canicula: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Rare / ArchaicLiterary, Poetic, Historical, Technical (Astronomy)
Quick answer
What does “canicula” mean?
The star Sirius.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The star Sirius; the brightest star in the night sky.
By extension, the period of greatest heat in summer, coinciding with the heliacal rising of Sirius; dog days.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage, as the word is equally rare in both variants.
Connotations
Carries connotations of classical antiquity, poetic language, and precise astronomical reference.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both regions, found almost exclusively in specialised texts.
Grammar
How to Use “canicula” in a Sentence
The [Noun] coincides with the canicula.The period known as the canicula.They dated the event by the canicula.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “canicula” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The canicular heat was oppressive.
- They studied canicular rising dates.
American English
- The canicular heat was oppressive.
- They studied canicular rising dates.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, classical, or astronomical papers discussing ancient calendars, star lore, or climate history.
Everyday
Not used in everyday conversation; 'heatwave' or 'dog days' would be used instead.
Technical
Used in astronomy to refer to Sirius historically; in meteorology/climatology, may appear in historical context.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “canicula”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “canicula”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “canicula”
- Using it to mean a general holiday/vacation period (influence from Russian/French).
- Using it in modern casual contexts instead of 'heatwave' or 'hot spell'.
- Misspelling as 'canícula' (Spanish influence).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is a direct borrowing from Latin and is considered a very rare, learned, or historical term in modern English.
'Canicula' specifically refers to the star Sirius itself, or precisely to the period defined by its rising. 'Dog days' is the common, derived term for the hot summer period and has lost its direct astronomical connection for most speakers.
It would sound highly unusual and possibly pretentious. Use 'heatwave', 'midsummer heat', or 'dog days' instead for the hot period, and 'Sirius' for the star.
Because in the Roman calendar, the 'dies caniculares' (dog days) were a period of inactivity and rest due to the heat, which evolved into the meaning 'holiday period' in languages like French ('canicule' now means heatwave) and Russian ('каникулы').
The star Sirius.
Canicula is usually literary, poetic, historical, technical (astronomy) in register.
Canicula: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈnɪkjʊlə/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈnɪkjələ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dog days of summer (derived from canicula)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'canine' (dog) -> Dog Star -> Canicula. The 'little dog' star that brings the hot 'dog days'.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEAT IS A CELESTIAL ENTITY / TIME IS MARKED BY THE STARS
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary modern meaning of 'canicula' in an English context?