Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

tuppence

/ˈtʌp(ə)ns/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.04 in modern English

Syllables: tup-pence
IPA: /ˈtʌp(ə)ns/

14

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Two pence (in pre- or post-decimalisation currency).

British usage; Countable; Dated; Informal; Uncountable

noun

Ellipsis of tuppence worth (“one’s opinion”).

British usage; Countable; Uncountable

noun

The vulva or vagina.

British usage; Countable; Slang; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Milk has gone up to tuppence ha’penny a pint."
"In less than four days twenty-three men had paid their tuppences to Henery, who ’ad been made the seckitary."
"‘Miss Brindle rich?’ said Aunt Maggie. ‘Bless you, she hasn’t tuppence to rub together.’"
""Fucksticks!" When some smart-arse bastard gives me my comeuppance / "Fucksticks!" When it’s ages since I’ve seen a lady’s tuppence"
"The lady confided to the nurse helping her up off the examination couch, and told her “He put his hand up me funnel and made me tuppence bleed!”"

Etymology

By surface analysis, two + pence, collective plural of penny. Same for the definition: "Ellipsis of tuppence worth (“one’s opinion”)" however, this idiom is derived from this fact; in Britain it used to cost two pence ("tuppence") to post a letter, usually holding one's opinion.

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˈtʌp(ə)ns/

Usage

Inflected Forms

tuppences (plural)

Phrases

don't give tuppence not worth tuppence penny plain and tuppence coloured tuppence worth

Frequently Paired Words

threepence fourpence fivepence sixpence eightpence tenpence tuppenny

Synonyms

twopence

Questions

How do you pronounce tuppence?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈtʌp(ə)ns/.
What does tuppence mean?: Two pence (in pre- or post-decimalisation currency).
Where does tuppence come from?: By surface analysis, two + pence, collective plural of penny. Same for the definition: "Ellipsis of tuppence worth (“one’s opinion”)" however, this idiom is derived from this fact; in Britain it used to cost two pence ("tuppence") to post a letter, usually holding one's opinion.

How to pronounce tuppence

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