infidel
/ˈɪn.fə.dl̩/adjective, noun
infidel is spelled I-N-F-I-D-E-L: 7 letters and 3 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 38,416th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, infidel means “Rejecting a specific religion” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in infidel?
| Letters | 7: I-N-F-I-D-E-L |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 38,416th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
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); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is infidel?
Infidel appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 38,416th 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 infidel?
- /ˈɪn.fə.dl̩/
- /ˈɪn.fəˌdɛl/
Infidel has 3 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-infidel.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with infidel?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as infidel.
Spelled with the same letters in another order: infield.
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 infidel
- more infidel comparative
- most infidel superlative
- infidels plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does infidel mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Rejecting a specific religion.
- 2
Of, characteristic of, or relating to unbelievers or unbelief.
noun
- 1
derogatoryOne who does not believe in a certain religion.
- 2
derogatoryOne who does not believe in a certain principle.
- 3
derogatoryOne with no religious beliefs.
- 4
derogatoryAn openly Islamophobic individual receiving or seeking praise from other Islamophobic people.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Infidel in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense non-believer:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | infidèle, incroyant, mécréant |
| German | Ungläubiger, Ungläubige |
| Portuguese | infiel |
| Spanish | infiel, descreído, impío, descreída, impía, pérfido |
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 infidel come from?
First attested 1460, from Middle French infidèle, from Latin īnfidēlis (“unfaithful”), from in- (“not”) + fidēlis (“faithful”). See fidelity.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).