ashen
ash·en/ˈæʃ.ən/adjective, verb
ashen is spelled A-S-H-E-N: 5 letters and 2 syllables (ash·en). It appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 54,192nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, ashen means “Made from the wood of the ash-tree” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in ashen?
| Letters | 5: A-S-H-E-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: ash·en |
| In writing | about once in every 3 million words; the 54,192nd 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; 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 ashen?
Ashen appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 54,192nd 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 ashen?
- /ˈæʃ.ən/
- [ˈæʃ.ən] ~ [ˈæʃ.n̩]
Ashen has 2 syllables, split ash·en in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-ashen.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with ashen?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as ashen.
Spelled with the same letters in another order: hanse.
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 ashen
- more ashen comparative
- most ashen superlative
- ashens present, singular, he/she/it
- ashening participle, present
- ashened participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does ashen mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Made from the wood of the ash-tree.
An ashen bow and quiver of arrows beside.
- 2
Of or resembling ashes.
A fine, ashen dust hung in the air.
- 3
Ash-colored; pale; anemic
His ashen face belied his claims of good health.
- 4
Appalled; upset.
verb
- 1
To turn into ash; make or become ashy
- 2
To make or become pale
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Ashen in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | eschen , aschig |
| Portuguese | de freixo , cinéreo |
| French | cendré , cendreux |
| Spanish | ceniciento, lívido, pálido |
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 ashen come from?
From Middle English asshen, aisshen, esscen, from Old English æsċen (“made of ashwood”), equivalent to ash + -en (“made or consisting of”). Cognate with Scots aschin, eschin (“ashen”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).