Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

frumpy

/ˈfɹʌm.pi/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.28 in modern English

Syllables: frumpy
IPA: /ˈfɹʌm.pi/

16

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Dowdy, unkempt, or unfashionable.

adj

Dated

Example Sentences

"She came to the door in a frumpy housedress and bedroom slippers."
"Although still young at heart and head, he looks more and more like his old friend Archimedes, increasingly bearded and increasingly grey, with an otherworldly mien – a look that should earn him a spot in the online quiz featuring portraits of frumpy old men under the rubric “Prof or Hobo?”"

Etymology

Either from frump or from Middle English frumple + -y.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: frumple

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈfɹʌm.pi/
British English: /ˈfɹʌm.pɪ/

Usage

Dated

Inflected Forms

frumpier (comparative) frumpiest (superlative)

Derived Forms

unfrumpy

Frequently Paired Words

frump frumpily frumpiness frumple

Synonyms

dowdy frumpish

Rhymes With

grumpy bumpy lumpy jumpy dumpy clumpy

Questions

How do you pronounce frumpy?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈfɹʌm.pi/.
What does frumpy mean?: Dowdy, unkempt, or unfashionable.
Where does frumpy come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce frumpy

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