inspiration
/ˌɪn.spɚˈeɪ.ʃən/noun
inspiration is spelled I-N-S-P-I-R-A-T-I-O-N: 11 letters and 4 syllables. It appears 26 times per million words in written English, the 3,558th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, inspiration means “The drawing of air into the lungs, accomplished in mammals by elevation of the chest walls and flattening of the diaphragm, as part of the act of…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of inspiration is inspirations.
How many letters and syllables are in inspiration?
| Letters | 11: I-N-S-P-I-R-A-T-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 26 times per million words; the 3,558th 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 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 inspiration?
Inspiration appears 26 times per million words in written English, the 3,558th 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 inspiration?
- UK /ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/
- US /ˌɪn.spɚˈeɪ.ʃən/
- Australia /ˌɪn.spəˈɹæɪ.ʃən/
Inspiration has 4 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-inspiration.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with inspiration?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as inspiration from its last stressed vowel (/eɪʃən/):
- situation
- association
- population
- administration
- operation
- organization
- application
- location
- generation
- foundation
- conversation
- investigation
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 inspiration
- inspirations plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does inspiration mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The drawing of air into the lungs, accomplished in mammals by elevation of the chest walls and flattening of the diaphragm, as part of the act of breathing.
Holonym: respiration
- 2
A single inward breath (intake of air).
- 3
A supernatural divine influence on the prophets, apostles, or sacred writers, by which they were qualified to communicate moral or religious truth with authority; a supernatural influence which qualifies people to receive and communicate divine truth; also, the truth communicated.
The question, therefore, at issue is, not whether those external means be sufficient without grace and divine inspiration, for none pretends that": but, in order to hinder men from feigning or imagining an inspiration, whether it has not be
- 4
The act or process of an elevating or stimulating influence upon the intellect, emotions or creativity.
She was waiting for inspiration to write a book.
- 5
A person, object, or situation which quickens or stimulates an influence upon the intellect, emotions or creativity.
The trip was an inspiration to her for writing a book.
- 6
A new idea, especially one which arises suddenly and is clever or creative.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate inspiration?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of inspiration: inspo.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Inspiration in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Einatmung, Einatmen, Einschnaufen , Inspiration |
| Portuguese | inspiração , inalação |
| Spanish | inspiración |
| French | inspiration |
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 inspiration come from?
From Middle English inspiracioun, from Old French inspiration, from Late Latin īnspīrātiōnem (nominative: īnspīrātiō), from Latin īnspīrātus (past participle of inspīrō). By surface analysis, inspire + -ation. Displaced native Old English onbryrdnes (literally “in-pricked-ness”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).