭs
	the Dragon	Ptolemy, 150
Eql	Equuleus	ĭ–KWŪ–lē–ǝs
	Equulei	ĭ–KWŪ–lē–ī
	the Little Horse	Ptolemy, 150
Eri	Eridanus	ᐅ ĭ–RĬD·n–ǝs (very short "A" in penultimate syllable)
	Eridani	ᐅ ĭ–RĬD·n–ī
	the River	Ptolemy, 150 (a mythological river)
For	Fornax	FŌR–năks
	Fornacis	fôr–NĀ–sĭs
	the Furnace	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763
Gem	Gemini	JĔM–ǝ–nī
	Geminorum	jĕm·ǝ–NÔR–ǝm
	the Twins	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150 (third sign in the zodiac)
Gru	Grus	GRŪS
	Gruis	GRŪ–ĭs
	the Crane	Petrus Plancius, 1597
Her	Hercules	HÛR–kyǝ–lēz
	Herculis	HÛR–kyǝ–lĭs
	Hercules	Ptolemy, 150 (in myth, the strongest of mortal heroes)
Hor	Horologium	hôr·ǝ–LŌ–jē–ǝm
	Horologii	hôr·ǝ–LŌ–jē–ī
	the Clock	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763
Hya	Hydra	HĪ–drǝ
	Hydrae	HĪ–drē
	the Water Snake	Ptolemy, 150 (Latin name denotes a female serpent)
Hyi	Hydrus	HĪ–drǝs
	Hydri	HĪ–drī
	the Water Snake	Petrus Plancius, 1597 (Latin name denotes a male serpent)
Ind	Indus	ĬN–dǝs
	Indi	ĬN–dī
	the Indian	Petrus Plancius, 1597
Lac	Lacerta	lǝ–SÛR–tǝ
	Lacertae	lǝ–SÛR–tē
	the Lizard	Johannes Hevelius, 1687
Leo	Leo	LĒ–ō
	Leonis	lē–Ō–nĭs
	the Lion	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150 (fifth sign in the zodiac)
LMi	Leo Minor	LĒ–ō MĪ–nǝr
	Leonis Minoris	lē–Ō–nĭs mī–NÔR–ĭs
	the Lesser Lion	Johannes Hevelius, 1687
Lep	Lepus	LĒ–pǝs
	Leporis	LĔP–ŏr–ĭs
	the Hare	Ptolemy, 150
Lib	Libra	LĒ–brǝ
	Librae	LĒ–brē
	the Scales	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150 (seventh sign in the zodiac)
Lup	Lupus	LŪ–pǝs
	Lupi	LŪP–ī
	the Wolf	Ptolemy, 150 (most southern of ancient constellations)
Lyn	Lynx	LĬNKS
	Lyncis	LĬN–sĭs
	the Lynx	Johannes Hevelius, 1687
Lyr	Lyra	LĪ–rǝ
	Lyrae	LĪ–rē
	the Lyre	Ptolemy, 150
Men	Mensa	MĔN–sǝ
	Mensae	MĔN–sē
	the Table	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763 (from Table Mountain)
Mic	Microscopium	mī·krǝ–SKŌ–pē–ǝm
	Microscopii	mī·krǝ–SKŌ–pē–ī
	the Microscope	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763
Mon	Monoceros	ᐅ mǝ–NŎS–ǝr–ǝs (rhymes with "rhinoceros")
	Monocerotis	ᐅ mǝ·nŏ–sĕr–Ō–tĭs (note change in accented syllable)
	the Unicorn	Petrus Plancius, 1612
Mus	Musca	MŪS–kǝ
	Muscae	MŪS–kē
	the Fly	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763
Nor	Norma	NÔR–mǝ
	Normae	NÔR–mē
	the Carpenter's Square	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763 (includes the south celestial pole)
Oct	Octans	ÔK–tănz
	Octantis	ôk–TĂN–tĭs
	the Octant	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763
Oph	Ophiuchus	ᐅ ŏf·ē–YŪ–kǝs (four syllables)
	Ophiuchi	ᐅ ŏf·ē–YŪ–kī
	the Serpent Bearer	Ptolemy, 150
Ori	Orion	ō–RĪ–ǝn
	Orionis	ō–RĪ–ǝ–nǐs
	the Hunter	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150
Pav	Pavo	PĀ–vō
	Pavonis	pǝ–VŌ–nĭs
	the Peacock	Petrus Plancius, 1597
Peg	Pegasus	PĀ–gǝ–sǝs
	Pegasi	PĀ–gǝ–sī
	the Winged Horse	Ptolemy, 150
Per	Perseus	PÂR–sē–ǝs
	Persei	PÂR–sē–ī
	the Hero	Ptolemy, 150 (Andromeda's rescuer)
