polyphonic
/ˌpɒlɪˈfɒnɪk/adjective
polyphonic is spelled P-O-L-Y-P-H-O-N-I-C: 10 letters and 4 syllables. It appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 58,714th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, polyphonic means “Of or relating to polyphony” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in polyphonic?
| Letters | 10: P-O-L-Y-P-H-O-N-I-C |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 4 million words; the 58,714th 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 and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; 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 polyphonic?
Polyphonic appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 58,714th 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 polyphonic?
- UK /ˌpɒlɪˈfɒnɪk/
Polyphonic has 4 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What rhymes with polyphonic?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as polyphonic from its last stressed vowel (/ɒnɪk/, British pronunciation):
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 polyphonic
- more polyphonic comparative
- most polyphonic superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does polyphonic mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Of or relating to polyphony.
a polyphonic ringtone
- 2
Having two or more independent but harmonic melodies.
Near-synonym: contrapuntal
- 3
Able to play more than one musical note at the same time.
- 4
Capable of being read in more than one way.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Polyphonic in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense of or relating to polyphony:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | polyphonique |
| German | polyphon, polyfon |
| Portuguese | polifônico |
| Spanish | polifónico |
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 polyphonic come from?
Originally from Ancient Greek πολύφωνος (polúphōnos) + -ic. In later use from poly- + -phonic.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).