How do you pronounce turbulent?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈtɝbjələnt/.

Where does turbulent come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

turbulent

/ˈtɝbjələnt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.47 in modern English

Syllables: tur-bu-lent
IPA: /ˈtɝbjələnt/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Violently disturbed or agitated; tempestuous, tumultuous.

adj

Being in, or causing, disturbance or unrest.

Example Sentences

"It is dangerous to sail in turbulent seas."
"The mid-19th century was a turbulent time in American history."
"The [Washington] Post's proprietor through those turbulent [Watergate] days, Katharine Graham, held a double place in Washington’s hierarchy: at once regal Georgetown hostess and scrappy newshound, ready to hold the establishment to account. That is a very American position."

Etymology

From Middle English turbulent, from Middle French turbulent, from Latin turbulentus, from turba (“disorder, tumult, crowd”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: turbulent, turbulentus

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈtɝbjələnt/
British English: /ˈtɜːbjələnt/

Inflected Forms

more turbulent (comparative) most turbulent (superlative)

Derived Forms

gravitoturbulent gravoturbulent macroturbulent microturbulent nonturbulent turbulate turbulently unturbulent

Phrases

turbulent flow

Frequently Paired Words

disturb perturb trouble turbid turbine turbulence

Synonyms

churning roiling roiled roily disruptive riotous troubled tumultuous