lilt
/lɪlt/verb, noun
lilt is spelled L-I-L-T: 4 letters and one syllable. It appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 74,122nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, lilt means “To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in lilt?
| Letters | 4: L-I-L-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 6 million words; the 74,122nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
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 lilt?
Lilt appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 74,122nd 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 lilt?
- /lɪlt/
Lilt 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: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-lilt.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with lilt?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as lilt.
Spelled with the same letters in another order: till.
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 lilt
- lilts present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- lilting participle, present
- lilted participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does lilt mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To do something rhythmically, with animation and quickness, usually of music.
- 2
To sing cheerfully, especially in Gaelic.
- 3
To utter with spirit, animation, or gaiety; to sing with spirit and liveliness.
noun
- 1
An animated, brisk motion; a spirited rhythm; sprightliness.
- 2
A lively song or dance; a cheerful tune.
- 3
A cheerful or melodious accent or style in speaking.
Though Bane’s sing-song voice gives his pronouncements a funny lilt, he doesn’t have any of the Joker’s deranged wit, and Nolan isn’t interested in undercutting his seriousness for the sake of a breezier entertainment.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Lilt in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense to sing cheerfully:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | trällern |
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 lilt come from?
From Middle English lilten, lulten.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).