peekaboo
/ˈpikəbu/noun, adjective, verb, interjection
peekaboo is spelled P-E-E-K-A-B-O-O: 8 letters. It appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 61,481st most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, peekaboo means “A game for a small child in which one covers one's face, then suddenly reveals it, saying "Boo!" or "Peekaboo!"” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in peekaboo?
| Letters | 8: P-E-E-K-A-B-O-O |
|---|---|
| In writing | about once in every 4 million words; the 61,481st most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
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).
How common is peekaboo?
Peekaboo appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 61,481st 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 peekaboo?
- US /ˈpikəbu/
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-peekaboo.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with peekaboo
Also written: peek-a-boo (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of peekaboo
- peek-a-boo
- peekaboos present, singular, he/she/it
- peekabooing participle, present
- peekabooed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does peekaboo mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A game for a small child in which one covers one's face, then suddenly reveals it, saying "Boo!" or "Peekaboo!".
adjective
- 1
With holes, slits or transparent fabric to reveal what is normally hidden.
The model was wearing a peekaboo swimsuit.
- 2
Being or using a style of boxing with the hands kept close to the face to defend it.
peekaboo boxing
verb
- 1
To peep out.
interjection
- 1
Boo (when showing oneself unexpectedly).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Peekaboo in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense game for small children:
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 peekaboo come from?
From peek + -a- + boo.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).