Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

abacost

/ˈæ.bə.kɑst/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: aba-cost
IPA: /ˈæ.bə.kɑst/

11

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A short- or long-sleeved button-up jacket, worn without a shirt, that was promoted in Zaire under the regime of Mobutu Sese Seko.

Example Sentences

"Wearing a collarless jacket called the abacost that reflected the style of chairman Mao, Mobutu outlawed the traditional suits and business dress of the West."
"The abacost became Mobutu's personal trademark, […]"
"[T]he new leader [Mobutu Sese Seko] embarked on a campaign of 'Africanisation', with […] suits giving way to the abacost (a Congolese version of the Mao jacket); […]"
"[A]ll western clothing was banned—to be replaced by one-piece tunic called an abacost."

Etymology

From French. A contraction of à bas le costume (“down with the western suit”)

Origin

Source language: French

Word Breakdown

Root: -

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈæ.bə.kɑst/
British English: /ˈæ.bə.kɒst/

Inflected Forms

abacosts (plural)

Questions

How do you pronounce abacost?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈæ.bə.kɑst/.
What does abacost mean?: A short- or long-sleeved button-up jacket, worn without a shirt, that was promoted in Zaire under the regime of Mobutu Sese Seko.
Where does abacost come from?: It is traced to French.

How to pronounce abacost

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “abacost”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈæ.bə.kɑst/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “abacost”.
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