Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

parenthetical

/ˈpæ.ɹən.θɛt.ɪkl̩/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.15 in modern English

Syllables: par-en-thet-i-cal
IPA: /ˈpæ.ɹən.θɛt.ɪkl̩/

20

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

5

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Using, containing, or within parenthesis.

adj

Explaining or qualifying something.

adj

noun

A word or phrase within parentheses.

noun

A descriptor or modifier enclosed within parentheses and put, indented, in a line of dialogue to describe how it should be acted or directed onscreen.

Example Sentences

"You wrote "Bob (my best friend) works in finance", but I think you should rephrase that parenthetical part."

Etymology

From Medieval Latin parentheticus (from Late Latin parenthesis or Ancient Greek παρένθετος (parénthetos), + -icus) + -al. By surface analysis, par- + en- + thetical.

Origin

Source language: Ancient Greek

Word Breakdown

Root: parentheticus, parenthesis, παρένθετος
Suffix: al

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˈpæ.ɹən.θɛt.ɪkl̩/

Inflected Forms

parentheticals (plural)

Derived Forms

interparenthetical nonparenthetical parentheticality parenthetically parentheticalness

Synonyms

parenthetic parenthetical expression

Rhymes With

theoretical alphabetical heretical antithetical poetical

Questions

How do you pronounce parenthetical?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpæ.ɹən.θɛt.ɪkl̩/.
What does parenthetical mean?: Using, containing, or within parenthesis.
Where does parenthetical come from?: It is traced to Ancient Greek.

How to pronounce parenthetical

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