Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

silliness

/ˈsɪlinɪs/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.79 in modern English

Syllables: silli-ness
IPA: /ˈsɪlinɪs/

9

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

That which is perceived as silly or frivolous.

Uncountable

noun

An act that is silly; a result of being silly.

Countable

Example Sentences

"The first time Tuvy confided his dream to his mates […] they’d howled with cruel laughter at the outrageousness of it, the silliness of it, the impossibility of it."

Etymology

Etymology tree English silly Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English silliness From silly + -ness.

Usage

Inflected Forms

sillinesses (plural)

Synonyms

schmuckiness giddiness absurdity fatuity fatuousness

Questions

How do you pronounce silliness?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsɪlinɪs/.
What does silliness mean?: That which is perceived as silly or frivolous.
Where does silliness come from?: Etymology tree English silly Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English silliness From silly + -ness.

How to pronounce silliness

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