Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

gangster

/ˈɡæŋ.stəː/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.55 in modern English

Syllables
gang-ster
IPA
/ˈɡæŋ.stəː/
10
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A member of a criminal or street gang.

verb

To act like a gangster; to commit street crime or run a racket.

adj

Characteristic of a gangster; (especially) admirable and audacious.

Slang

adj

On friendly terms; cool.

Slang

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰengʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰóngʰos Proto-Germanic *gangaz Proto-West Germanic *gang Old English gang Middle English gang English gang Proto-West Germanic *-astrijā Old English -estre Middle English -estere English -ster English gangster From gang + -ster. First attested in 1884.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • British English: /ˈɡæŋ.stəː/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce gangster?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɡæŋ.stəː/.
What does gangster mean?
A member of a criminal or street gang.
Where does gangster come from?
First known use: First attested in 1884.

How to pronounce gangster

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