perdu
/pəˈdjuː/noun
perdu is spelled P-E-R-D-U: 5 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 9 million words in written English, the 91,522nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, perdu means “One placed on watch, or in ambush” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of perdu is perdus.
How many letters and syllables are in perdu?
| Letters | 5: P-E-R-D-U |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 9 million words; the 91,522nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with | |
| Same letters |
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 perdu?
Perdu appears about once in every 9 million words in written English, the 91,522nd 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 perdu?
- UK /pəˈdjuː/
Perdu has 2 syllables (counted from the pronunciation).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-perdu.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with perdu?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as perdu from its last stressed vowel (/u/, British pronunciation):
Spelled with the same letters in another order: duper, prude, drupe.
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 perdu
- perdue
- perdus plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does perdu mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
One placed on watch, or in ambush.
- 2
A soldier sent on a forlorn hope.
adjective
- 1
obsoleteStationed in an exposed or hazardous position; hidden in ambush. Originally as sentinel perdu.
- 2
archaicIn a dangerous situation; lost, desperate.
- 3
archaicHidden; concealed from sight. Chiefly with lie.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Where does perdu come from?
Borrowed from Middle French perdu, originally after sentinelle perdue.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).