nauts

Naut is an English suffix derived from the Greek word nautes, meaning sailor. It is used to form nouns that describe travelers, navigators, or explorers in a particular domain, conveying a sense of journey or voyage within a specific environment.

Common examples include astronaut (a space traveler) and cosmonaut (a space traveler associated with a particular national program). Aeronaut refers to air travel or a person involved in flight and is often seen in historical or literary contexts. Aquanaut denotes an underwater explorer using advanced equipment, and hydronaut is used in some contexts for deep-sea exploration.

In contemporary usage, -naut terms describe roles or activities rather than formal occupations, though cultural or national nuances can appear, such as the historical distinction between astronaut and cosmonaut. The suffix also appears in nautical-related words, such as nautical and nautilus, which relate more broadly to ships and navigation.