Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

dolphin

/ˈdɑlf.ɪn/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.67 in modern English

Syllables
dol-phin
IPA
/ˈdɑlf.ɪn/
13
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A fish, the mahi-mahi or dorado, Coryphaena hippurus, with a dorsal fin that runs the length of the body, also known for iridescent coloration.

noun

A depiction of a fish, with a broad indented fin, usually embowed.

noun

The dauphin, eldest son of the kings of France.

noun

A mass of iron or lead hung from the yardarm, in readiness to be dropped through the deck and the hull of an enemy's vessel to sink it.

noun

A spar or buoy held by an anchor and furnished with a ring to which ships may fasten their cables.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English delphyn, from Latin delphīnus, from Ancient Greek δελφίς (delphís), from δελφύς (delphús, “womb”); the modern form in -ol- is probably influenced by the pronunciation of Middle French dauphin. Compare Swedish delfin. Doublet of dauphin. Displaced native Old English mereswīn (literally “sea pig”), whence English mereswine.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: delphyn, delphīnus, δελφίς, dukdalf, Dolfin, Dólgfinnr

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈdɑlf.ɪn/
  • British English: /ˈdɒlf.ɪn/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Amazon dolphin Amazon River dolphin Arabian common dolphin Araguaian river dolphin Atlantic humpback dolphin Atlantic spotted dolphin Atlantic white-sided dolphin Australian snubfin dolphin

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Questions

How do you pronounce dolphin?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdɑlf.ɪn/.
What does dolphin mean?
A carnivorous cetacean, typically with a beak-like snout, famed for their intelligence and occasional willingness to approach humans.
Where does dolphin come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce dolphin

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