Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

decipher

/dɪˈsaɪfə(ɹ)/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.14 in modern English

Syllables
de-ci-pher
IPA
/dɪˈsaɪfə(ɹ)/
16
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To convert a code or cipher to plain text.

Transitive verb

verb

To read text that is almost illegible or obscure.

Transitive verb

verb

To make sense of a complex situation.

Transitive verb

verb

To find a solution to a problem.

Transitive verb

noun

A decipherment; a decoding.

Example Sentences

Etymology

As decypher, but not retaining the y from the Old French etyma of cipher (cyfre, cyffre); the i spelling tends to be preferred etymologically, being consistent with its cognates, the French déchiffrer and the Italian decifrare, and with their common ancestor, the Medieval Latin cifra, cifera, ciphra. By surface analysis, de- + cipher.

Regional Pronunciation

  • British English: /dɪˈsaɪfə(ɹ)/

Usage

Inflected Forms

deciphers (present, singular) deciphering (participle, present) deciphered (participle, past) deciphered (past) decypher (alternative) deciphers (plural)

Derived Forms

decipherability decipherable decipheration decipherer decipheress decipherment indecipherability indecipherable misdecipher redecipher undecipher undecipherable

Frequently Paired Words

recipher recode

Synonyms

decode decrypt uncode resolve unriddle work out absolve decipher get to the bottom of iron out meliorate puzzle out

Antonyms

encipher encode encrypt

Rhymes With

cipher pfeiffer cypher heifer lifer pfeifer fifer phifer leifer slifer pifer schleifer

Questions

How do you pronounce decipher?
The recorded pronunciation is /dɪˈsaɪfə(ɹ)/.
What does decipher mean?
To convert a code or cipher to plain text.
Where does decipher come from?
As decypher, but not retaining the y from the Old French etyma of cipher (cyfre, cyffre); the i spelling tends to be preferred etymologically, being consistent with its cognates, the French déchiffrer and the Italian decifrare, and with their common ancestor, the Medieval Latin cifra, cifera, ciphra. By surface analysis, de- + cipher.

How to pronounce decipher

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