Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

terrific

/tɚˈɪfɪk/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.90 in modern English

Syllables
te-rri-fic
IPA
/tɚˈɪfɪk/
13
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Causing terror; terrifying.

Archaic

Example Sentences

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *tres- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *troséyeti Proto-Italic *trozeō Latin terreō Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-der. Proto-Italic *θakos Proto-Italic *-fakos Latin -ficus Latin terrificusder. French terrifiqueder. English terrific From French terrifique, and its source, Latin terrificus (“terrifying”), from terrēre (“to frighten, terrify”) + -ficus, related to facere (“to make”). By surface analysis, terrify + -ic. The sense of excellent or amazing is an ameliorative semantic shift from the original sense of terrifying. Compare similar semantic development in sick and wicked.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: terrifique, terrificus

Usage

Inflected Forms

more terrific (comparative) most terrific (superlative) terrifick (alternative, obsolete)

Derived Forms

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce terrific?
The recorded pronunciation is /tɚˈɪfɪk/.
What does terrific mean?
Causing terror; terrifying.
Where does terrific come from?
It is traced to French.

How to pronounce terrific

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