phalanx
pha·lanx/ˈfeɪˌlæŋks/noun
phalanx is spelled P-H-A-L-A-N-X: 7 letters and 2 syllables (pha·lanx). It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 34,912th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, phalanx means “An ancient Greek and Macedonian military unit that consisted of several ranks and files (lines) of soldiers in close array with joined shields and…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of phalanx is phalanxes or phalanges.
How many letters and syllables are in phalanx?
| Letters | 7: P-H-A-L-A-N-X |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: pha·lanx |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 34,912th 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 phalanx?
Phalanx appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 34,912th 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 phalanx?
- UK /ˈfælæŋks/
- UK /fəˈlæŋks/
- US /ˈfeɪˌlæŋks/
Phalanx has 2 syllables, split pha·lanx in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-au-phalanx.ogg, En-us-phalanx.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of phalanx
- phalanxes plural
- phalanges plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does phalanx mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
An ancient Greek and Macedonian military unit that consisted of several ranks and files (lines) of soldiers in close array with joined shields and long spears.
- 2
A large group of people, animals or things, compact or closely massed, or tightly knit and united in common purpose.
- 3
A Fourierite utopian community; a phalanstery.
- 4
One of the bones of the finger or toe.
- 5
A bundle of stamens, in diadelphous and polyadelphous flowers.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Phalanx in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | phalange |
| German | Phalanx , Fingerglied, Zehenglied |
| Portuguese | falange |
| Spanish | falange |
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 phalanx come from?
Borrowed from Latin phalanx or Ancient Greek φάλαγξ (phálanx, “battle order; array”). Doublet of phalange, planch, plancha, planche, and plank.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).