honest
hon·est/ˈɑ.nɪst/adjective, adverb
honest is spelled H-O-N-E-S-T: 6 letters and 2 syllables (hon·est). It appears 54 times per million words in written English, the 1,899th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, honest means “Scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in honest?
| Letters | 6: H-O-N-E-S-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: hon·est |
| In writing | 54 times per million words; the 1,899th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with | |
| Same letters |
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 honest?
Honest appears 54 times per million words in written English, the 1,899th 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 honest?
- UK /ˈɒn.ɪst/
- UK /ˈɔː.nɪst/
- US /ˈɑ.nɪst/
Honest has 2 syllables, split hon·est in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-honest.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with honest?
One word on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as honest from its last stressed vowel (/ɑnɪst/):
Spelled with the same letters in another order: ethnos.
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 honest
- more honest comparative
- most honest superlative
- honests present, singular, he/she/it
- honesting participle, present
- honested participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does honest mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright.
brutally honest
- 2
True, especially as far as is known by the person making the statement; fair; unbiased.
an honest account of events
- 3
In good faith; without malice.
an honest mistake
- 4
Accurate.
an honest scale
- 5
Authentic; full.
an honest day's work
- 6
Earned or acquired in a fair manner.
an honest dollar
- 7
Open; frank.
an honest countenance
- 8
obsoleteDecent; honourable; suitable; becoming.
adverb
- 1
colloquialHonestly; really.
It wasn’t my fault, honest.
verb
- 1
obsoleteTo adorn or grace; to honour; to make becoming, appropriate, or honourable.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Honest in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense scrupulous with regard to telling the truth:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | honnête |
| German | ehrlich, aufrichtig |
| Portuguese | honesto, sincero |
| Spanish | honesto, sincero |
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 honest come from?
From Middle English honest, honeste (“honourable, appropriate, excellent”), from Old French honeste, from Latin honestus, from honor. For the verb, see Latin honestāre (“to clothe or adorn with honour”), and compare French honester. Displaced native Old English sōþfæst (literally “truth-firm”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).