astern
/əˈstɝn/adverb, adjective, preposition
astern is spelled A-S-T-E-R-N: 6 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 51,738th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adverb, astern means “Behind (a vessel); in the rear” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in astern?
| Letters | 6: A-S-T-E-R-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 3 million words; the 51,738th 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; 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 astern?
Astern appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 51,738th 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 astern?
- US /əˈstɝn/
- UK /əˈstɜːn/
Astern has 2 syllables (counted from the pronunciation).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-astern.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with astern?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as astern from its last stressed vowel (/ɜɹn/):
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 astern
- more astern comparative
- most astern superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does astern mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adverb
- 1
Behind (a vessel); in the rear.
- 2
In the direction of the stern; backward (motion); to the rear.
- 3
obsoleterareAt or toward the rear of a vessel.
adjective
- 1
Behind a vessel; having a bearing of 180 degrees from ahead.
If one ship is following another, the first is astern of the second.
preposition
- 1
Behind (a vessel); in the rear.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Astern in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | achtern , achterlich |
| Spanish | hacia atrás , detrás, a popa |
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 astern come from?
From a- (“towards”) + stern (“rear part of a vessel”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).