How do you pronounce special?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈspɛʃ.əl/.

Where does special come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

special

/ˈspɛʃ.əl/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.34 in modern English

Syllables: spe-cial
IPA: /ˈspɛʃ.əl/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Distinguished by a unique, particular, or unusual quality.

adj

Of particular value or interest; dear; beloved.

adj

Appointed specifically to examine a single event or issue.

adj

Constituting or relating to a species.

adj

Derogatory; Offensive

adj

Of, being, or pertaining to sexual intercourse or the genitals.

Example Sentences

"a special episode of a television series"
"her special blend of spices"
"EVERY CHILD IS SPECIAL An empty and meaningless sentiment. What about every adult? Isn't every adult special? And if not, then at what age does a person go from being special to being not-so-special? And if every adult is also special, then that means all people are special and the idea has no meaning."
"Everyone is special to someone."
"his special friend of many years, Bill"
"special forces, special operations"

Etymology

From Middle English *special, especial, especiall, from Old French especial (whence also French spécial), from Latin speciālis (from speciēs). In this sense displaced native Old English synderlīċ. Doublet of especial.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *speḱ-, *special, especial, speciālis

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈspɛʃ.əl/
British English: /ˈspɛʃ.əl/

Usage

Inflected Forms

more special (comparative) specialer (comparative) most special (superlative) specialest (superlative) specials (plural) specials (present, singular) specialing (US, participle) specialling (UK, participle) specialed (US, participle) specialed (US, past) specialled (UK, participle) specialled (UK, past)

Derived Forms

antispecial genderspecial hyperspecial interspecial specialisation specialise specialism specialist speciality specially specialness specialogue

Phrases

in special manager's special nothing special on special special administrative region special agent special area special-case

Frequently Paired Words

especial especially stringer spotlight

Synonyms

specific offer especial exceptional particular limited peculiar extra

Antonyms

common common-or-garden everyday general nonspecial ordinary run-of-the-mill usual

Rhymes With

especial peschel meshell pavement special deasil