Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

nearest and dearest

/ˈnɪɹɪst(ə)n ˈdɪɹɪst/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.34 in modern English

Syllables
near-est and dear-est
IPA
/ˈnɪɹɪst(ə)n ˈdɪɹɪst/
19
Scrabble Score
17
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Closest, most intimate.

Example Sentences

Etymology

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈnɪɹɪst(ə)n ˈdɪɹɪst/
  • British English: /ˈnɪəɹɪst(ə)n ˈdɪəɹɪst/

Inflected Forms

form only (superlative)

Questions

How do you pronounce nearest and dearest?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈnɪɹɪst(ə)n ˈdɪɹɪst/.
What does nearest and dearest mean?
Closest, most intimate.
Where does nearest and dearest come from?
] The adjective sense appears to predate the noun sense.

How to pronounce nearest and dearest

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