<p>These are the Latin word endings. </p>

<p>Latin nouns change their endings according to how the word is being used. English doesn't have this grammar. But note how the word "I" changes to "my". In Latin you would call "my" the genitive form of "I" The good people at <a href="https://latin.stackexchange.com/">https://latin.stackexchange.com/</a> can give more explanation. </p>

<p>For example, <em>"Leo"</em> is a third declension noun and its genitive "Of the lion" is <em>Leonis</em>. Third declension nouns have a genitive that ends in -is.  On the other hand <em>"Cancer"</em> is a second declension noun with Genitive <em>"Cancri"</em>. A Latin student spends much of their first year learning all these word endings.</p>

<p>When you write <em>"Alpha Cancri"</em> you mean "the alpha star of the Crab", because "of the crab" is <em>cancri</em>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-16T21:58:01.980Z
2017-01-17T21:41:50.487Z
2017-04-13T13:01:09.390Z
James K
<p>Cancri is what to Cancer?  or Leonis Minoris to Leo Minor?   Arietis to Aries ?  or Lyncis to Lynx.  </p>

<p>Are they the Flamesteed names, the Latin names, Greek names?<br>
What is their name?  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-07T09:49:41.263Z
It would seem what I didn't know then, is that Leo Minoris is the Bayer designation for the star.
MiscellaneousUser
<constellations>
Why do constellation names change (eg from Cancer to Cancri) when used as part of a star's name?
MiscellaneousUser
# Why do constellation names change (eg from Cancer to Cancri) when used as part of a star's name?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-01-16)

Cancri is what to Cancer? or Leonis Minoris to Leo Minor? Arietis to Aries ? or Lyncis to Lynx.

Are they the Flamesteed names, the Latin names, Greek names?  
What is their name?

**Tags:** constellations

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: It would seem what I didn't know then, is that Leo Minoris is the Bayer designation for the star.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-01-16. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

These are the Latin word endings.

Latin nouns change their endings according to how the word is being used. English doesn't have this grammar. But note how the word "I" changes to "my". In Latin you would call "my" the genitive form of "I" The good people at <https://latin.stackexchange.com/> can give more explanation.

For example, *"Leo"* is a third declension noun and its genitive "Of the lion" is *Leonis*. Third declension nouns have a genitive that ends in -is. On the other hand *"Cancer"* is a second declension noun with Genitive *"Cancri"*. A Latin student spends much of their first year learning all these word endings.

When you write *"Alpha Cancri"* you mean "the alpha star of the Crab", because "of the crab" is *cancri*.


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