buttonhole
/ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl/noun, verb
buttonhole is spelled B-U-T-T-O-N-H-O-L-E: 10 letters and 3 syllables. It appears about once in every 7 million words in written English, the 76,798th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, buttonhole means “A hole through which a button is pushed to secure a garment or some part of one” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of buttonhole is buttonholes.
How many letters and syllables are in buttonhole?
| Letters | 10: B-U-T-T-O-N-H-O-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 7 million words; the 76,798th 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 buttonhole?
Buttonhole appears about once in every 7 million words in written English, the 76,798th 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 buttonhole?
- US /ˈbʌtənˌhoʊl/
Buttonhole has 3 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-buttonhole.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with buttonhole
Also written: button-hole (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of buttonhole
- buttonholes plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- button-hole
- button hole
- buttonholing participle, present
- buttonholed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does buttonhole mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A hole through which a button is pushed to secure a garment or some part of one.
- 2
UKA flower worn in a buttonhole for decoration.
- 3
UKSo shaped that it can be worn on a buttonhole or it is similar to a buttonhole.
- 4
A small slotlike cut or incision, made for example by an accident with the scalpel.
- 5
The mouth, nose or eyes of a tiny appearance.
- 6
obsoleteThe vagina, a coin slot.
- 7
The butthole (anus).
verb
- 1
colloquialTo detain (a person) in conversation against their will.
- 2
To cut one or more buttonholes (in).
- 3
To sew by buttonhole stitch.
- 4
archaicTo make a small slot-like incision in (intentionally or unintentionally).
- 5
rareTo apply a flowery formation in.
- 6
archaicrareTo attain buttonhole-like formations on cutting.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate buttonhole?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of buttonhole: BH.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Buttonhole in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | boutonnière , tenir la jambe |
| German | Knopfloch , Boutonniere |
| Portuguese | casa de botão, casa, botoeira |
| Spanish | ojal , cazar al espartillo |
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 buttonhole come from?
Originally buttonhold (“a loop of string to hold a button down”), but changed by folk etymology by influence of hole. By surface analysis, button + hole.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).