Phe	Phoenix	FĒ–nĭks
	Phoenicis	fē–NĪ–sĭs
	the Phoenix	Petrus Plancius, 1597
Pic	Pictor	PĬK–tǝr
	Pictoris	pĭk–TÔR–ĭs
	the Painter	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763 (from Painter's Easel)
Psc	Pisces	PĪ–sēz
	Piscium	PĪS–ē–ǝm
	the Fishes	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150 (twelfth sign in the zodiac)
PsA	Piscis Austrinus	ᐅ PĪ–sĭs ôs–TRĪ–nǝs (two long "I"s)
	Piscis Austrini	ᐅ PĪ–sĭs ôs–TRĪ–nī
	the Southern Fish	Ptolemy, 150
Pup	Puppis	PŬP–ĭs
	Puppis	PŬP–ĭs
	the Stern	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763 (from the ancient constellation Argo Navis)
Pyx	Pyxis	PĬKS–ĭs
	Pyxidis	PĬKS–ǝ–dĭs
	the Magnetic Compass	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763 (from the ancient constellation Argo Navis)
Ret	Reticulum	rĭ–TĬK–yǝ–lǝm
	Reticulii	rǝ–TĬK–yǝ–lī
	the Reticle	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763
Sge	Sagitta	ᐅ sǝ–JĬT–ǝ (accent on middle syllable)
	Sagittae	ᐅ sǝ–JĬT–ē
	the Arrow	Ptolemy, 150
Sgr	Sagittarius	să·jĭ–TÂR–ē–ǝs
	Sagittarii	să·jĭ–TÂR–ē–ī
	the Archer	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150 (ninth sign in the zodiac)
Sco	Scorpius	SKŌR–pē–ǝs "Scorpio" is the astrological form!
	Scorpii	SKŌR–pē–ī
	the Scorpion	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150 (eighth sign in the zodiac)
Scl	Sculptor	SKŬLP–tǝr
	Sculptoris	skŭlp–TÔR–ĭs
	the Sculptor	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763 (from Sculptor's Studio)
Sct	Scutum	ᐅ SKŪT–ǝm ("SKOOT" not "SKUT")
	Scuti	ᐅ SKŪT–ī
	the Shield	Johannes Hevelius, 1687
Ser	Serpens	SÛR–pǝnz
	Serpentis	sûr–PĔN–tĭs
	the Serpent	Ptolemy, 150 (comprises Serpens Caput [head] and Serpens Cauda [tail])
Sex	Sextans	SĔKS–tǝnz
	Sextantis	sĕks–TĂN–tĭs
	the Sextant	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763
Tau	Taurus	TÔR–ǝs
	Tauri	TÔR–ī
	the Bull	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150 (second sign in the zodiac)
Tel	Telescopium	tĕl·ĭ–SKŌ–pē–ǝm
	Telescopii	tĕl·ĭ–SKŌ–pē–ī
	the Telescope	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763
Tri	Triangulum	trī–ĂNG–gyǝ–lǝm
	Trianguli	trī–ĂNG–gyǝ–ī
	the Triangle	Ptolemy, 150
TrA	Triangulum Australe	trī–ĂNG–gyǝ–lǝm ôs–TRĀ–lē
	Trianguli Australis	trī–ĂNG–gyǝ–lī ôs–TRĀ–līs
	the Southern Triangle	Petrus Plancius, 1597
Tuc	Tucana	tū–KĀ–nǝ
	Tucanae	tū–KĀ–nē
	the Toucan	Petrus Plancius, 1597
UMa	Ursa Major	ÛR–sǝ MĀ–jǝr
	Ursae Majoris	ÛR–sē mǝ–JÔR–ĭs
	the Great Bear	Ptolemy, 150 (also called the Wagon)
UMi	Ursa Minor	ÛR–sǝ MĪ–nǝr
	Ursae Minoris	ÛR–sē mĭ–NÔR–ĭs
	the Lesser Bear	Ptolemy, 150
Vel	Vela	VĒ–lǝ
	Velorum	vē–LÔR–ǝm
	the Sails	Nicholas Louis de Lacaille, 1763 (from the ancient constellation Argo Navis)
Vir	Virgo	VÛR–gō
	Virginis	VÛR–jĭn–ĭs
	the Maiden	Babylonian; Ptolemy, 150 (sixth sign in the zodiac)
Vol	Volans	VŌ–lănz
	Volantis	vō–LĂN–tĭs
	the Flying Fish	Petrus Plancius, 1597
Vul	Vulpecula	vŭl–PĔK–yǝ–lǝ
	Vulpeculae	vŭl–PĔK–yǝ–lē
	the Fox	Johannes Hevelius, 1687