Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

charybdis

/kəˈɹɪbdɪs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.04 in modern English

Syllables: charyb-dis
IPA: /kəˈɹɪbdɪs/

20

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

name

A dangerous whirlpool on the coast of Sicily opposite Scylla on the Italian coast.

name

A personification of the above whirlpool as a female monster.

name

Any dangerous whirlpool.

Example Sentences

"I have never yet been able to steer my lovers through the Scylla of presence, or the Charybdis of absence."
"…that night, wee ſailed merrily by the Maſcarenas, a Charybdis in 21 degrees, var.13 and 17 minutes…"
"The tide here sets in alternately from N. to S. and from S. to N., which causes the whirlpool of Galofaro, the Charybdis of the ancients."
"Lo! the wave that for ever devours the wave / Casts roaringly up the charybdis again…"

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Χάρυβδις (Khárubdis).

Derived Forms

Charybdian charybdotoxin

Phrases

between Scylla and Charybdis

Frequently Paired Words

Scylla

Questions

How do you pronounce charybdis?: The recorded pronunciation is /kəˈɹɪbdɪs/.
What does charybdis mean?: A dangerous whirlpool on the coast of Sicily opposite Scylla on the Italian coast.
Where does charybdis come from?: Borrowed from Ancient Greek Χάρυβδις (Khárubdis).

How to pronounce charybdis

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