intent
/ɪnˈtɛnt/noun, adjective
intent is spelled I-N-T-E-N-T: 6 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 19 times per million words in written English, the 4,444th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, intent means “Something that is intended” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of intent is intents.
How many letters and syllables are in intent?
| Letters | 6: I-N-T-E-N-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 19 times per million words; the 4,444th 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 intent?
Intent appears 19 times per million words in written English, the 4,444th 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 intent?
- UK /ɪnˈtɛnt/
Intent 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).
What rhymes with intent?
2 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as intent from its last stressed vowel (/ɛnt/, British pronunciation):
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 intent
- intents plural
- more intent comparative
- most intent superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does intent mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Something that is intended.
- 2
The state of someone’s mind at the time of committing an offence.
adjective
- 1
Firmly fixed or concentrated on something.
a mind intent on self-improvement
- 2
Engrossed.
- 3
Unwavering from a course of action.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate intent?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of intent: LOI.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Intent in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | intention , résolu, déterminé , buté |
| German | Absicht |
| Portuguese | intenção |
| Spanish | intención, intento, propósito , concentrado, entregado, decidido |
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 intent come from?
Existing since Middle English entente, from Old French entent or entente, ultimately from Latin intentus. Modified later in spelling to align more closely with the Latin word. Compare intention.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).