embark
em·bark/ɪmˈbɑɹk/verb
embark is spelled E-M-B-A-R-K: 6 letters and 2 syllables (em·bark). It appears 2.5 times per million words in written English, the 17,122nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, embark means “To go aboard a craft or vessel for transportation” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in embark?
| Letters | 6: E-M-B-A-R-K |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: em·bark |
| In writing | 2.5 times per million words; the 17,122nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is embark?
Embark appears 2.5 times per million words in written English, the 17,122nd 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 embark?
- UK /ɪmˈbɑːk/
- UK /ɛmˈbɑːk/
- US /ɪmˈbɑɹk/
Embark has 2 syllables, split em·bark in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-embark.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with embark?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as embark from its last stressed vowel (/ɑɹk/):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of embark
- embarks present, singular, he/she/it
- embarking participle, present
- embarked participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does embark mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To go aboard a craft or vessel for transportation.
All passengers please embark now.
- 2
To start, begin.
Phil embarked on his journey yesterday.
- 3
To cause to go on board a vessel or boat; to put on shipboard.
- 4
To engage, enlist, or invest (as persons, money, etc.) in any affair.
He embarked his fortune in trade.
- 5
To cover or enclose with bark.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Embark in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | monter, embarquer |
| German | einschiffen, an Bord gehen , beginnen, antreten |
| Portuguese | embarcar , começar |
| Spanish | embarcar , embarcarse |
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 embark come from?
Borrowed from Middle French embarquer, from em- + barque (“small ship”). Compare with Portuguese embarcar, Spanish abarcar.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).