Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

dulcimer

/ˈdʌl.sɪ.mɚ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.12 in modern English

Syllables: dul-ci-mer
IPA: /ˈdʌl.sɪ.mɚ/

13

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A stringed instrument, with strings stretched across a sounding board, usually trapezoidal, played by plucking on the strings (traditionally with a quill) or by tapping on them (in the case of the hammer dulcimers).

Example Sentences

"A damsel with a dulcimer / In a vision once I saw: / It was an Abyssinian maid / And on her dulcimer she played, / Singing of Mount Abora."
"Accompanying himself with his dulcimer, a plectrum instrument of his own handicraft, Niles harks back to the balladeers of old."
"Played traditionally, the dulcimer sounds delightful with drones acenting the melody you are playing."

Etymology

From Old French doulcemelle, probably from Latin dulce melos (“sweet song”), from Ancient Greek μέλος (mélos, “melody, song”).

Origin

Source language: Old French

Word Breakdown

Root: doulcemelle, dulce melos, μέλος

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈdʌl.sɪ.mɚ/
British English: /ˈdʌl.sɪ.mə/

Inflected Forms

dulcimers (plural)

Derived Forms

dulcijo dulcimerist dulcimerlike

Phrases

Appalachian dulcimer bowed dulcimer banjo dulcimer electric dulcimer hammered dulcimer hammer dulcimer

Frequently Paired Words

zither

Questions

How do you pronounce dulcimer?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdʌl.sɪ.mɚ/.
What does dulcimer mean?: A stringed instrument, with strings stretched across a sounding board, usually trapezoidal, played by plucking on the strings (traditionally with a quill) or by tapping on them (in the case of the hammer dulcimers).
Where does dulcimer come from?: It is traced to Old French.

How to pronounce dulcimer

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