burlesque
/bə(ɹ)ˈlɛsk/adjective, noun, verb
burlesque is spelled B-U-R-L-E-S-Q-U-E: 9 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 1.3 times per million words in written English, the 25,367th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, burlesque means “Parodical; parodic” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in burlesque?
| Letters | 9: B-U-R-L-E-S-Q-U-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 1.3 times per million words; the 25,367th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
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).
How common is burlesque?
Burlesque appears 1.3 times per million words in written English, the 25,367th 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 burlesque?
- /bə(ɹ)ˈlɛsk/
Burlesque 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: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-burlesque.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of burlesque
- more burlesque comparative
- most burlesque superlative
- burlesques plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- burlesquing participle, present
- burlesqued participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does burlesque mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
datedParodical; parodic
noun
- 1
A derisive art form that mocks by imitation; a parody.
- 2
A variety adult entertainment show, usually including titillation such as striptease, most common from the 1880s to the 1930s.
- 3
A ludicrous imitation; a caricature; a travesty; a gross perversion.
verb
- 1
To make a burlesque parody of.
- 2
To ridicule, or to make ludicrous by grotesque representation in action or in language.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Burlesque in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
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 burlesque come from?
Borrowed from French burlesque, from Italian burlesco (“parodic”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).