Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

matryoshka

/ˌmɑtɹiˈoʊʃkə/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.88 in modern English

Syllables: ma-try-osh-ka
IPA: /ˌmɑtɹiˈoʊʃkə/

22

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

One of a set of wooden Russian dolls of different sizes, designed such that each fits inside the next.

Example Sentences

"The past is not only a foreign country that we half knew existed; it is hiding another concealed country behind it, and behind that one, another, and another – like a set of Russian matryoshki, in which larger dolls conceal smaller."

Etymology

From Russian матрёшка (matrjóška), from personal name Матрёна (Matrjóna), formerly Матрона (Matrona), ultimately from Latin mātrōna (“matron”).

Origin

Source language: Russian

Word Breakdown

Root: матрёшка, mātrōna

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌmɑtɹiˈoʊʃkə/
British English: /ˌmætɹɪˈɒʃkə/

Inflected Forms

matryoshkas (plural) matryoshki (plural) matreshka (alternative) matrëshka (alternative) matrioshka (alternative)

Phrases

Matrioshka brain

Synonyms

babushka babushka doll matryoshka doll Russian doll

Questions

How do you pronounce matryoshka?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌmɑtɹiˈoʊʃkə/.
What does matryoshka mean?: One of a set of wooden Russian dolls of different sizes, designed such that each fits inside the next.
Where does matryoshka come from?: It is traced to Russian.

How to pronounce matryoshka

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