condom
/ˈkɑn.dəm/noun
condom is spelled C-O-N-D-O-M: 6 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 4.0 times per million words in written English, the 12,940th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, condom means “A flexible sleeve made of latex or other impermeable material such as polyurethane or sheepskin, worn over an erect penis during sexual intercourse…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of condom is condoms.
How many letters and syllables are in condom?
| Letters | 6: C-O-N-D-O-M |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 4.0 times per million words; the 12,940th 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 condom?
Condom appears 4.0 times per million words in written English, the 12,940th 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 condom?
- UK /ˈkɒn.dɒm/
- UK /ˈkɒn.dəm/
- US /ˈkɑn.dəm/
Condom 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: En-us-condom.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of condom
- condoms plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does condom mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A flexible sleeve made of latex or other impermeable material such as polyurethane or sheepskin, worn over an erect penis during sexual intercourse as a contraceptive or as a way to prevent the spread of STIs during PIV, anal, or oral.
buy a pack of condoms
- 2
Any of various forms of flexible sleeve or barrier, variously shaped for either penetrative or receptive body parts, made of latex or other impermeable material such as polyurethane or sheepskin, worn (by anyone with) during sexual activity to prevent pregnancy or the spread of STIs.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Condom in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense flexible sleeve worn on the penis:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | préservatif, capote anglaise, capote, condom |
| German | Präservativ, Kondom, Präser, Pariser, Gummi, Fuffzicher |
| Portuguese | preservativo, camisa de vênus, camisinha, capa, jeito |
| Spanish | preservativo, condón, profiláctico, goma, forro |
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 condom come from?
Unknown. Many speculations exist. Possibly derived from Italian guantone, from guanto (“a glove”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).