Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

orthography

/ɔɹˈθɑɡɹəfi/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.58 in modern English

Syllables
or-tho-gra-phy
IPA
/ɔɹˈθɑɡɹəfi/
23
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
4
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols; spelling.

Countable

noun

The aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words; the study of spelling.

Uncountable

noun

Correct spelling according to established usage; also (obsolete) pronunciation according to the spelling of a word.

Uncountable

noun

Synonym of orthographer (“someone knowledgeable in spelling rules”).

Countable; Obsolete

verb

To spell (words) or write (text) according to established usage.

Archaic; Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

The noun is derived from Late Middle English ortografie, ortographie (“spelling”) [and other forms], and then either: * from Anglo-Norman ortografie, Middle French orthographie, ortografie, ortographie (“correct spelling; orthographic projection”) (compare Old French ortografie; modern French orthographe (“spelling, orthography”), orthographie (“orthographic project, orthography”)); or * from their etymon Latin orthographia (“correct spelling; building elevation”), from Koine Greek ὀρθογραφία (orthographía, “correct spelling”), from Ancient Greek ορθο- (ortho-, prefix meaning ‘right, proper; upright’) (from ὀρθός (orthós, “straight; erect, upright; correct, true”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃erdʰ- (“to grow, increase; high; upright”)) + -γραφίᾱ (-graphíā, suffix meaning ‘drawing; writing’) (from γρᾰ́φω (grắphō, “to cut into, scratch; to write”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- (“to carve”)). The English word is analyzable as ortho- (prefix meaning ‘proper, right; straight’) + -graphy (suffix denoting something written or otherwise represented in a specified manner, or about a specified subject). The verb is derived from the noun. First use appears before c. 1460. Cognates * Catalan ortografia * Italian ortografia * Portuguese ortografia, orthografia (obsolete) * Spanish ortografía

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ɔɹˈθɑɡɹəfi/
  • British English: /ɔːˈθɒɡɹəfi/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Antonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce orthography?
The recorded pronunciation is /ɔɹˈθɑɡɹəfi/.
What does orthography mean?
A method of representing a language or the sounds of language by written symbols; spelling.
Where does orthography come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce orthography

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