argue
/ˈɑɹ.ɡju/verb
argue is spelled A-R-G-U-E: 5 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 29 times per million words in written English, the 3,218th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, argue means “To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in argue?
| Letters | 5: A-R-G-U-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 29 times per million words; the 3,218th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
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 argue?
Argue appears 29 times per million words in written English, the 3,218th 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 argue?
- UK /ˈɑː.ɡjuː/
- US /ˈɑɹ.ɡju/
Argue 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-argue.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with argue?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as argue (/ɑɹɡju/).
Spelled with the same letters in another order: auger.
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 argue
- argues present, singular, he/she/it
- arguing participle, present
- argued participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does argue mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply.
The new increase in crime argues for even tougher jail sentences, according to some.
- 2
To debate, disagree, or discuss opposing or differing viewpoints; to controvert; to wrangle.
He also argued for stronger methods to be used against China.
- 3
To have an argument, a quarrel.
- 4
To present (a viewpoint or an argument therefor).
He argued his point.
- 5
obsoleteTo prove.
- 6
obsoleteTo accuse.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Argue in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| Spanish | argüir, argumentar , discutir, porfiar |
| French | se disputer, se quereller , affirmer, débattre |
| German | streiten , diskutieren, erörtern , argumentieren |
| Portuguese | brigar , discutir, argumentar, debater, arguir |
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 argue come from?
From Middle English arguen, from Old French arguer, from Latin arguere (“to declare, show, prove, make clear, reprove, accuse”), q.v. for more. Displaced native Old English flītan and reċċan.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).