Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

lectern

/ˈlɛktə(ɹ)n/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.44 in modern English

Syllables
lectern
IPA
/ˈlɛktə(ɹ)n/
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A stand with a slanted top used to support a Bible from which passages are read during a church service.

noun

A similar stand to support a lecturer's notes.

Etymology

15th century partial re-Latinization of early 14th century Middle English lettorne, lettron, from Old French leitrun, from Medieval Latin lectrinum, from Late Latin lectrum, from lectus (from whence also lecture), form of Latin legō (“to read”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: *leǵ-, lettorne, leitrun, lectrinum, lectrum, legō

Inflected Forms

lecterns (plural) lettern (alternative, archaic)

Frequently Paired Words

lection lecture lector lesson

Synonyms

podium pulpit reading desk

Questions

How do you pronounce lectern?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈlɛktə(ɹ)n/.
What does lectern mean?
A stand with a slanted top used to support a Bible from which passages are read during a church service.
Where does lectern come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce lectern

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