Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

malapert

/ˈmæləpɝt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.10 in modern English

Syllables: mal-a-pert
IPA: /ˈmæləpɝt/

12

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A cheeky, impudent, or saucy person.

Archaic

adj

Cheeky, impudent, saucy.

Archaic

name

A personification of impudence or malapertness.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"The follest slouen ondyr heuen, / Prowde, peuiche, lyddyr, and lewde, / Malapert, medyllar, nothyng well thewde, […]"
"Nevertheleſſe I finde him [Iohn Bodine] ſomewhat malapert and bolde in that paſſage of his Methode of Hiſtorie, when he accuseth Plutarke, not onely of ignorance […] but alſo that he often writeth, things altogether incredible and meerely fabulous (theſe are his very words)."
"[…] Take heed of filling their [i.e., children's] heads with VVhimzies, and unprofitable Notions; for this vvill ſooner learn them to be malepert and proud, than ſober and humble."
"A proud heart, evidencing itself in a saucy, malapert, aweless, and careless carriage, is most unbeseeming the condition of servants, and highly displeasing to God in them, as being opposite to that property of fear and trembling which ought to accompany their obedience: "Be obedient with fear and trembling.""
"‘Seize me this malapert caitiff! Bolt and shackle him!’"

Etymology

From mal- (“not, badly”) + apert (“open, revealed; direct, straightforward; clever, expert”), or from Middle French malappert, Old French mal apert (“ill-skilled”).

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Prefix: mal
Root: malappert, mal apert

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈmæləpɝt/
British English: /ˈmæləpɜːt/

Usage

Inflected Forms

malaperts (plural) malepart (alternative, obsolete) more malapert (comparative) most malapert (superlative)

Derived Forms

Malapert malapertly malapertness

Frequently Paired Words

cheeky malapert malapertly malapertness

Synonyms

brazenface cheeky chappie cheeky chops cheeky monkey jackanapes malapert minx saucebox cheeky

Antonyms

sycophant

Questions

How do you pronounce malapert?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈmæləpɝt/.
What does malapert mean?: A cheeky, impudent, or saucy person.
Where does malapert come from?: It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce malapert

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