mirabile dictu

/mɪˌɹɑːbɪleɪ ˈdɪktuː/

//mɪˌɹɑːbɪleɪ ˈdɪktuː// intj

"mirabile-dictu" is a 13-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“mirabile dictu” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as an interjection. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
14
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Wonderfully, amazingly; remarkable to relate.

Corpus desk

Index EN-mirabile-dictu · mirabile dictu · English

mirabile dictu · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-MEGA 14 letters
  • VOW-6 6 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "M" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for mirabile dictu
PropertyValue
Headwordmirabile dictu
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechInterjection
IPA/mɪˌɹɑːbɪleɪ ˈdɪktuː/
Letters14
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “mirabile dictu” in English

mirabile dictufalls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

mirabile dictu is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as aninterjection, transcribed /mɪˌɹɑːbɪleɪ ˈdɪktuː/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "Wonderfully, amazingly; remarkable to relate.".

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for mirabile dictu, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin mīrābile dictū (literally “able to astonish by the saying [of it]”). The correct English form is mirabile dictu, spelled M-I-R-A-B-I-L-E- -D-I-C-T-U.

Definition

  1. 1
    Wonderfully, amazingly; remarkable to relate.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how mirabile dictu appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. And then, mirabile dictu, between the piers, leaping from wave to wave as it rushed at headlong speed, swept the strange schooner before the blast, with all sail set, and gained the safety of the harbour.
  2. Nantucket is a pretty upmarket place. Mirabile dictu, this is one place in the US where not a McDonald's or Burger King is to be seen.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin mīrābile dictū (literally “able to astonish by the saying [of it]”).

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

How do you spell "mirabile dictu"?
"mirabile dictu" is spelled M-I-R-A-B-I-L-E- -D-I-C-T-U. The IPA pronunciation is /mɪˌɹɑːbɪleɪ ˈdɪktuː/.
What does "mirabile dictu" mean?
As an interjection, "mirabile dictu" means: Wonderfully, amazingly; remarkable to relate.
How do you pronounce "mirabile dictu"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "mirabile dictu" is /mɪˌɹɑːbɪleɪ ˈdɪktuː/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "mirabile dictu"?
Borrowed from Latin mīrābile dictū (literally “able to astonish by the saying [of it]”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list