Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pangloss

/pˈænɡlˌɑs/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.50 in modern English

Syllables: pan-gloss
IPA: /pˈænɡlˌɑs/

11

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A naively or unreasonably optimistic person.

Example Sentences

"I am as much a Pangloss as ever, only less contemptuous than I used to be, when I argue how unwise it is to feel contempt for anything."

Etymology

From Dr. Pangloss, a character in Voltaire's Candide.

Inflected Forms

Panglosses (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

Panglossian Panglossianism Panglossic

Questions

How do you pronounce pangloss?: The recorded pronunciation is /pˈænɡlˌɑs/.
What does pangloss mean?: A naively or unreasonably optimistic person.
Where does pangloss come from?: From Dr. Pangloss, a character in Voltaire's Candide.

How to pronounce pangloss

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