Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

holocene

/ˈhɒl.əˌsiːn/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.64 in modern English

Syllables
holocene
IPA
/ˈhɒl.əˌsiːn/
13
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
1
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Of a geologic epoch within the Quaternary period from about the year 10 000 BC to the present; the age of man.

name

The Holocene epoch.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From French Holocène, based on holo- (“whole”) + Ancient Greek καινός (kainós, “fresh, new”). Coined to replace the earlier (1833) label Recent, formally submitted in 1867 and officially endorsed in 1969. The concept is that this epoch is entirely (wholly) new. By surface analysis, holo- + -cene.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: Holocène, καινός

Inflected Forms

the Holocene (canonical)

Derived Forms

Questions

How do you pronounce holocene?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈhɒl.əˌsiːn/.
What does holocene mean?
Of a geologic epoch within the Quaternary period from about the year 10 000 BC to the present; the age of man.
Where does holocene come from?
It is traced to French.

How to pronounce holocene

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