scaffold
scaf·fold/ˈskæf.əld/noun, verb
scaffold is spelled S-C-A-F-F-O-L-D: 8 letters and 2 syllables (scaf·fold). It appears 1.1 times per million words in written English, the 27,820th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, scaffold means “A structure made of scaffolding for workers to stand on while working on a building” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of scaffold is scaffolds.
How many letters and syllables are in scaffold?
| Letters | 8: S-C-A-F-F-O-L-D |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: scaf·fold |
| In writing | 1.1 times per million words; the 27,820th 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 scaffold?
Scaffold appears 1.1 times per million words in written English, the 27,820th 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 scaffold?
- UK /ˈskæf.əld/
- UK /ˈskæf.əʊld/
- US /ˈskæf.əld/
Scaffold has 2 syllables, split scaf·fold in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-au-scaffold.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of scaffold
- scaffolds plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- scaffolding participle, present
- scaffolded participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does scaffold mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A structure made of scaffolding for workers to stand on while working on a building.
- 2
An elevated platform on which a criminal is executed.
- 3
An elevated platform on which dead bodies are ritually disposed of, as by some Native American tribes.
- 4
An accumulation of adherent, partly fused material forming a shelf or dome-shaped obstruction above the tuyeres in a blast furnace.
- 5
A structure that provides support for some other material.
- 6
A device in scaffolding, i.e. the provision of a framework or support for achieving an intended outcome of internalizing learnings by way of collaboration and later gradual withdrawal of support.
verb
- 1
To set up a scaffolding; to surround a building with scaffolding.
- 2
To sustain; to provide support for.
- 3
To dispose of the bodies of the dead on a scaffold or raised platform, as by some Native American tribes.
- 4
To provide a framework or support for achieving an intended outcome of internalizing learnings by way of collaboration and later gradual withdrawal of support.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Scaffold in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | échafaudage, échafaud , échafauder |
| German | Gerüst, Baugerüst , einrüsten , Schafott |
| Portuguese | andaime , cadafalso |
| Spanish | andamio, andamiaje, andamiada , horca, patíbulo, cadalso |
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 scaffold come from?
From Middle English scaffold, scaffalde, from Anglo-Norman schaffaut, eschaffaut, eschafal, eschaiphal, escadafaut (“platform to see a tournament”) (Modern French échafaud), from Old French es- (indicating movement away or separation) (from Latin ex- (“out, away”)) + chafaud, chafaut, chafault, caafau, caafaus, cadefaut (“scaffold for executing a criminal”), from Vulgar Latin *catafalcum (“viewing stage”), possibly from Ancient Greek κατα- (kata-, “back; against”) + Latin -falicum (from fala, phala (“wooden gallery or tower; siege tower”)).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).