Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

kantele

/ˈkɑntəleɪ̯/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.12 in modern English

Syllables
kan-tele
IPA
/ˈkɑntəleɪ̯/
11
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A plucked string instrument (a zither) of the Baltic psaltery family, traditionally with five strings but now more widely varying, originating in the folk music of Finland, where it is seen as a national symbol.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Finnish kantele. Ultimate etymology contested; see Proto-Finnic *kandël for theories.

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈkɑntəleɪ̯/
  • British English: /ˈkæntələ/

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Music.

Inflected Forms

kanteles (plural)

Questions

How do you pronounce kantele?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈkɑntəleɪ̯/.
What does kantele mean?
A plucked string instrument (a zither) of the Baltic psaltery family, traditionally with five strings but now more widely varying, originating in the folk music of Finland, where it is seen as a national symbol.
Where does kantele come from?
From Finnish kantele. Ultimate etymology contested; see Proto-Finnic *kandël for theories.

How to pronounce kantele

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