Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

vacuum cleaner

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.68 in modern English

Syllables: vac-u-um -clean-er
IPA

22

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

5

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A device that uses suction, and often agitation, in order to remove dirt and other debris from carpets and hard floors.

noun

Slang

Example Sentences

"And if that's not a good enough explanation, you can shove it up your vacuum cleaner and turn it on high!"

Etymology

From vacuum + cleaner. By synchronic analysis, vacuum-clean (a back-formation) + -er.

Word Breakdown

Suffix: er

Usage

Slang

Inflected Forms

vacuum cleaners (plural) vacuum-cleaner (alternative)

Phrases

cyclonic vacuum cleaner vacuum-clean

Synonyms

hoover vacuum sweeper

Questions

What does vacuum cleaner mean?: A device that uses suction, and often agitation, in order to remove dirt and other debris from carpets and hard floors.
Where does vacuum cleaner come from?: From vacuum + cleaner. By synchronic analysis, vacuum-clean (a back-formation) + -er.

How to pronounce vacuum cleaner

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “vacuum cleaner”.
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 “vacuum cleaner”.
Repeat and practice — Say “vacuum cleaner” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.