bequeath
be·queath/bɪˈkwiːθ/verb
bequeath is spelled B-E-Q-U-E-A-T-H: 8 letters and 2 syllables (be·queath). It appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 54,808th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, bequeath means “To give or leave by will; to give by testament” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in bequeath?
| Letters | 8: B-E-Q-U-E-A-T-H |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: be·queath |
| In writing | about once in every 3 million words; the 54,808th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
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).
How common is bequeath?
Bequeath appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 54,808th 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 bequeath?
- UK /bɪˈkwiːθ/
- UK /bɪˈkwiːð/
Bequeath has 2 syllables, split be·queath in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-bequeath.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of bequeath
- bequeaths present, singular, he/she/it
- bequeathing participle, present
- bequeathed past, participle
- bequethen participle, past, rare
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does bequeath mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To give or leave by will; to give by testament.
- 2
To hand down; to transmit.
- 3
To give; to offer; to commit.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Bequeath in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | léguer, transmettre , passer , donner, offrir |
| German | hinterlassen, vererben, vermachen, aussetzen , (jemandem etwas) hinterlassen |
| Portuguese | legar , transmitir |
| Spanish | heredar, legar, dejar, ceder , transmitir, conferir |
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 bequeath come from?
From Middle English biquethen, from Old English becweþan (“to say, to speak, to address, exhort, admonish, blame, bequeath, leave by will”). Cognate with Old Frisian biquetha.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).