Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

onyx

/ˈɒnɪks/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.99 in modern English

Syllables
onyx
IPA
/ˈɒnɪks/
14
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
2
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A banded variety of chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline form of quartz.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A jet-black color, named after the gemstone.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the genus Horaga.

Countable; Uncountable

adj

Jet-black; often, glossily so.

name

A census-designated place in Kern County, California, United States.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English onix (c. 1300), earlier oniche (c. 1250), from Old French oniche or onix, from Latin onyx, from Ancient Greek ὄνυξ (ónux, “onyx”). Doublet of unguis.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: *h₃negʰ-, onix, oniche, onyx, ὄνυξ

Usage

Inflected Forms

onyxes (plural)

Phrases

onyx marble

Frequently Paired Words

sardonyx

Synonyms

ebony raven

Rhymes With

electronics avionics harmonics tectonics phonics sonics microelectronics tonics mnemonics histrionics supersonics conics

Questions

How do you pronounce onyx?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɒnɪks/.
What does onyx mean?
A banded variety of chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline form of quartz.
Where does onyx come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce onyx

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