Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

tettix

/ˈtɛtɪks/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: tet-tix
IPA: /ˈtɛtɪks/

13

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A cicada, especially in Greece.

Example Sentences

"[T]he Tettix or Cicada in the day time is extremely troubleſome. It is a brown inſect reſembling a chafer, with wings much longer than its body, and thin like thoſe of a fly. […] Dionyſius of Syracuſe ſignified his reſolution to burn and lay waſte the territory of a people, with whom he had a quarrel, when he ſaid, that, if they refuſed to comply with his demands, their Tettixes ſhould ſing on the ground."
"[T]hat Greek waste silent but for the risp of the tettix and the wash of listless wind through the spare grass."
"The woman who had lived on no food at all, however, recalls once more the insect into which Tithonos was transformed: the tettix, which was believed to exist without food or drink, or only on dew, or on dew and air."

Etymology

From Ancient Greek τέττιξ (téttix), or perhaps a modern Greek descendant thereof.

Origin

Source language: Ancient Greek

Word Breakdown

Root: τέττιξ

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /ˈtɛtɪks/

Inflected Forms

tettixes (plural)

Questions

How do you pronounce tettix?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈtɛtɪks/.
What does tettix mean?: A cicada, especially in Greece.
Where does tettix come from?: It is traced to Ancient Greek.

How to pronounce tettix

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