Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

utensil

/juˈtɛn.səl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.52 in modern English

Syllables: u-ten-sil
IPA: /juˈtɛn.səl/

7

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An instrument or device for domestic use, especially in the kitchen.

noun

Specifically, a eating utensil (fork, table knife, or spoon); a piece of flatware or cutlery.

noun

A useful small tool, implement, or vessel.

Example Sentences

"We have convenient storage for all the kitchen/eating utensils."
"He stocked up on old-style writing utensils."
"Relations, sparing no expense'll/Send some useless old utensil,/Or a matching pen and pencil./"just the thing I need! how nice!""

Etymology

From Middle English utensyl, from Old French utensile, from Latin ūtēnsilis (“useful, usable”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: utensyl, utensile, ūtēnsilis

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /juˈtɛn.səl/
British English: /juˈtɛn.səl/

Inflected Forms

utensils (plural)

Derived Forms

cutensil utensiled utensilry utensilware

Phrases

chamber utensil cooking utensil

Rhymes With

pencil tensile hensel wensel stencel gensel coloured pencil stencil pencel

Questions

How do you pronounce utensil?: The recorded pronunciation is /juˈtɛn.səl/.
What does utensil mean?: An instrument or device for domestic use, especially in the kitchen.
Where does utensil come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce utensil

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