agape
/əˈɡeɪp/adjective, adverb, noun
agape is spelled A-G-A-P-E: 5 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 44,209th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, agape means “In a state of astonishment, wonder, expectation, or eager attention; as with mouth hanging open” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in agape?
| Letters | 5: A-G-A-P-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 44,209th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is agape?
Agape appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 44,209th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce agape?
- US /əˈɡeɪp/
As a noun (“The love of God for mankind, or the benevolent love of…”): /əˈɡɑː.peɪ/, /ˈæɡ.ɑˌpeɪ/, /ˈæɡ.ə.pi/.
Agape has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-agape.ogg, En-au-agape.ogg, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-agape1.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with agape?
7 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as agape from its last stressed vowel (/eɪp/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of agape
- more agape comparative
- most agape superlative
- agapae plural
- agapai plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does agape mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
In a state of astonishment, wonder, expectation, or eager attention; as with mouth hanging open.
- 2
Wide open.
adverb
- 1
In a state of astonishment, wonder, expectation, or eager attention.
- 2
Open wide.
noun
- 1
The love of God for mankind, or the benevolent love of Christians for others.
- 2
Spiritual, altruistic, beneficial love which wills good for others.
- 3
A love feast, especially one held in the early Christian Church in connection with the Eucharist.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Agape in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | bouche bée, monttu auki , agapè |
| Portuguese | boquiaberto , escancarado , ágape |
| Spanish | boquiabierto , ágape |
| German | Agape |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does agape come from?
From a- + gape. First known use by John Milton in Paradise Lost (1667).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).