Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

rebec

/ˈɹiːbɛk/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.29 in modern English

Syllables: re-bec
IPA: /ˈɹiːbɛk/

9

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

2

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An early three-stringed instrument, somewhat like a simple violin only pear shaped, played with a bow and used in Medieval and the early Renaissance eras.

Example Sentences

"The villages also must have their visitors to enquire what lectures the bagpipe and the rebbeck reads ev'n to the ballatry, and the gammuth of every municipal fidler, for these are the Countrymans Arcadia's and his Monte Mayors."
"Sometimes with secure delight The upland hamlets will invite, When the merry bells ring round, And the jocund rebecks sound To many a youth, and many a maid, Dancing in the chequer'd shade [...]"

Etymology

From Middle French rebec, alteration of rubebe (see English ribibe), from Arabic رَبَاب (rabāb).

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: rebec, رَبَاب

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˈɹiːbɛk/

Inflected Forms

rebecs (plural)

Derived Forms

rebecist

Frequently Paired Words

rebab ribibe ribible

Rhymes With

xebec

Questions

How do you pronounce rebec?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɹiːbɛk/.
What does rebec mean?: An early three-stringed instrument, somewhat like a simple violin only pear shaped, played with a bow and used in Medieval and the early Renaissance eras.
Where does rebec come from?: It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce rebec

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “rebec”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɹiːbɛk/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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