Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

sheepfold

/ˈʃiːp.fəʊld/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.67 in modern English

Syllables: sheep-fold
IPA: /ˈʃiːp.fəʊld/

18

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An enclosure for keeping sheep.

noun

A flock of sheep.

Example Sentences

"If civilized life had covered over the ancient verities, Dumuzi learns in his tragic death that the sheepfold is still there to reclaim him."
"We weep because the Lord’s sheepfold is guarded by wolves; we despair because truth gasps for breath amid lies."

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English shepefald, perhaps from Late Old English sċēapa falde (literally “sheep's fold”), equivalent to sheep + fold.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: shepefald, sċēapa falde

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˈʃiːp.fəʊld/

Inflected Forms

sheepfolds (plural)

Synonyms

fold sheep pen sheepcote

Questions

How do you pronounce sheepfold?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈʃiːp.fəʊld/.
What does sheepfold mean?: An enclosure for keeping sheep.
Where does sheepfold come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce sheepfold

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