Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

graffiti

/ɡɹəˈfi.ti/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.65 in modern English

Syllables: graf-fi-ti
IPA: /ɡɹəˈfi.ti/

15

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Drawings or words drawn on a surface in a public place, usually made without authorization.

Uncountable

noun

Informal inscriptions, figure drawings, etc., as opposed to official inscriptions.

Countable

verb

To mark a surface with such images.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"The underpass is a popular place for graffiti artists."
"The city council spends thousands of pounds removing graffiti from public buildings."
"The removal of unsightly graffiti on the sides of railway bridges spanning major roads in the North West is to be handed over to National Highways, to speed up the job."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- Proto-Hellenic *grə́pʰō Ancient Greek γρᾰ́φω (grắphō)bor. Italian graffire Italian graffito Italian graffitibor. English graffiti Borrowed from Italian graffiti, from graffito, from graffire, borrowed from Ancient Greek γρᾰ́φω (grắphō, “to write”), from Proto-Hellenic *grə́pʰō, from Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ-.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɡɹəˈfi.ti/
British English: /ɡɹəˈfiː.ti/

Usage

Inflected Forms

graffito (alternative) graffitis (present, singular) graffitiing (participle, present) graffitied (participle, past) graffitied (past)

Derived Forms

antigraffiti calligraffiti cybergraffiti giraffiti graffitiless graffitilike graffitist graffitology nongraffiti scratchiti scratchitti shoefiti

Phrases

digital graffiti graffiti art graffiti artist graffiti bomber graffiti knitting reverse graffiti hip-hop street art

Frequently Paired Words

hip-hop street art tagging sgraffito

Synonyms

cave painting epigraphy graffito

Rhymes With

treaty sweetie beatty tahiti meaty beattie petey beaty politi viti entreaty wapiti

Questions

How do you pronounce graffiti?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɡɹəˈfi.ti/.
What does graffiti mean?: Drawings or words drawn on a surface in a public place, usually made without authorization.
Where does graffiti come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- Proto-Hellenic *grə́pʰō Ancient Greek γρᾰ́φω (grắphō)bor. Italian graffire Italian graffito Italian graffitibor. English graffiti Borrowed from Italian graffiti, from graffito, from graffire, borrowed from Ancient Greek γρᾰ́φω (grắphō, “to write”), from Proto-Hellenic *grə́pʰō, from Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ-.

How to pronounce graffiti

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “graffiti”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɡɹəˈfi.ti/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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