dithyramb
/ˈdɪθ.ɪ.ɹæm/
"dithyramb" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“dithyramb” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 9
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A raucous and ardent choral hymn sung in ancient Athens in honor of the god Dionysus.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | dithyramb |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈdɪθ.ɪ.ɹæm/ |
| Letters | 9 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “dithyramb” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for dithyramb is 9 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈdɪθ.ɪ.ɹæm/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
No misspelling variants are generated for dithyramb in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Latin dithyrambus, from Ancient Greek δῑθύραμβος (dīthúrambos). According to the American Heritage Dictionary, it is of non-Indo-European origin (Pre-Greek substrate, Illyrian/Phrygian), related to θρίαμβος and ἴαμβος. Brandenstein also compares Sanskr… The correct English form is dithyramb, spelled D-I-T-H-Y-R-A-M-B.
Definition
- 1A raucous and ardent choral hymn sung in ancient Athens in honor of the god Dionysus.
- 2A poem or oration in the same style.
- 3An impassioned speech; a rant.
Etymology
From Latin dithyrambus, from Ancient Greek δῑθύραμβος (dīthúrambos). According to the American Heritage Dictionary, it is of non-Indo-European origin (Pre-Greek substrate, Illyrian/Phrygian), related to θρίαμβος and ἴαμβος. Brandenstein also compares Sanskrit अङ्ग (aṅga, “member”).
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “dithyramb”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is D-I-T-H-Y-R-A-M-B - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˈdɪθ.ɪ.ɹæm/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.