Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

frisson

/fɹiˈsoʊn/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.22 in modern English

Syllables: fris-son
IPA: /fɹiˈsoʊn/

10

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A sudden surge of excitement.

noun

A shiver; a thrill.

Example Sentences

"I felt a frisson just as they were about to announce the winner in my category."
"As a perversion of freedom it was, like any perversion, erotic; as alienation it carried the frisson of having just missed the brass ring, a sensation that always brought one back for more."
"Whenever the villain's theme played in the movie I felt a sudden frisson down my back."
"All the Crichton books depend to a certain extent on a little frisson of fear and suspense: that’s what kept you turning the pages."

Etymology

Borrowed from French frisson.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /fɹiˈsoʊn/
British English: /ˈfɹiː.sɔ̃ː/

Inflected Forms

frissons (plural)

Synonyms

shiver chill quiver shudder thrill tingle

Rhymes With

trombone

Questions

How do you pronounce frisson?: The recorded pronunciation is /fɹiˈsoʊn/.
What does frisson mean?: A sudden surge of excitement.
Where does frisson come from?: Borrowed from French frisson.

How to pronounce frisson

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