Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

marionette

/ˌmæɹi.əˈnɛt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.44 in modern English

Syllables: mar-i-onette
IPA: /ˌmæɹi.əˈnɛt/

12

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A puppet, usually made of wood, which is animated by the pulling of strings.

noun

The buffel duck.

Obsolete

verb

To control (somebody) as if they were a puppet; to manipulate.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"If you think we are worked by strings, Like a Japanese marionette, You don't understand these things: It is simply Court etiquette."

Etymology

Borrowed from French marionnette. The word had originally meant a small statue of the Virgin Mary, then also a puppet of her used in religious theatrical presentations, finally generalised to any puppet.

Origin

Source language: French

Word Breakdown

Root: marionnette

Usage

Inflected Forms

marionettes (plural) marionettes (present, singular) marionetting (participle, present) marionetted (participle, past) marionetted (past)

Derived Forms

marionettelike marionettish marionettist Muppet Supermarionation supermarionette

Phrases

marionette line

Frequently Paired Words

manipulator

Synonyms

puppet

Rhymes With

get let set yet working set met forget internet beat heat bet net

Questions

How do you pronounce marionette?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌmæɹi.əˈnɛt/.
What does marionette mean?: A puppet, usually made of wood, which is animated by the pulling of strings.
Where does marionette come from?: It is traced to French.

How to pronounce marionette

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