Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ululate

/ˈjuːljuleɪt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: ul-u-late
IPA: /ˈjuːljuleɪt/

7

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To howl loudly or prolongedly in lamentation or joy.

verb

To produce a rapid and prolonged series of sharp noises with one's voice.

Example Sentences

"Should I ever marry, Watson, I should hope to inspire my wife with some feeling which would prevent her from being walked off by a housekeeper when my corpse was lying within a few yards of her. It was badly stage-managed; for even the rawest investigators must be struck by the absence of the usual feminine ululation."
"Women dance in tight circles, ululating with joy, while groups of men sit nearby watching."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ululō, ululātus, of imitative origin. Cognate with Spanish aullar (“to howl”) and ulular (“to hoot”), and French ululer (“to howl”).

Inflected Forms

ululates (present, singular) ululating (participle, present) ululated (participle, past) ululated (past)

Frequently Paired Words

ululant ululatingly ululation

Synonyms

bay howl wail roar yawl yaup

Questions

How do you pronounce ululate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈjuːljuleɪt/.
What does ululate mean?: To howl loudly or prolongedly in lamentation or joy.
Where does ululate come from?: Borrowed from Latin ululō, ululātus, of imitative origin. Cognate with Spanish aullar (“to howl”) and ulular (“to hoot”), and French ululer (“to howl”).

How to pronounce ululate

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ululate”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈjuːljuleɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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