Meanings
proper noun
alternative Ktulu · alternative Kutulu
- A gigantic fictional humanoid alien god being described with a head resembling an octopus and dragon wings and claws, around whom an insane cult developed.
Then, bolder than the storied Cyclops, great Cthulhu slid greasily into the water and began to pursue with vast wave-raising strokes of cosmic potency.
1928, H.P. Lovecraft, The Call of Cthulhu
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
Invented in 1926 by H.P. Lovecraft for his short story The Call of Cthulhu. Possibly based on chthonic (“dwelling under the earth”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese 克蘇魯 /克苏鲁
- 克蘇魯 /克苏鲁 (kèsūlǔ)a huge fictional humanoid alien god
Esperanto Ĥtulho
- Ĥtulhoa huge fictional humanoid alien god
French Cthulhu
- Cthulhua huge fictional humanoid alien god
German Cthulhu
- Cthulhua huge fictional humanoid alien god
Greek Κθούλου
- Κθούλου (Kthoúlou)a huge fictional humanoid alien god
Hebrew קת׳ולהו
- קת׳ולהוa huge fictional humanoid alien god
Irish Cuitiliú
- Cuitiliúa huge fictional humanoid alien god
Japanese クトゥルフ
- クトゥルフ (Kuturufu)a huge fictional humanoid alien god
Korean 크툴후
- 크툴후 (Keutulhu)a huge fictional humanoid alien god
Polish Cthulhu
- Cthulhua huge fictional humanoid alien god
Portuguese Cthulhu
- Cthulhua huge fictional humanoid alien god
Russian Кту́лху
- Кту́лху (Ktúlxu)a huge fictional humanoid alien god
Spanish Cthulhu
- Cthulhua huge fictional humanoid alien god
Thai คธูลู
- คธูลูa huge fictional humanoid alien god
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with Cthulhu
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
Cthulhu. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cthulhu
MLA
“Cthulhu.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cthulhu. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Cthulhu,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cthulhu.
Source: Cthulhu on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.