Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

talent

/ˈtæl.ənt/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.64 in modern English

Syllables
tal-ent
IPA
/ˈtæl.ənt/
6
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A marked natural ability or skill.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

People of talent, viewed collectively; a talented person.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

One, especially a woman, from a particular place or area, judged by their attractiveness.

Countable; Slang; Uncountable

noun

A historical unit of weight and money used in ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, and the Middle East, equal to about 30 to 60 kg in various times and places.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A desire or inclination for something.

Countable; Obsolete; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English talent, from Old English talente, borrowed from the plural of Latin talentum (“a Grecian weight; a talent of money”), from Ancient Greek τάλαντον (tálanton, “balance, a particular weight, especially of gold, sum of money, a talent”). Compare Old High German talenta (“talent”). Later figurative senses are from Old French talent (“talent, will, inclination, desire”), derived from the biblical Parable of the Talents.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: talent, talente, talentum, τάλαντον

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈtæl.ənt/
  • British English: /ˈtæl.ənt/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce talent?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈtæl.ənt/.
What does talent mean?
A marked natural ability or skill.
Where does talent come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce talent

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