straddle
strad·dle/ˈstɹædəl/verb, noun, adverb
straddle is spelled S-T-R-A-D-D-L-E: 8 letters and 2 syllables (strad·dle). It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 38,416th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, straddle means “To sit or stand with a leg on each side of something; to sit astride” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in straddle?
| Letters | 8: S-T-R-A-D-D-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: strad·dle |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 38,416th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none 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 straddle?
Straddle appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 38,416th 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 straddle?
- /ˈstɹædəl/
- [ˈstɹ̝̊ʷædəl] ~ [ˈstɹ̝̊ʷædl̩]
- [ˈst̠ɹ̠̊˔ʷædəl] ~ [ˈst̠ɹ̠̊˔ʷædl̩]
Straddle has 2 syllables, split strad·dle in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-straddle.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of straddle
- straddles present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- straddling participle, present
- straddled participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does straddle mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To sit or stand with a leg on each side of something; to sit astride.
- 2
To be on both sides of something; to have parts that are in different places, regions, etc.
- 3
To consider or favor two apparently opposite sides; to be noncommittal.
Wanting to please both sides, he straddled the issue.
- 4
To form a disorderly sprawl; to spread out irregularly.
This weed straddles the entire garden.
- 5
To fire successive artillery shots in front of and behind of a target, especially in order to determine its range (the term "bracket" is often used instead).
- 6
To place a voluntary raise prior to receiving cards (only by the first player after the blinds).
- 7
To stand with the ends staggered; said of the spokes of a wagon wheel where they join the hub.
- 8
To execute a commodities market spread.
noun
- 1
A posture in which one straddles something.
- 2
A pair or salvo of successive artillery shots falling both in front of and behind a target.
The first salvo fell short; the next was long; the third was a straddle.
- 3
An investment strategy involving simultaneous trade with put and call options on the same security at the same strike price, giving a non-directional position sensitive to volatility.
- 4
A voluntary raise made prior to receiving cards by the first player after the blinds.
- 5
A vertical mine-timber supporting a set.
- 6
A part of a harness placed on the back of a beast of burden (such as a horse or donkey) to carry the weight of a load.
adverb
- 1
Astride.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Straddle in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | enfourcher, se mettre à califourchon |
| German | grätschen, spreizen, breitbeinig stehen, mit gespreizten Beinen stehen, rittlings sitzen , überspannen |
| Portuguese | montar |
| Spanish | ahorcajarse , desparramar |
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 straddle come from?
As a verb, attested since the 1560s. Most likely, an alteration of dialectal striddle. The noun is first attested in the 1610s.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).