Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

sperm

/spɜɹm/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.84 in modern English

Syllables
sperm
IPA
/spɜɹm/
9
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The reproductive cell or gamete of the male; a spermatozoon.

Countable

noun

Semen; the generative substance of male animals.

Slang; Uncountable

noun

Sperm oil; whale oil from a sperm whale; spermaceti.

Countable; Uncountable

verb

To ejaculate.

Intransitive verb; Slang

verb

To ejaculate on or into.

Slang; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English sperme, from Latin sperma, from Ancient Greek σπέρμα (spérma, “seed, semen”). Compare also Old French esperme, sparme.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /spɜɹm/
  • British English: /spɜːm/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce sperm?
The recorded pronunciation is /spɜɹm/.
What does sperm mean?
The reproductive cell or gamete of the male; a spermatozoon.
Where does sperm come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce sperm

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