jaw
/d͡ʒɔː/noun, verb
jaw is spelled J-A-W: 3 letters and one syllable. It appears 9.5 times per million words in written English, the 7,338th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, jaw means “One of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of jaw is jaws.
How many letters and syllables are in jaw?
| Letters | 3: J-A-W |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 9.5 times per million words; the 7,338th 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 jaw?
Jaw appears 9.5 times per million words in written English, the 7,338th 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 jaw?
- UK /d͡ʒɔː/
- British /d͡ʒoː/
- /d͡ʒɔ/
Jaw has one syllable (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-jaw.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with jaw?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as jaw from its last stressed vowel (/ɔ/, 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 jaw
- jaws plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- jawing participle, present
- jawed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does jaw mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
One of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth.
- 2
The part of the face below the mouth.
His jaw dropped in amazement.
- 3
Anything resembling the jaw (sense 1) of an animal in form or action; the mouth or way of entrance.
the jaws of a pass; the jaws of darkness; the jaws of death.
- 4
A notch or opening.
- 5
A notched or forked part, adapted for holding an object in place.
the jaw of a railway-car pedestal.
- 6
One of a pair of opposing parts which are movable towards or from each other, for grasping or crushing anything between them.
the jaws of a vise; the jaws of a stone-crushing machine.
- 7
The inner end of a boom or gaff, hollowed in a half circle so as to move freely on a mast.
- 8
datedslangImpudent, abusive, or worthless talk.
- 9
ScotlandA wave, a billow, a breaker.
- 10
ScotlandA dash or spurt of water; any large quantity of water or other liquid.
verb
- 1
To assail or abuse by scolding.
- 2
To scold; to clamor.
- 3
informalTo talk; to converse.
- 4
(of a ball) To stick in the jaws of a pocket.
- 5
ScotlandTo pour or throw out.
- 6
ScotlandTo splash; to surge.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Jaw in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | mâchoire, mâchoire inférieure, mâchoire supérieure , mors, mordache |
| German | Kiefer, Unterkiefer, Oberkiefer, Kinnbacke |
| Portuguese | mandíbula |
| Spanish | quijada |
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 jaw come from?
From Middle English jawe/jowe (“jaw; sides of the lower face”, 14th century), the further origin of which is disputed.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).