Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

catacomb

/ˈkætəkoʊm/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.07 in modern English

Syllables
cat-a-comb
IPA
/ˈkætəkoʊm/
16
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An underground system of tunnels and chambers with recesses for graves, used (in former times) as a cemetery; a tunnel system used for burying the dead, as in Paris or Ancient Rome.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English catacombe, from Old English catacumbe, catacumbas pl, from Late Latin catacumbae pl, name of the underground cemetery of St. Sebastian in Rome, of unclear origin. Perhaps a dissimilation (influenced by *cumbō (“to lie, recline”)) of Late Latin cata tumbās (literally “among the tombs”) (from Ancient Greek κατά (katá, “under”) and τύμβος (túmbos, “tomb”)). Some sources suggest Ancient Greek κύμβη (kúmbē, “drinking vessel”) as an alternative etymon, but the semantic link is unclear.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: catacombe, catacumbe, catacumbae, cata tumbās, κατά

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈkætəkoʊm/
  • British English: /ˈkætəkuːm/

Inflected Forms

catacombs (plural)

Derived Forms

catacombic

Frequently Paired Words

cataphile

Questions

How do you pronounce catacomb?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkætəkoʊm/.
What does catacomb mean?
An underground system of tunnels and chambers with recesses for graves, used (in former times) as a cemetery; a tunnel system used for burying the dead, as in Paris or Ancient Rome.
Where does catacomb come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce catacomb

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