Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

transcribe

/trænˈskɹaɪb/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.69 in modern English

Syllables: tran-scribe
IPA: /trænˈskɹaɪb/

14

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To convert a representation of language, typically speech but also sign language, etc., to a written representation of it. The term now usually implies the conversion of speech to text by a human transcriptionist with the assistance of a computer for word processing and sometimes also for speech recognition, the process of a computer interpreting speech and converting it to text.

verb

To make such a conversion from live or recorded speech to text.

verb

To transfer data from one recording medium to another.

verb

To adapt a composition for a voice or instrument other than the original; to notate live or recorded music.

verb

To cause DNA to undergo transcription.

verb

To represent speech by phonetic symbols.

Example Sentences

"And that's how I ended up on the side of the road, […] scribbling in a tiny red notebook as I tried to transcribe the words coming through my phone's speakers: “black shirts and brown shirts,” “Fauci demonic, ”petrifying,” “your body belongs to the state,” “like China's one-child policy and forced sterilization,” ”geotracking,” “evil x2.”"
"The doctor made several recordings today which she will transcribe into medical reports tomorrow."

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin trānscrībere (“to write again in another place, transcribe, copy”).

Word Breakdown

Root: *(s)kreybʰ-

Inflected Forms

transcribes (present, singular) transcribing (participle, present) transcribed (participle, past) transcribed (past)

Derived Forms

cotranscribe hypertranscribe mistranscribe pretranscribe retranscribe retrotranscribe transcribability transcribable transcriber

Frequently Paired Words

scribe transcribble transcription translate transliterate

Synonyms

transliterate

Rhymes With

describe tribe subscribe vibe bribe prescribe scribe unsubscribe ascribe jibe imbibe inscribe

Questions

How do you pronounce transcribe?: The recorded pronunciation is /trænˈskɹaɪb/.
What does transcribe mean?: To convert a representation of language, typically speech but also sign language, etc., to a written representation of it. The term now usually implies the conversion of speech to text by a human transcriptionist with the assistance of a computer for word processing and sometimes also for speech recognition, the process of a computer interpreting speech and converting it to text.
Where does transcribe come from?: Learned borrowing from Latin trānscrībere (“to write again in another place, transcribe, copy”).

How to pronounce transcribe

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