esteem
/ɪˈstiːm/noun, verb
esteem is spelled E-S-T-E-E-M: 6 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 7.9 times per million words in written English, the 8,266th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, esteem means “Assessment, estimation, or regard; especially; favourable estimation or regard” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of esteem is esteems.
How many letters and syllables are in esteem?
| Letters | 6: E-S-T-E-E-M |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 7.9 times per million words; the 8,266th 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 esteem?
Esteem appears 7.9 times per million words in written English, the 8,266th 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 esteem?
- /ɪˈstiːm/
- /əˈstiːm/
Esteem 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: En-us-esteem.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of esteem
- esteems plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- esteeming participle, present
- esteemed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does esteem mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Assessment, estimation, or regard; especially; favourable estimation or regard.
We hold her in high esteem.
verb
- 1
To set a high value on; to regard with respect or reverence.
- 2
To regard something as valuable; to prize.
- 3
To look upon something in a particular way.
Thou shouldest (gentle reader) esteem his censure and authority to be of the more weighty credence.
- 4
datedTo judge; to estimate; to appraise
The Earth, which I esteem unable to reflect the rays of the Sun.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Esteem in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | estime, respect , respecter |
| German | Achtung, Ansehen, Wertschätzung , schätzen, ansehen, achten |
| Portuguese | estima , estimar |
| Spanish | estima, miramiento, reguardo |
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 esteem come from?
First at end of 16th century; borrowed from Middle French estimer, borrowed from Latin aestimō. See estimate and aim, an older word, partly a doublet.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).