senile
/ˈsinaɪl/adjective, noun
senile is spelled S-E-N-I-L-E: 6 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 29,270th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, senile means “Of, or relating to old age” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in senile?
| Letters | 6: S-E-N-I-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 29,270th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
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 senile?
Senile appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 29,270th 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 senile?
- UK /ˈsiːnaɪl/
- US /ˈsinaɪl/
Senile 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: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-senile.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with senile?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as senile (/inaɪl/).
Spelled with the same letters in another order: silene.
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 senile
- more senile comparative
- most senile superlative
- seniles plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does senile mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Of, or relating to old age.
- 2
offensiveExhibiting the deterioration in mind and body often accompanying old age; doddering.
noun
- 1
datedA person who is senile.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Senile in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | sénile, séniles |
| German | senil, senile |
| Portuguese | senil |
| Spanish | senil , chocho, chocheante, gagá |
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 senile come from?
1660s; borrowed from French sénile, from Middle French senile, from Old French senile, from Latin senīlis (“of or pertaining to old age”), from senex (“old man”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sénos (“old”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).