Son Goku is the main character in the dragonball series. He is referred to as Kakarot (or
Kakarrot) by his rival, Vegeta. Son is the title inherited from his adoptive grandfather,
Grandpa Gohan, or just Son Gohan. The prefix grandpa is used to avoid confusion with Goku's first son, Gohan. He is the second son of
Bardock, with Raditz being the first, and Fasha is speculated to be his mother.
Goku is the only pure-blooded Saiyan to have a pure heart, due entirely to falling down a deep ravine and banging his head. Being a saiyan, he survived the fall, and his naturally violent nature disappeared, and became a good person because of his
Gohan's good influence.
Goku is also the only saiyan to achieve every level of Super Saiyan. He becomes a super saiyan at the end of the Freeza saga, a full-powered super saiyan during the Cell Games Saga, and learns Super Saiyan 2 and Super Saiyan 3 while training on the Grand Kai's planet, in
Otherworld. He learns how to become a super saiyan 4 during the baby saga (dragonball gt; and Vegeta learns towards the end of the Shadow Dragons Saga.
Read more: Goku Cell Frieza Kakarot Super Saiyan Vegeta Super Saiyan 4 Oozaru
Android 17 Grandpa Gohan Gohan Goten Trunks DBGT
Goku means aware of emptiness (The 'Go' syllable means enlightenment, and the 'Ku' syllable means Sky or Emptiness).
Goku's full name (Son Goku) is the Japanese name for
Sun Wukong, the main protagonist in the Chinese legend
Journey to the West, off of whom Goku is loosely based.
