shanty
/ˈʃænti/noun, adjective, verb
shanty is spelled S-H-A-N-T-Y: 6 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 39,336th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, shanty means “A roughly-built hut or cabin” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of shanty is shanties.
How many letters and syllables are in shanty?
| Letters | 6: S-H-A-N-T-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 39,336th 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 shanty?
Shanty appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 39,336th 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 shanty?
- /ˈʃænti/
Shanty 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-au-shanty.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of shanty
- shanties plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- shantying participle, present
- shantied participle, past
- shantey
- chanty
- chantey
- more shanty comparative
- most shanty superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does shanty mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A roughly-built hut or cabin.
- 2
A rudimentary or improvised dwelling, especially one not legally owned.
- 3
AustraliaAn unlicensed pub.
- 4
A rhythmic work song, traditionally sung by sailors or stevedores, functioning to set the pace for hauling, turning a capstan, loading, or other such activities.
adjective
- 1
USderogatoryLiving in shanties; poor, ill-mannered and violent.
That neighborhood is full of shanty Irishmen.
- 2
Jaunty; showy.
verb
- 1
To inhabit a shanty.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Shanty in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
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 shanty come from?
From Canadian French chantier (“lumberjack's headquarters”). An alternative theory that the word derives from Irish seantí (meaning "old house") is not considered likely by lexicologists.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).