Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pelf

/pɛlf/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.29 in modern English

Syllables
pelf
IPA
/pɛlf/
9
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Money, riches; gain, especially when dishonestly acquired; lucre, mammon.

Dated; Derogatory; Uncountable

noun

Rubbish, trash; specifically (UK, dialectal) refuse from plants.

Dated; Uncountable

noun

Dust; fluff.

Uncountable

noun

A contemptible or useless person.

Countable; Derogatory

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Late Middle English pelf, pelfe (“stolen goods, booty, spoil; forfeited property; money, riches; property; valuable object”), possibly from Anglo-Norman pelf (a variant of pelfre (“booty, loot”)) and Old French peufre (“frippery; rubbish”); further etymology uncertain, possibly a metathesis of Old French felpe, ferpe, frepe (“a rag”). The English word is perhaps related to Late Latin pelfa, pelfra, pelfrum (“forfeited or stolen goods”), Middle French peuffe and French peufe, peuffe (“old clothes; rubbish”) (Normandy), and pilfer.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: pelf, peufre, felpe

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /pɛlf/
  • British English: /pɛlf/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Antonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce pelf?
The recorded pronunciation is /pɛlf/.
What does pelf mean?
Money, riches; gain, especially when dishonestly acquired; lucre, mammon.
Where does pelf come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce pelf

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