preface
/ˈpɹɛfəs/noun, verb
preface is spelled P-R-E-F-A-C-E: 7 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 2.5 times per million words in written English, the 17,342nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, preface means “A beginning or introductory portion that comes before the main text of a document or book, typically serving to contextualize or explain the writing…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of preface is prefaces.
How many letters and syllables are in preface?
| Letters | 7: P-R-E-F-A-C-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 2.5 times per million words; the 17,342nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
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).
How common is preface?
Preface appears 2.5 times per million words in written English, the 17,342nd 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 preface?
- US /ˈpɹɛfəs/
- US /ˈpɹɛfɪs/
Preface has 2 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). Recordings: En-us-preface.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of preface
- prefaces plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- præface
- prefacing participle, present
- prefaced participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does preface mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A beginning or introductory portion that comes before the main text of a document or book, typically serving to contextualize or explain the writing of the book and sometimes to acknowledge others' contributions; especially, such a discussion written by the work's own author.
Holonyms: front matter, prelims
- 2
An introduction, or series of preliminary remarks.
- 3
A variable prayer forming the prelude or introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer or canon of the Mass, following the Sursum corda dialogue and leading into the Sanctus.
Meronyms: protocol, embolism, eschatocol
- 4
A title or epithet.
verb
- 1
To introduce or make a comment before (the main point); to premise.
Let me preface this by saying that I don't know him that well.
- 2
To give a preface to.
to preface a book
noun
- 1
Alternative letter-case form of preface (“prayer before the canon of the Mass”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Preface in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | préface , préfacer |
| German | Vorwort, Vorrede , Präfation |
| Portuguese | prefácio , prefaciar |
| Spanish | prefacio , introducir, prologar |
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 preface come from?
Late 14th century, from Middle English preface, prefas, from Old French preface (from which derives the modern French préface), from Medieval Latin prefātia, for classical Latin praefātiō (“a saying beforehand”), from praefor (“to speak beforehand”), from prae- (“beforehand”) + for (“to speak”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).