Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

decypher

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.15 in modern English

Syllables
de-cypher
IPA
19
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

Etymology

As decipher, but 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- + cypher.

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Questions

What does decypher mean?
Alternative spelling of decipher.
Where does decypher come from?
As decipher, but 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- + cypher.

How to pronounce decypher

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “decypher”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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  4. Repeat and practice — Say “decypher” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.