eggshell
/ˈɛɡʃɛl/noun, adjective
eggshell is spelled E-G-G-S-H-E-L-L: 8 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 54,808th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, eggshell means “The shell around an egg” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of eggshell is eggshells.
How many letters and syllables are in eggshell?
| Letters | 8: E-G-G-S-H-E-L-L |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 3 million words; the 54,808th 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 eggshell?
Eggshell appears about once in every 3 million words in written English, the 54,808th 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 eggshell?
- /ˈɛɡʃɛl/
Eggshell 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: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-eggshell.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of eggshell
- eggshells plural
- more eggshell comparative
- most eggshell superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does eggshell mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The shell around an egg.
- 2
A pale off-white colour, like that of the eggshell of many chickens.
adjective
- 1
Of a pale yellowish-whitish colour, like that of the eggshell.
- 2
Exhibiting the thinness, translucency or near-transparency, and fragility of an eggshell.
eggshell porcelain
- 3
Very matt, having a low reflexivity, like an eggshell.
This clear varnish is available in gloss, matt and eggshell finishes.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Eggshell in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | coquille d'œuf , coquille d’œuf |
| German | Eierschale |
| Portuguese | casca de ovo |
| Spanish | cáscara de huevo |
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 eggshell come from?
From Middle English eggeshell, ege schelle, egg-shel, egg shelle (also as Middle English eye schell, ey-schel, ey-schelle), partially continuing Old English ǣġsċill, ǣġsċyll (“eggshell”), equivalent to egg + shell. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Oaierskil (“eggshell”), Dutch eierschaal (“eggshell”), German Eierschale (“eggshell”), Danish æggeskal (“eggshell”), Swedish äggskal (“eggshell”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).