Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

imago

/ɪˈmeɪɡoʊ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.33 in modern English

Syllables: ima-go
IPA: /ɪˈmeɪɡoʊ/

8

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The final developmental stage of an insect after undergoing metamorphosis.

noun

An idealised concept of a loved one, formed in childhood and retained unconsciously into adult life, the basis for the psychological formation of personality archetypes.

Example Sentences

"‘But still,’ he said to himself, drawing the metamorphoses of a red admiral, egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and imago on his pad, ‘what shall I say to him when we meet?’"

Etymology

From Latin imāgō. Doublet of image. Compare typologically a Russian term for coordinate larva: личи́нка (ličínka) (akin to лик (lik)).

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: imāgō

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɪˈmeɪɡoʊ/
British English: /ɪˈmeɪɡəʊ/

Inflected Forms

imagines (plural) imagos (plural) imagoes (plural)

Derived Forms

imagology pseudimago subimago

Phrases

imago clipeata imago Dei

Frequently Paired Words

imago Dei

Questions

How do you pronounce imago?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪˈmeɪɡoʊ/.
What does imago mean?: The final developmental stage of an insect after undergoing metamorphosis.
Where does imago come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce imago

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