convalescent
/ˌkɒnvəˈlɛsənt/adjective, noun
convalescent is spelled C-O-N-V-A-L-E-S-C-E-N-T: 12 letters and 4 syllables. It appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 47,073rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, convalescent means “recovering one's health and strength after a period of illness; on the mend” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in convalescent?
| Letters | 12: C-O-N-V-A-L-E-S-C-E-N-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 3 million words; the 47,073rd 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 convalescent?
Convalescent appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 47,073rd 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 convalescent?
- /ˌkɒnvəˈlɛsənt/
Convalescent has 4 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-convalescent.oga, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of convalescent
- convalescents plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does convalescent mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
recovering one's health and strength after a period of illness; on the mend.
- 2
of convalescence or convalescents
She stayed in a convalescent hospital for two weeks before returning home.
noun
- 1
A person recovering from illness.
I had been ill in health, but am now a convalescent.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Convalescent in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | genesend, gesundend , de Genesung betreffend, Genesende betreffend , Genesende, Genesender |
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 convalescent come from?
From French convalescent, from Latin convalēscēn(t-)s, present participle of convalēscere (“to become strong or well”); see convalesce.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).