Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bank

/ˈbæŋk/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: 5.16 in modern English

Syllables
bank
IPA
/ˈbæŋk/
10
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An institution where one can place and borrow money and take care of financial affairs.

Countable

noun

A branch office of such an institution.

Countable

noun

An underwriter or controller of a card game.

Countable

noun

A fund from deposits or contributions, to be used in transacting business; a joint stock or capital.

Countable

noun

The sum of money etc. which the dealer or banker has as a fund from which to draw stakes and pay losses.

Countable

noun

Money; profit.

Slang; Uncountable

noun

In certain games, such as dominos, a fund of pieces from which the players are allowed to draw.

Countable

noun

A safe and guaranteed place of storage for and retrieval of important items or goods.

Countable

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg-der. Proto-Germanic *bankiz Proto-West Germanic *banki Lombardic bankbor. Italian bancabor. Middle French banqueder. English bank Inherited from Middle English banke, from Middle French banque, from Italian banca (“counter, moneychanger's bench or table”), from Lombardic bank (“bench, counter”), from Proto-West Germanic *banki, from Proto-Germanic *bankiz (“bench, counter”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeg- (“to turn, curve, bend, bow”). Doublet of bench, banc, and banco. For the bench-bank relation, compare typologically Russian ла́вка (lávka), прила́вок (prilávok).

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈbæŋk/
  • British English: /ˈbæŋk/

Usage

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in People.

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce bank?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbæŋk/.
What does bank mean?
An institution where one can place and borrow money and take care of financial affairs.
Where does bank come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce bank

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “bank”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈbæŋk/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “bank”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “bank” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.