takeaway
/ˈteɪkəweɪ/adjective, noun
takeaway is spelled T-A-K-E-A-W-A-Y: 8 letters and 3 syllables. It appears 2.1 times per million words in written English, the 19,077th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). People search “take-away vs takeaway” about 30 times a month (Google, United States). As an adjective, takeaway means “(Of food) intended to be eaten off the premises from which it was bought” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in takeaway?
| Letters | 8: T-A-K-E-A-W-A-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 2.1 times per million words; the 19,077th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Pairs people 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); Bing searches in the United States: the average month from September 2025 to August 2026 (Microsoft Advertising keyword data through DataForSEO, read September 30, 2026).
How common is takeaway?
Takeaway appears 2.1 times per million words in written English, the 19,077th 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 takeaway?
- US /ˈteɪkəweɪ/
- Australia /ˈtæɪkəwæɪ/
Takeaway 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-au-takeaway.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with takeaway
Word pairs people search, with the monthly searches for “a vs b” (G: Google, B: Bing, United States).
Also written: take-away (one word or two).
Sources: Google and Bing searches (September 2025 to August 2026, through DataForSEO); English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of takeaway
- take-away
- takeaways plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does takeaway mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
CommonwealthIrelandUK(Of food) intended to be eaten off the premises from which it was bought.
I couldn't be bothered to cook, so I bought a takeaway curry.
noun
- 1
AustraliaUKA restaurant that sells food to be eaten elsewhere.
If you're hungry, there's a takeaway just around the corner.
- 2
AustraliaUKA meal which has been purchased and has been carefully packaged as to be taken and consumed elsewhere.
I fancy an Indian takeaway tonight.
- 3
The preliminary part of a golfer′s swing when the club is brought back away from the ball.
- 4
USA concession made by a labor union in the course of negotiations.
- 5
informalAn idea from a talk, presentation, etc., that the listener or reader should remember and consider.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Takeaway in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Gaststätte mit Außer-Haus-Verkauf, Restaurant mit Essen zum Mitnehmen, Abholrestaurant, Imbiss , Essen zum Mitnehmen, Mitnehmspeise |
| Spanish | restaurante de manducatoria para recoger , jama para llevar , moraleja, idea principal, mensaje fundamental, punto clave |
| French | plat à emporter |
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 takeaway come from?
Deverbal from take away.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).