smattering
/ˈsmætɚɪŋ/noun, verb
smattering is spelled S-M-A-T-T-E-R-I-N-G: 10 letters and 3 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 45,947th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, smattering means “A shallow or superficial knowledge of a subject” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of smattering is smatterings.
How many letters and syllables are in smattering?
| Letters | 10: S-M-A-T-T-E-R-I-N-G |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 45,947th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
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 smattering?
Smattering appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 45,947th 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 smattering?
- UK /ˈsmæ.təɹ.ɪŋ/
- US /ˈsmætɚɪŋ/
Smattering 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: En-us-smattering.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with smattering?
One word on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as smattering from its last stressed vowel (/ætəɹɪŋ/):
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 smattering
- smatterings plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does smattering mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A shallow or superficial knowledge of a subject.
She knows a smattering of Greek, but not enough to carry on a conversation.
- 2
A small amount or number of something.
There’s only a smattering of people who oppose the first amendment.
verb
- 1
present participle and gerund of smatter
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Smattering in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | rudiment |
| German | Halbwissen, oberflächliche Kenntnis, bruchstückhafte Kenntnis, Vorkenntnis, rudimentäre Kenntnis , Handvoll |
| Portuguese | laivos |
| Spanish | chapurreo, nociones, rudimentos, retahíla, puñado, pizca |
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 smattering come from?
From smatter + -ing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).