mandolin
/ˈmændə(ˌ)lɪn/noun, verb
mandolin is spelled M-A-N-D-O-L-I-N: 8 letters and 3 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 37,943rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, mandolin means “A stringed instrument of the lute family, having eight strings in four courses, frequently tuned as a violin, and with either a bowl-shaped back or a…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of mandolin is mandolins.
How many letters and syllables are in mandolin?
| Letters | 8: M-A-N-D-O-L-I-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 37,943rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none 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 mandolin?
Mandolin appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 37,943rd 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 mandolin?
- /ˈmændə(ˌ)lɪn/
- /ˌmændəˈlɪn/
Mandolin has 3 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: En-us-mandolin.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of mandolin
- mandolins plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- mandoline
- mandolining participle, present
- mandolined participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does mandolin mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A stringed instrument of the lute family, having eight strings in four courses, frequently tuned as a violin, and with either a bowl-shaped back or a flat back.
- 2
A kitchen tool for julienning vegetables.
verb
- 1
To slice using a madolin; to julienne.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate mandolin?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of mandolin: mando.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Mandolin in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | mandoline |
| German | Mandoline , Gemüsehobel, Krauthobel |
| Portuguese | bandolim , mandolina |
| Spanish | mandolina |
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 mandolin come from?
From French mandoline, from Italian mandolino, diminutive of mandola, a large stringed instrument.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).