Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

gombeen

/ɡɒmˈbiːn/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: gombeen
IPA: /ɡɒmˈbiːn/

12

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

1

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Archaic; Countable; Uncountable

noun

A moneylender during the Great Famine.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A mean, underhanded, corrupt person. Usually applied to politicians.

Countable; Slang; Uncountable

adj

Corrupt, underhanded.

Example Sentences

"It was said by some that he had been a moneylender back in Ireland; a ‘gombeen’ in their slang: a hated figure."
""Could you give me two ounces of butter?" "Well, I don't know. We sell butter usually by the weight half pound or a pound." "Do you sell quarter pounds?" "Well, I think so." "Could you give me half a quarter pound?" "Yes." "Half a quarter pound then." Sebastian watching him. O you sly gombeen man. The backs of these stores, most sordid places in the world. You stupid, intolerable oaf."
"They were talking gombeen politics."

Etymology

Borrowed from Irish gaimbín (“monetary interest”).

Usage

Inflected Forms

gombeens (plural)

Derived Forms

gombeenism gombeenman

Rhymes With

been between mean seen green clean scene machine queen screen magazine golden mean

Questions

How do you pronounce gombeen?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɡɒmˈbiːn/.
What does gombeen mean?: Usury.
Where does gombeen come from?: Borrowed from Irish gaimbín (“monetary interest”).

How to pronounce gombeen

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