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skookum

skoo·kum/ˈskuːkəm/adjective, noun

skookum is spelled S-K-O-O-K-U-M: 7 letters and 2 syllables (skoo·kum). It appears about once in every 23 million words in written English, the 145,125th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, skookum means “Excellent, impressive” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).

How many letters and syllables are in skookum?

Letters7: S-K-O-O-K-U-M
Syllables2: skoo·kum
In writingabout once in every 23 million words; the 145,125th 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 skookum?

Skookum appears about once in every 23 million words in written English, the 145,125th 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 skookum?

  • /ˈskuːkəm/

Skookum has 2 syllables, split skoo·kum in writing.

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

Forms of skookum

  • more skookum comparative
  • most skookum superlative
  • skookums plural

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

What does skookum mean?

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

adjective

  1. 1

    USExcellent, impressive.

  2. 2

    USBig, strong, durable, reliable, trustworthy, doughty.

noun

  1. 1

    An evil spirit or woodland monster or giant.

  2. 2

    A type of doll in the form of a Native American.

noun

as Skookum
  1. 1

    A domestic cat of a small, short-legged breed.

  2. 2

    USA kind of Native American-themed souvenir doll once common in tourist areas.

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

Where does skookum come from?

First attested in 1825–35. Borrowed from Chinook Jargon, from Lower Chehalis.

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

What to look up after skookum