Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

thumbnail

/ˈθʌm.neɪl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.24 in modern English

Syllables
thumb-nail
IPA
/ˈθʌm.neɪl/
16
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
9
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The fingernail on the thumb.

noun

A rough sketch (e.g., the size of one's thumbnail).

noun

A small picture, used as a compact representation of a larger image.

noun

A small picture representing a post or a video in a list.

verb

To describe concisely.

Transitive verb

verb

To create a smaller representation of (a larger image).

Transitive verb

Etymology

From thumb + nail. Compare West Frisian tommeneil (“thumbnail”), Dutch duimnagel (“thumbnail”), German Daumennagel (“thumbnail”). The phrase thumbnail sketch was first attested 1852. Verb sense attested 1930s.

Usage

Inflected Forms

thumbnails (plural) thumbnails (present, singular) thumbnailing (participle, present) thumbnailed (participle, past) thumbnailed (past)

Derived Forms

thumbnailer

Phrases

thumbnail moon

Frequently Paired Words

icon thumbshot

Rhymes With

scale mail they'll email jail fail detail retail trail rail side rail tail

Questions

How do you pronounce thumbnail?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈθʌm.neɪl/.
What does thumbnail mean?
The fingernail on the thumb.
Where does thumbnail come from?
From thumb + nail. Compare West Frisian tommeneil (“thumbnail”), Dutch duimnagel (“thumbnail”), German Daumennagel (“thumbnail”). The phrase thumbnail sketch was first attested 1852. Verb sense attested 1930s.

How to pronounce thumbnail

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