Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

utu

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.72 in modern English

Syllables: utu
IPA

3

Scrabble Score

3

Letters

1

Syllables

2

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Compensation for a wrong suffered; reciprocal exchange or payment; (loosely), payback, revenge.

New Zealand usage; Uncountable

name

Initialism of Ulster Teachers' Union.

name

Initialism of United Transportation Union.

name

Initialism of University of Turku.

name

A Sumerian deity, the son of the moon god Nanna and the goddess Ningal.

Example Sentences

"Utu determined that relations among individuals, and between families, communities and tribes, were governed by mutual obligation and an implicit keeping of social accounts […]."
"Utu demanded that both favors and grievances be repaid in kind, but it was the grievances, naturally, that caused the most trouble."
"The match had been touted as a chance for utu after the 1999 and 2007 All Blacks World Cup defeats."

Etymology

Borrowed from Māori utu.

Origin

Source language: Sumerian

Word Breakdown

Root: 𒀭𒌓

Usage

Questions

What does utu mean?: Compensation for a wrong suffered; reciprocal exchange or payment; (loosely), payback, revenge.
Where does utu come from?: It is traced to Sumerian.

How to pronounce utu

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