ithyphallic
/ˌɪθɪˈfælɪk/
"ithyphallic" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“ithyphallic” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an adjective - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 11
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Of or pertaining to the erect phallus that was carried in bacchic processions.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | ithyphallic |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Adjective |
| IPA | /ˌɪθɪˈfælɪk/ |
| Letters | 11 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “ithyphallic” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for ithyphallic is 11 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌɪθɪˈfælɪk/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for ithyphallic, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.
Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Late Latin ithyphallicus, from Ancient Greek ἰθυφαλλικός (ithuphallikós), from ῑ̓θῠ́φαλλος (īthŭ́phallos, “phallus carried in festivals of Bacchus; ode sung in honour of the phallus; dance accompanying such an ode; dancer performing such a dan… The correct English form is ithyphallic, spelled I-T-H-Y-P-H-A-L-L-I-C.
Definition
- 1Of or pertaining to the erect phallus that was carried in bacchic processions.
- 2Of or pertaining to the erect phallus that was carried in bacchic processions.
- 3Of or pertaining to an upward pointing, erect penis; (specifically) of an artistic depiction of a deity or other figure: possessing an erect penis.
- 4Lascivious, obscene.
- 5Pertaining to a metrical combination of two trochees followed by one spondee.
Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin ithyphallicus, from Ancient Greek ἰθυφαλλικός (ithuphallikós), from ῑ̓θῠ́φαλλος (īthŭ́phallos, “phallus carried in festivals of Bacchus; ode sung in honour of the phallus; dance accompanying such an ode; dancer performing such a dance”) + -ῐκός (-ĭkós, suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘of or pertaining to’). ῑ̓θῠ́φαλλος is derived from ἰθῠ́ς (ithŭ́s) (variant of εὐθῠ́ς (euthŭ́s, “straight”)) + φαλλός (phallós, “penis; image of a penis, phallus”). The English word can be analysed as ithyphallus + -ic. As regards the noun, compare Latin ithyphallicum (“poem with the same metre as the hymns to Priapus”).
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “ithyphallic”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is I-T-H-Y-P-H-A-L-L-I-C - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˌɪθɪˈfælɪk/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.