Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

halibut

/ˈhæ.lɪ.bət/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.71 in modern English

Syllables: hal-ibut
IPA: /ˈhæ.lɪ.bət/

12

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A large flatfish of the genus Hippoglossus, which sometimes leaves the ocean floor and swims vertically.

Example Sentences

"[...] she frowned a displeased frown and told me for heaven's sake to stop goggling like a dead halibut."

Etymology

From Middle English halibut, equivalent to holy + butt (“flatfish”), since the fish was often eaten on holy days. Cognate with Dutch heilbot, German Heiligbutt, Heilbutt, Heilbutte, Danish helleflynder, Swedish helgeflundra, and Norwegian Nynorsk hellefisk.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: halibut

Inflected Forms

halibuts (plural) hallibut (alternative) holibut (alternative) halibutt (alternative) holibutt (alternative)

Derived Forms

halibuter

Phrases

Atlantic halibut bastard halibut California halibut Greenland halibut haliver oil Monterey halibut Pacific halibut

Synonyms

holibut

Questions

How do you pronounce halibut?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈhæ.lɪ.bət/.
What does halibut mean?: A large flatfish of the genus Hippoglossus, which sometimes leaves the ocean floor and swims vertically.
Where does halibut come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce halibut

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “halibut”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈhæ.lɪ.bət/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “halibut” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.