tally
tal·ly/ˈtæli/interjection, noun, verb
tally is spelled T-A-L-L-Y: 5 letters and 2 syllables (tal·ly). It appears 4.2 times per million words in written English, the 12,578th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data, counting Tally, the name). As an interjection, tally means “Target sighted” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in tally?
| Letters | 5: T-A-L-L-Y |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: tal·ly |
| In writing | 4.2 times per million words; the 12,578th 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 tally?
Tally appears 4.2 times per million words in written English, the 12,578th most frequent word form in the list. The list counts every capitalisation together, so this includes Tally, the name.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce tally?
- /ˈtæli/
As an adverb (“In a tall way; stoutly; with spirit”): /ˈtɔli/, /ˈtɔl.li/, /ˈtɑli/.
Tally has 2 syllables, split tal·ly in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-tally.wav, En-us-tally.ogg, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-tally2.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of tally
- tallies plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- tallying participle, present
- tallied participle, past
- more tally comparative
- most tally superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does tally mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
interjection
- 1
Target sighted.
(Air Traffic Control): Speedbird 123, New York, traffic at two o’clock, seven miles, a Boeing 737, west-bound, at 4000 feet.
noun
- 1
Abbreviation of tally stick.
- 2
One of two books, sheets of paper, etc., on which corresponding accounts were kept.
- 3
Any account or score kept by notches or marks, whether on wood or paper, or in a book, especially one kept in duplicate.
- 4
archaicOne thing made to suit another; a counterpart or match.
- 5
A notch, mark, or score made on or in a tally; as, to make or earn a score or tally in a game.
- 6
A tally shop.
- 7
A ribbon on a sailor's cap bearing the name of the ship or the (part of) the navy to which they belong.
- 8
datedinformalA state of cohabitation, living with another individual in an intimate relationship outside of marriage.
verb
- 1
To count something.
- 2
To mathematically calculate a numeric result.
- 3
To record something by making marks.
- 4
To make things correspond or agree with each other.
- 5
To keep score.
- 6
To correspond or agree.
- 7
To check off, as parcels of freight going inboard or outboard.
adverb
- 1
obsoleteIn a tall way; stoutly; with spirit.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Tally in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | marque |
| German | Strichliste, Zähler , Kerbe, Strich, Haken , zählen |
| Portuguese | contador , contar, somar , marcar |
| Spanish | marca , escrutar, contabilizar, cuantiar , tarjar |
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 tally come from?
Clipping of tallyho.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).