hercules: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2 / Low Frequency / Literary & FigurativeFormal, Literary, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “hercules” mean?
Proper noun: the Roman name for the Greek mythological hero Heracles, renowned for his extraordinary strength and for performing twelve seemingly impossible labours.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Proper noun: the Roman name for the Greek mythological hero Heracles, renowned for his extraordinary strength and for performing twelve seemingly impossible labours.
A common noun: a man of exceptional size, strength, or physical power. Also used to describe something of enormous size, strength, or difficulty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use the name for the mythological figure and the figurative sense identically. Spelling of derived adjective is always 'herculean'.
Connotations
Identical: connotes superhuman effort, immense strength, and monumental tasks.
Frequency
Equally low in both varieties, primarily found in literary, journalistic, or rhetorical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “hercules” in a Sentence
[a/herculean] + N (task/effort/strength)[(like/a) Hercules] + VPthe + Labours + of + HerculesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hercules” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A. No standard verb form.
American English
- N/A. No standard verb form.
adverb
British English
- N/A. No standard adverb form ('herculeanly' is non-standard/very rare).
American English
- N/A. No standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- The cleanup operation was a herculean undertaking.
- It will require herculean strength to lift that beam.
American English
- The team made a herculean effort to meet the deadline.
- She faced a herculean challenge in rebuilding the program.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Used figuratively in leadership contexts: 'The CEO faced the herculean task of turning the company around.'
Academic
Used in Classics, Literature, History, and Cultural Studies to refer to the myth. Figurative use appears in humanities essays.
Everyday
Very rare in casual speech. Might be used for humorous exaggeration: 'Moving that sofa was a herculean effort!'
Technical
In astronomy: a constellation (Hercules). In entomology: a species of beetle or moth (e.g., Hercules beetle).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hercules”
- Misspelling as 'Herculean' when used as a noun ('He is a herculean' - incorrect; should be 'He is a Hercules' or 'He is herculean').
- Using lowercase for the proper noun referring to the myth.
- Confusing 'Herculean' (adj.) with 'heraldic' or 'heretic'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes (the name). However, it can be used as a common noun (e.g., 'He's a real Hercules'), though the adjective 'herculean' is far more frequent in modern figurative use.
'Heracles' is the original Greek name of the hero. 'Hercules' is the Romanised version, which became standard in English and other Western languages.
Yes, but it typically describes their strength or effort ('herculean strength', 'herculean effort'), not the person directly. Saying 'a herculean athlete' is acceptable; calling someone 'a Hercules' is the more direct noun form.
No. When referring directly to the myth (the Hercules story), it's capitalized. In the figurative sense (meaning 'requiring great effort'), it is almost always lowercase: 'a herculean task'.
Proper noun: the Roman name for the Greek mythological hero Heracles, renowned for his extraordinary strength and for performing twelve seemingly impossible labours.
Hercules is usually formal, literary, figurative in register.
Hercules: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɜːkjʊliːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɝːkjəliːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a Herculean task”
- “the labours of Hercules”
- “to clean the Augean stables (derived from one labour)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember HERCULES = Huge Effort Required, Can't Underestimate Labours, Exertion Supreme. He held up the heavens; think of holding up something incredibly heavy.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULTY IS A STRONG PERSON / A MONUMENTAL TASK IS A MYTHICAL LABOUR.
Practice
Quiz
What is the MOST COMMON modern use of the word 'Herculean'?