Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bandana

/bænˈdæn.ə/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.75 in modern English

Syllables: ban-dan-a
IPA: /bænˈdæn.ə/

10

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A large kerchief, usually colourful and used either as headgear or as a handkerchief, neckerchief, bikini, or sweatband.

noun

A style of calico printing, in which white or bright spots are produced upon cloth previously dyed a uniform red or dark colour, by discharging portions of the color by chemical means, while the rest of the cloth is under pressure.

Example Sentences

"Neighbours now came hurrying in, and one after another missed some trifling article of property which the deceased was known to have possessed. There were three thin spoons, real silver, on which she greatly prided herself; they were gone. A large silver watch, together with a red silk shawl and a Bandana handkerchief, very regular parts of her Sunday attire, were also not to be found."
"One cure for a headache involved binding the stalk of the herb crosswort to the head with a red bandana[.]"

Etymology

Borrowed from Hindi बंधन (bandhan, “the act of binding, a bond”), from Sanskrit बध्नाति (badhnāti, “he binds”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- (“to bind, bond”). Related to Hindi बाँधना (bāndhnā, “to tie”). Doublet of bind.

Origin

Source language: Sanskrit

Word Breakdown

Root: *bʰendʰ-, बन्ध्, बध्नाति

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /bænˈdæn.ə/
British English: /bænˈdæn.ə/

Inflected Forms

bandanas (plural) bandanna (alternative) bandanno (alternative) bandannoe (alternative, obsolete)

Derived Forms

bandanaed

Phrases

bandana code bandana of the Everglades bandana thrash

Synonyms

bandanna

Rhymes With

anna indiana louisiana montana hannah diana banana ghana lana savannah hanna nana

Questions

How do you pronounce bandana?: The recorded pronunciation is /bænˈdæn.ə/.
What does bandana mean?: A large kerchief, usually colourful and used either as headgear or as a handkerchief, neckerchief, bikini, or sweatband.
Where does bandana come from?: It is traced to Sanskrit.

How to pronounce bandana

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