Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

zeugma

/ˈzjuːɡ.mə/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.26 in modern English

Syllables: zeug-ma
IPA: /ˈzjuːɡ.mə/

18

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The act of using a word, particularly an adjective or verb, to apply to more than one noun when its sense is appropriate to only one.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"The existence of zeugmas suggests the rule of transitivity. Zeugmas appear incorrect because they embody an allegedly univocal use of a term in a way which violated^([sic]) the rule of transitivity."
"Thus I would describe 'He took his leave and the wrong umbrella' as zeugma, but not 'He took his hat and umbrella'. Zeugma is an important element in Chaucer's poetic technique, not because he uses it, but because he so regularly turns it down."

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ζεῦγμα (zeûgma, “yoking; a bond, a band”), from ζεύγνυμι (zeúgnumi, “to yoke; to join”), from ζεῦγος (zeûgos, “a yoke”).

Origin

Source language: Ancient Greek

Word Breakdown

Root: *yewg-, ζεῦγμα

Usage

Inflected Forms

zeugmata (plural) zeugmas (plural) zeugmenon (alternative)

Frequently Paired Words

diazeugma epizeugma hyperzeugma hypozeugma mesozeugma protozeugma prozeugma synzeugma

Questions

How do you pronounce zeugma?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈzjuːɡ.mə/.
What does zeugma mean?: The act of using a word, particularly an adjective or verb, to apply to more than one noun when its sense is appropriate to only one.
Where does zeugma come from?: It is traced to Ancient Greek.

How to pronounce zeugma

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