Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

happiness

/ˈhæpinɪs/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.44 in modern English

Syllables: hap-pi-ness
IPA: /ˈhæpinɪs/

16

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The emotion of being happy; joy; elation.

Uncountable

noun

Prosperity, thriving, wellbeing.

Archaic; Uncountable

noun

Good luck; good fortune.

Archaic; Uncountable

noun

Fortuitous elegance; unstudied grace, used especially of language.

Countable; Obsolete

Example Sentences

"seek happiness"
"true happiness"
"bring happiness to others"
"Money can’t buy happiness."
"She found happiness in the small things."
"Yes, Aline, true happiness comes of true love, and true love should be independent of external influences."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kob-der. Proto-Germanic *hampą Old Norse happbor. Middle English hap Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y Middle English happy English happy Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English happiness From happy + -ness.

Usage

Inflected Forms

happinesses (plural) happinesse (alternative, obsolete) happyness (alternative, obsolete)

Derived Forms

nonhappiness unhappiness

Phrases

bluebird of happiness double happiness gross national happiness happiness pump money can't buy happiness trigger-happiness

Frequently Paired Words

happy

Synonyms

felicity high spirits fortuity fortune fortuitousness good cess good fortune good luck happiness luck blessedness bliss

Antonyms

haplessness unhappiness blueness tristesse mirthless blues crestfallenness dejection depression despondency distress dolefulness

Questions

How do you pronounce happiness?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈhæpinɪs/.
What does happiness mean?: The emotion of being happy; joy; elation.
Where does happiness come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kob-der. Proto-Germanic *hampą Old Norse happbor. Middle English hap Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Germanic *-gaz Proto-West Germanic *-g Old English -iġ Middle English -y Middle English happy English happy Proto-Germanic *-in- Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ti Proto-Germanic *-ōną Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English happiness From happy + -ness.

How to pronounce happiness

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