Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

periphrase

/ˈpɛɹi.fɹeɪz/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables
pe-riphrase
IPA
/ˈpɛɹi.fɹeɪz/
17
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
2
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; a roundabout, or indirect, way of speaking; circumlocution.

Countable; Uncountable

verb

To express by periphrase or circumlocution.

Transitive verb

verb

To use circumlocution.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Latin periphrasis from Ancient Greek περίφρασις (períphrasis), from περιφράζομαι (periphrázomai, “to consider all sides of an issue”), from περί (perí, “around”) + φράζω (phrázō, “to show, point out”). See phrase.

Regional Pronunciation

  • British English: /ˈpɛɹi.fɹeɪz/

Usage

Inflected Forms

periphrases (plural) periphrases (present, singular) periphrasing (participle, present) periphrased (participle, past) periphrased (past)

Derived Forms

periphrasic unperiphrased

Synonyms

periphrasis

Homonyms

paraphrase (if the second vowel is pronounced as a schwa, as it sometimes is)

Questions

How do you pronounce periphrase?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpɛɹi.fɹeɪz/.
What does periphrase mean?
The use of more words than are necessary to express the idea; a roundabout, or indirect, way of speaking; circumlocution.
Where does periphrase come from?
From Latin periphrasis from Ancient Greek περίφρασις (períphrasis), from περιφράζομαι (periphrázomai, “to consider all sides of an issue”), from περί (perí, “around”) + φράζω (phrázō, “to show, point out”). See phrase.

How to pronounce periphrase

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