Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

menstruation

/ˌmɛnstɹuˈeɪʃən/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.90 in modern English

Syllables: men-stru-a-tion
IPA: /ˌmɛnstɹuˈeɪʃən/

14

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

4

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The periodic discharging of the menses, the flow of blood and cells from the lining of the uterus in unfertilized females of humans and other primates.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

An instance of menstruation, the part of each month during which a fertile woman menstruates.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"It would seem that in Avebury, Stonehenge, and Malta the mystery cult of menstruation/mensuration reached its most consummate development."
"[T]he release of semen from the penis predominantly symbolizes a forceful masculine operation, an orgasmic ‘rush’ – ejaculate refers to a sudden happening, an ejection – while the ‘loss’ of blood during menstruation is viewed as a more or less passive occurrence. Even the metaphors employed to depict these two aspects of corporeality serve to situate them on differently gendered poles. Man ‘spoofs off’ or ‘shoots his load’, while woman ‘gets her visitor’, ‘has got her monthly’."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Italic *dwi- Latin bi- Proto-Indo-European *meh₁-? Proto-Indo-European *mḗh₁n̥s Proto-Italic *mēns Proto-Italic *mēnsis Latin mēnsis Proto-Indo-European *-teros? Latin -tris Latin bimēnstrisbf. ▲ Latin annuusinflu. Latin mēnstruus Latin mēnstruum English menstruum Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation ▲ Late Latin menstruatioinflu. English menstruation From menstruum + -ation, modelled after Late Latin menstruatio. The word is a cognate with French menstruation, Spanish menstruación, which displaced Old English mōnaþblōd (literally “monthblood”).

Origin

Source language: Old English

Word Breakdown

Root: menstruatio, mōnaþblōd

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌmɛnstɹuˈeɪʃən/
British English: /ˌmɛnstɹuːˈeɪʃən/

Usage

Inflected Forms

menstruations (plural) menstration (alternative)

Derived Forms

femstruation mismenstruation nonmenstruation premenstruation

Phrases

male menstruation menstruation period menstrual cycle sanitary towel

Frequently Paired Words

menarche menopause menstrual menstrual cycle menstruate menstruous PMT tampon

Synonyms

menstruation Aunt Flo Aunt Frieda Aunt Rose blob blood sports Bloody Mary blowjob week breaching the beaver dam catamenia caught short Charlie

Rhymes With

information education situation population station association administration operation organization nation location application

Questions

How do you pronounce menstruation?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌmɛnstɹuˈeɪʃən/.
What does menstruation mean?: The periodic discharging of the menses, the flow of blood and cells from the lining of the uterus in unfertilized females of humans and other primates.
Where does menstruation come from?: It is traced to Old English.

How to pronounce menstruation

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