How do you pronounce lukewarm?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˌl(j)uk.ˈwɔɹm/.

Where does lukewarm come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

lukewarm

/ˌl(j)uk.ˈwɔɹm/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.09 in modern English

Syllables: luke-warm
IPA: /ˌl(j)uk.ˈwɔɹm/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Between warm and cool.

adj

Unenthusiastic (about a proposal or an idea).

Example Sentences

"Wash it in lukewarm water."
"My curry is lukewarm."
"The suggestion met with only a lukewarm response."
"The skipper Mr. Cooke had hired at Far Harbor was a God-fearing man with a luke warm interest in his new billet and employer, and had only been prevailed upon to take charge of the yacht after the offer of an emolument equal to half a year's sea pay of an ensign in the navy."
"The centre-vestibule "open" type of coach, which met with a very lukewarm reception when first introduced over half-a-century ago, is now used in increasing numbers as a non-dining vehicle."

Etymology

Etymology tree Middle English leuk Proto-Germanic *warmaz Proto-West Germanic *warm Old English wearm Middle English warm Middle English leukwarm English lukewarm From Middle English leukwarm, lukewarm (“lukewarm, tepid”), equivalent to luke (“lukewarm”) + warm. Compare Saterland Frisian luukwoarm (“lukewarm”), German Low German luukwarm (“lukewarm”); first element is related to Dutch leuk (“lukewarm”), as in leukwater (“lukewarm water”). Compare also West Frisian lijwarm (“lukewarm”), Afrikaans louwarm (“lukewarm”), German Low German lowarm, luwarm (“lukewarm”), German lauwarm (“lukewarm”). First element believed to be an alteration of Middle English lew (“tepid”) (> English dialectal lew), from Old English *hlēowe (“warm, sunny”), from Proto-Germanic *hliwjaz, *hlēwaz, *hlūmaz, *hleumaz (“warm”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱal(w)e-, *ḱel(w)e-, *k(')lēw- (“warm, hot”). Cognate with Dutch lauw (“tepid”), German lau (“lukewarm”), Faroese lýggjur (“warm”), Swedish ljum (“lukewarm”), ljummen (“lukewarm”) and ly (“warm”), Danish lummer (“muggy”), Danish and Norwegian lunken (“tepid”), dialectal Swedish ljummen (“lukewarm”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: leukwarm, lew, *hlēowe, *hliwjaz, *ḱal(w)e-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌl(j)uk.ˈwɔɹm/
British English: /ˌl(j)uːk.ˈwɔːm/

Inflected Forms

lukewarmer (comparative) more lukewarm (comparative) lukewarmest (superlative) most lukewarm (superlative)

Derived Forms

lukecold lukecool lukewarmish lukewarmism lukewarmist lukewarmly lukewarmness lukewarmth

Frequently Paired Words

underwarm

Synonyms

Laodicean lew luke tepid indifferent unconcerned adiaphroistic apathetic apathistical blasé blithe deaf

Rhymes With

form warm storm perform reform inform transform norm dorm conform swarm deform