effeminate
/ɪˈfɛmɪnət/adjective, verb, noun
effeminate is spelled E-F-F-E-M-I-N-A-T-E: 10 letters and 4 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 40,703rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a derogatory adjective, effeminate means “Of a boy or man, exhibiting behavior or mannerisms considered typical of a woman or unmasculine” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in effeminate?
| Letters | 10: E-F-F-E-M-I-N-A-T-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 40,703rd 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 effeminate?
Effeminate appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 40,703rd 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 effeminate?
- /ɪˈfɛmɪnət/
As a verb (“To make womanly; to unman”): /ɪˈfɛmɪneɪt/.
Effeminate 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: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-effeminate.wav, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-effeminate2.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of effeminate
- more effeminate comparative
- most effeminate superlative
- effeminates present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- effeminating participle, present
- effeminated participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does effeminate mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
derogatoryOf a boy or man, exhibiting behavior or mannerisms considered typical of a woman or unmasculine.
- 2
obsoleteWomanly; tender, affectionate, caring.
verb
- 1
archaicnonstandardTo make womanly; to unman.
the studie of sciences doth more weaken and effeminate mens minds, than corroborate and adapt them to warre.
- 2
To become womanly.
noun
- 1
An effeminate person.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Effeminate in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense of a man, behaving like a woman:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | efféminé, efféminée |
| German | weibisch, tuntig, effeminiert, verweichlicht, verweiblicht |
| Portuguese | afeminado, efeminado, mulheril, adamado, amulherado, afemeado |
| Spanish | afeminado, amanerado, amujerado, ahembrado, adamado, mujeril |
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 effeminate come from?
From Middle English effeminat, effemynat, from Latin effēminātus, past participle of effēminō, from fēmina (“woman”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).