Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

proper

/ˈpɹɑpɚ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.72 in modern English

Syllables: prop-er
IPA: /ˈpɹɑpɚ/

10

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

adj

adj

adj

adj

adj

adj

adj

Possessed, related.

Example Sentences

"the proper time to plant potatoes"
"The proper study of mankind is man."
"One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains. Isolating a city’s effluent and shipping it away in underground sewers has probably saved more lives than any medical procedure except vaccination."
"a very proper young lady"
"This new-comer was a man who in any company would have seemed striking.[…]Indeed, all his features were in large mold, like the man himself, as though he had come from a day when skin garments made the proper garb of men."
"The Nippy became a national icon, symbolic of the girl next door, always approachable and proper; […]"

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *pró Proto-Indo-European *pro- Proto-Italic *pro- Proto-Indo-European *preyH- Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Indo-European *priHós Proto-Italic *prijos Proto-Italic *proprijos Latin propriusbor. Anglo-Norman proprebor. Middle English propre English proper From Middle English propre, from Anglo-Norman proper, propre, Old French propre (French: propre), from Latin proprius.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *preyH-, propre, proper, proprius

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈpɹɑpɚ/
British English: /ˈpɹɒpə/

Usage

Inflected Forms

more proper (comparative) most proper (superlative) propa (alternative, Geordie) propah (alternative, pronunciation spelling) propuh (alternative, pronunciation spelling) propre (alternative, obsolete) propers (plural)

Derived Forms

nonproper properness property pseudoproper subproper superproper unproper

Phrases

Aurora Hill Proper China proper city proper do the proper thing good and proper in proper Israel proper La Paz Proper

Frequently Paired Words

appropriate propriety properly ordinary

Synonyms

correct right apt prudent upright sensible fitting allowable appropriate apropos apposite comely

Homonyms

propper

Antonyms

incorrect wrong bad imprudent insensible improper discommensurate inappropriate malapropos inapt incommensurate inept

Rhymes With

copper improper hopper chopper shopper topper stopper popper whopper dropper cropper bopper

Questions

How do you pronounce proper?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpɹɑpɚ/.
What does proper mean?: Suitable.
Where does proper come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce proper

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