Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

spectator

/ˈspɛkteɪtɚ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.51 in modern English

Syllables: spec-ta-tor
IPA: /ˈspɛkteɪtɚ/

13

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

One who watches an event; especially, an event held outdoors.

noun

One who observes, sees, or views something; an observer.

Example Sentences

"The cheering spectators watched the fireworks."
"Bart spies an opportunity to make a quick buck so he channels his inner carny and posits his sinking house as a natural wonder of the world and its inhabitants as freaks, barking to dazzled spectators, “Behold the horrors of the Slanty Shanty! See the twisted creatures that dwell within! Meet Cue-Ball, the man with no hair!”"
"The ſpring diſplaying her elegant taſte, the proud walk of the gold-feathered pheaſant, the light tread of the ſmall-hoofed hind, and the dancing of the ſtar-trained peacock, infuſed joy into the ſoul of the ſpectator of the aſtoniſhing works of the Creator."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin spectātor, from frequentative verb spectō (“watch”), from speciō (“look at”). Equivalent to spectate + -or. Doublet of speculator.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: spectātor
Suffix: spectate

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈspɛkteɪtɚ/
British English: /spɛkˈteɪtə/

Inflected Forms

spectators (plural) spectatour (alternative)

Derived Forms

spectate spectatordom spectatorial spectatoring spectatorism spectatoritis spectatorless spectatorship spectatress telespectator

Phrases

spect-actor spectator chair spectator ion spectator ligand spectator sport

Synonyms

audience observer crowd spectator pump witness viewer watcher looker

Rhymes With

later greater creator narrator traitor translator dictator waiter cater crater curator mater

Questions

How do you pronounce spectator?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈspɛkteɪtɚ/.
What does spectator mean?: One who watches an event; especially, an event held outdoors.
Where does spectator come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce spectator

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