Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

1984

/ˌnaɪn.tinˌeɪ.tiˈfɔɹ/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.42 in modern English

Syllables: 1984
IPA: /ˌnaɪn.tinˌeɪ.tiˈfɔɹ/

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Scrabble Score

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Letters

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Syllables

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Unique Chars

Meaning

name

A totalitarian or dystopic society, especially when characterised by intense surveillance of its citizens.

Example Sentences

"literally 1984"
"Many a thoughtful man, musing over his second Martini and the evening paper, has had the uneasy feeling that 1984 was much closer."
"Yet these proposals are already being presented by the Conservatives - and many on the left - as yet another step into 1984, part of a proto-tyrannical package ranging from CCTV cameras to Asbos to the DNA database that they cite as evidence Britain is sleepwalking into a surveillance society."
"Those who seek to prevent 2010 from becoming 1984 will want to arm themselves with this valuable book."

Etymology

From the title of George Orwell’s 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. Compare Orwellian.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌnaɪn.tinˌeɪ.tiˈfɔɹ/
British English: /ˌnaɪn.tiːnˌeɪ.tiˈfɔː/

Derived Forms

1984esque 1984ish

Phrases

1984-esque 1984-ish

Questions

How do you pronounce 1984?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌnaɪn.tinˌeɪ.tiˈfɔɹ/.
What does 1984 mean?: A totalitarian or dystopic society, especially when characterised by intense surveillance of its citizens.
Where does 1984 come from?: From the title of George Orwell’s 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. Compare Orwellian.

How to pronounce 1984

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “1984”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌnaɪn.tinˌeɪ.tiˈfɔɹ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “1984”.
Repeat and practice — Say “1984” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.