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PlainSpell

intrigue

/ˈɪntɹiːɡ/noun, verb

intrigue is spelled I-N-T-R-I-G-U-E: 8 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 2.3 times per million words in written English, the 18,064th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, intrigue means “A complicated or clandestine plot or scheme intended to affect some purpose by secret artifice; conspiracy; stratagem; the practice of engaging in…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of intrigue is intrigues.

How many letters and syllables are in intrigue?

Letters8: I-N-T-R-I-G-U-E
Syllables2 (from its American pronunciation)
In writing2.3 times per million words; the 18,064th most frequent word form
Wrong spellings searchednone 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 intrigue?

Intrigue appears 2.3 times per million words in written English, the 18,064th 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 intrigue?

  • /ˈɪntɹiːɡ/
  • /ɪnˈtɹiːɡ/

Intrigue 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: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-intrigue_(noun).wav, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-intrigue_(verb).wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).

Forms of intrigue

  • intrigues plural, present, singular, he/she/it
  • intriguing participle, present
  • intrigued participle, past

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

What does intrigue mean?

The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).

noun

  1. 1

    A complicated or clandestine plot or scheme intended to affect some purpose by secret artifice; conspiracy; stratagem; the practice of engaging in hidden schemes.

    His betrayal was the beginning of a complex intrigue intended to give him control of the company.

  2. 2

    Clandestine intercourse between persons; illicit intimacy; a liaison or affair.

    I suspect Suzanne and her mysterious friend of being involved in an intrigue.

  3. 3

    The plot of a play, poem or romance; the series of complications in which a writer involves their imaginary characters.

    The story's intrigue was boring and reminiscent of a thousand better movies.

  4. 4

    A desire to understand something; interest or fascination.

    Your idea has aroused my intrigue.

verb

  1. 1

    To conceive or carry out a secret plan intended to harm; to form a plot or scheme.

  2. 2

    To arouse the interest of; to fascinate.

  3. 3

    To have clandestine or illicit intercourse.

  4. 4

    To fill with artifice and duplicity; to complicate.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

Intrigue in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese

LanguageWords
Frenchintrigue (plot or scheme), intriguer, conspirer (to plan)
GermanIntrige (plot or scheme), intrigieren (to plan), faszinieren (to arouse interest)
Portugueseintriga (plot or scheme), intrigar (to plan)
Spanishintriga (plot or scheme), intrigar (to plan), argumento (the plot of a play)

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 intrigue come from?

Borrowed from French intrigue, from Italian intricare, from Latin intrīcō (“to entangle, perplex, embarrass”). Doublet of intricate.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

What to look up after intrigue