Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

four-letter word

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.71 in modern English

Syllables: four-let-ter -word
IPA

21

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A reference to any of several of the strongest English swear words that are also four letters long, especially those composing the so-called seven dirty words.

noun

A swear word or any words considered to be taboo in a given scenario (regardless of length of word).

Example Sentences

"Good authors, too, who once knew better words / Now only use four-letter words"
"Words can make you pay and pay / Four-letter words I cannot say"
"People say that you were born lazy / because you think that work is four-letter word"
"To me, coming from you, 'Friend' is a four letter word"
"“Tech” is not yet a four-letter word, but it could soon become one."

Etymology

From the frequency of the most common swear words being composed of or spelt with four letters.

Inflected Forms

four-letter words (plural)

Synonyms

four-letter anglo-saxon word

Questions

What does four-letter word mean?: A reference to any of several of the strongest English swear words that are also four letters long, especially those composing the so-called seven dirty words.
Where does four-letter word come from?: From the frequency of the most common swear words being composed of or spelt with four letters.

How to pronounce four-letter word

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