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PlainSpell

reckoning

reck·on·ingUK /ˈɹɛkənɪŋ/noun, verb

reckoning is spelled R-E-C-K-O-N-I-N-G: 9 letters and 3 syllables (reck·on·ing). It appears 1.9 times per million words in written English, the 20,101st most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, reckoning means “The action of calculating or estimating something” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of reckoning is reckonings.

How many letters and syllables are in reckoning?

Letters9: R-E-C-K-O-N-I-N-G
Syllables3: reck·on·ing
In writing1.9 times per million words; the 20,101st most frequent word form
Wrong spellings searchednone 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 reckoning?

Reckoning appears 1.9 times per million words in written English, the 20,101st 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 reckoning?

  • UK /ˈɹɛkənɪŋ/
  • UK /ˈɹɛkn̩ɪŋ/

Reckoning has 3 syllables, split reck·on·ing in writing.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-reckoning.wav, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Flame,_not_lame-reckoning.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).

Forms of reckoning

  • reckonings plural

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

What does reckoning mean?

The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).

noun

  1. 1

    The action of calculating or estimating something.

    By that reckoning, it would take six weeks to go five miles.

  2. 2

    An opinion or judgement.

    day of reckoning

  3. 3

    A summing up or appraisal.

  4. 4

    The settlement of accounts, as between parties.

  5. 5

    The working out of consequences or retribution for one's actions.

  6. 6

    archaicThe bill (UK) or check (US), especially at an inn or tavern.

  7. 7

    archaicRank or status.

verb

  1. 1

    present participle and gerund of reckon (a form of reckon)

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

Reckoning in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese

LanguageWords
Frenchcalcul, estime (the action of calculating or estimating…), règlement de comptes (the working out of consequences or retribution…)
GermanBerechnung (the action of calculating or estimating…), Fazit, Resümee (the working out of consequences or retribution…), Abrechnung (an opinion or judgement)
Spanishfiniquito (the working out of consequences or retribution…)

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 reckoning come from?

Gerund of the verb reckon, from reckon + -ing. Compare Dutch rekening, German Rechnung.

Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).

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