scorpion
/ˈskɔɹ.pi.ən/noun
scorpion is spelled S-C-O-R-P-I-O-N: 8 letters and 3 syllables. It appears 2.3 times per million words in written English, the 17,813th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, scorpion means “Any of the order Scorpiones of arachnids related to spiders, characterised by two large front pincers and a curved tail with a venomous sting at the…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of scorpion is scorpions.
How many letters and syllables are in scorpion?
| Letters | 8: S-C-O-R-P-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 2.3 times per million words; the 17,813th 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 scorpion?
Scorpion appears 2.3 times per million words in written English, the 17,813th 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 scorpion?
- UK /ˈskɔː.pi.ən/
- UK /-pɪ.ən/
- US /ˈskɔɹ.pi.ən/
Scorpion has 3 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: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-scorpion.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of scorpion
- scorpions plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does scorpion mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Any of the order Scorpiones of arachnids related to spiders, characterised by two large front pincers and a curved tail with a venomous sting at the end.
- 2
An ancient military engine for hurling stones and other missiles.
- 3
A very spiteful or vindictive person.
- 4
A cheerleading move in which one foot is pulled back and held up with both hands while the performer stands on the other foot.
- 5
obsoleteA whip with points like a scorpion's tail.
noun
- 1
Someone with the Scorpio star sign.
adjective
- 1
Of or relating to the Scorpio star sign.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate scorpion?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of scorpion: scorp.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Scorpion in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense any of various arachnids of the order Scorpiones:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | scorpion |
| German | Skorpion |
| Portuguese | escorpião, lacrau, alacrão |
| Spanish | escorpión, alacrán |
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 scorpion come from?
From Middle English scorpioun, skorpioun, schorpion, schorpiun, partly from Old English sċorpio and partly from Anglo-Norman scorpïun, Old French scorpïon, escorpïon; all from Latin scorpiō, ultimately from Ancient Greek σκορπίος (skorpíos). The cheerleading move is so called because of the resemblance of the raised foot to a scorpion's stinger. Displaced native Old English þrōwend (“scorpion”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).