mercy
mer·cy/ˈmɝsi/noun, verb, interjection
mercy is spelled M-E-R-C-Y: 5 letters and 2 syllables (mer·cy). It appears 18 times per million words in written English, the 4,667th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data, counting Mercy, the name). As a noun, mercy means “Relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of mercy is mercies.
How many letters and syllables are in mercy?
| Letters | 5: M-E-R-C-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: mer·cy |
| In writing | 18 times per million words; the 4,667th 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; 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 mercy?
Mercy appears 18 times per million words in written English, the 4,667th most frequent word form in the list. The list counts every capitalisation together, so this includes Mercy, the name.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce mercy?
- UK /ˈmɜːsi/
- US /ˈmɝsi/
Mercy has 2 syllables, split mer·cy in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-mercy.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with mercy?
2 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as mercy from its last stressed vowel (/ɜɹsi/):
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 mercy
- mercies plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- mercying participle, present
- mercied participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does mercy mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another.
She took mercy on him and quit embarrassing him.
- 2
Forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate.
Have mercy on the poor and assist them if you can.
- 3
A tendency toward forgiveness, pity, or compassion.
Mercy is one of his many virtues.
- 4
Instances of forbearance or forgiveness.
- 5
A blessing; something to be thankful for.
It was a mercy that we were not inside when the roof collapsed
- 6
A children's game in which two players stand opposite with hands grasped and twist each other's arms until one gives in.
verb
- 1
To feel mercy
- 2
To show mercy; to pardon or treat leniently because of mercy
interjection
- 1
Expressing surprise or alarm.
Mercy! Look at the state of you!
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Mercy in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | miséricorde, pitié |
| German | Barmherzigkeit, Erbarmen, Gnade , Mitleid |
| Portuguese | misericórdia, piedade |
| Spanish | misericordia, piedad |
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 mercy come from?
From Middle English mercy, merci, from Anglo-Norman merci (compare continental Old French merci, mercit), from Latin mercēs (“wages, fee, price”), from merx (“wares, merchandise”). Displaced native Old English mildheortnes (literally "mildheartedness"). Cognate with French merci, whence the doublet merci.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).