Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

dame

/deɪm/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.96 in modern English

Syllables
dame
IPA
/deɪm/
7
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Usually capitalized as Dame: a title equivalent to Sir for a female knight.

British usage

noun

A matron at a school, especially Eton College.

British usage

noun

In traditional pantomime: a melodramatic female often played by a man in drag.

British usage

noun

A woman.

American usage; Dated; Informal

noun

A lady, a woman.

Archaic

noun

The hereditary feudal ruler (seigneur) of Sark, when the title is held by a woman in her own right.

noun

A queen.

Slang

verb

To make a dame.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English dame, dam (“noble lady”), from Old French dame (“lady; term of address for a woman; the queen in card games and chess”), from Latin domina (“mistress of the house”), feminine form of dominus (“lord, master, ruler; owner of a residence”), or from Latin domus (“home, house”). Doublet of domina and donna.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /deɪm/
  • British English: /deɪm/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce dame?
The recorded pronunciation is /deɪm/.
What does dame mean?
Usually capitalized as Dame: a title equivalent to Sir for a female knight.
Where does dame come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce dame

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