anaphora

/ˌænəˈfɔɹə/

//ˌænəˈfɔɹə// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"anaphora" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“anaphora” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
8
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - The repetition of a phrase at the beginning of phrases, sentences, or verses, used for emphasis.

Key facts for anaphora
PropertyValue
Headwordanaphora
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˌænəˈfɔɹə/
Letters8
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “anaphora” sits in English frequency

anaphora falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

anaphora is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˌænəˈfɔɹə/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

anaphora has no tracked misspelling variants, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Ancient Greek ἀναφορά (anaphorá, “a carrying back”), from ἀνά (aná, “up”) + φέρω (phérō, “I carry”). The correct English form is anaphora, spelled A-N-A-P-H-O-R-A.

Definition

  1. 1
    The repetition of a phrase at the beginning of phrases, sentences, or verses, used for emphasis.
  2. 2
    An expression that refers to a preceding expression.
  3. 3
    The most solemn part of the Divine Liturgy or the Mass during which the offerings of bread and wine are consecrated as body and blood of Christ.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀναφορά (anaphorá, “a carrying back”), from ἀνά (aná, “up”) + φέρω (phérō, “I carry”).

This word in other languages

anáfora(Español)anaphore(Français)Anapher(Deutsch)anáfora(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "anaphora"?
"anaphora" is spelled A-N-A-P-H-O-R-A. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌænəˈfɔɹə/.
What does "anaphora" mean?
As a noun, "anaphora" means: The repetition of a phrase at the beginning of phrases, sentences, or verses, used for emphasis.
How do you pronounce "anaphora"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "anaphora" is /ˌænəˈfɔɹə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "anaphora"?
From Ancient Greek ἀναφορά (anaphorá, “a carrying back”), from ἀνά (aná, “up”) + φέρω (phérō, “I carry”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “anaphora”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is A-N-A-P-H-O-R-A - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˌænəˈfɔɹə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list