Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

cypher

/sˈaɪfɚ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.80 in modern English

Syllables: cypher
IPA: /sˈaɪfɚ/

16

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Alternative spelling of cipher.

British usage

verb

Alternative spelling of cipher.

British usage

name

A surname from German.

Example Sentences

"Lady Bertram seems more of a cypher now than when he is at home; […]"
"I have been critical of the RDG in the past for merely being a cypher for government announcements, but the failure of its members to make a stand on this issue and not be complicit in the Government's subterfuge is a shocking indictment of their failure to protect the industry."

Etymology

Americanized spelling of German Seifer.

Origin

Source language: German

Word Breakdown

Root: Seifer

Usage

British usage

Inflected Forms

cyphers (plural) cyphers (present, singular) cyphering (participle, present) cyphered (participle, past) cyphered (past) Sipher (alternative)

Derived Forms

cyphertext uncypher

Synonyms

cipher cryptograph secret code nobody nonentity nothing nil nix nada null aught goose egg

Rhymes With

decipher cipher pfeiffer heifer lifer pfeifer fifer phifer leifer slifer pifer schleifer

Questions

How do you pronounce cypher?: The recorded pronunciation is /sˈaɪfɚ/.
What does cypher mean?: Alternative spelling of cipher.
Where does cypher come from?: It is traced to German.

How to pronounce cypher

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