Phrase guide

Charon's obol

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A coin placed in or on the mouth of a deceased person as a bribe or payment for Charon, the ferryman of Hades.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Greek, Roman

Topics: human-sciences, mysticism, mythology, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: death penny

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: obol mrtvých — coin placed in or on the mouth of a deceased person as a bribe or payment for Charo
  • French: obole de Charon — coin placed in or on the mouth of a deceased person as a bribe or payment for Charo
  • German: Charonspfennig — coin placed in or on the mouth of a deceased person as a bribe or payment for Charo
  • Italian: obolo di Caronte — coin placed in or on the mouth of a deceased person as a bribe or payment for Charo
  • Polish: obol Charona — coin placed in or on the mouth of a deceased person as a bribe or payment for Charo
  • Polish: obol zmarłych — coin placed in or on the mouth of a deceased person as a bribe or payment for Charo
  • Portuguese: óbolo de Caronte — coin placed in or on the mouth of a deceased person as a bribe or payment for Charo
  • Russian: обо́л Харо́на (oból Xaróna) — coin placed in or on the mouth of a deceased person as a bribe or payment for Charo
  • Spanish: óbolo de Caronte — coin placed in or on the mouth of a deceased person as a bribe or payment for Charo
  • Thai: เหรียญของแครอน — coin placed in or on the mouth of a deceased person as a bribe or payment for Charo
  • Ukrainian: обо́л Харо́на (oból Xaróna) — coin placed in or on the mouth of a deceased person as a bribe or payment for Charo