telltale
/ˈtɛlteɪl/noun, adjective
telltale is spelled T-E-L-L-T-A-L-E: 8 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 32,798th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, telltale means “One who divulges private information with intent to hurt others” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of telltale is telltales.
How many letters and syllables are in telltale?
| Letters | 8: T-E-L-L-T-A-L-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 32,798th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in 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).
How common is telltale?
Telltale appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 32,798th 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 telltale?
- /ˈtɛlteɪl/
Telltale has 2 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-telltale.ogg, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Naomi_Persephone_Amethyst_(NaomiAmethyst)-telltale.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with telltale
Also written: tell-tale (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of telltale
- telltales plural
- tell-tale
- tell tale
- more telltale comparative
- most telltale superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does telltale mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
One who divulges private information with intent to hurt others.
- 2
An indicator, such as a warning light, that serves to warn of a hazard or problem.
- 3
Something that serves to reveal something else.
The telltale was the lipstick on his shirt collar.
- 4
A movable piece of ivory, lead, or other material, connected to the bellows of an organ, whose position indicates when the wind is exhausted.
- 5
A length of yarn or ribbon attached to a sail or shroud etc to indicate the direction of the flow of the air relative to the boat.
- 6
A mechanical attachment to the steering wheel, which, in the absence of a tiller, shows the position of the helm.
- 7
A compass in the cabin of a vessel, usually placed where the captain can see it at all hours, and thus inform himself of the vessel's course.
- 8
A machine or contrivance for indicating or recording something, particularly for keeping a check upon employees (factory hands, watchmen, drivers, etc.) by revealing to their employers what they have done or omitted.
adjective
- 1
Revealing something, especially something not intended to be known.
I noticed the snow was dirty, a telltale sign of recent human presence.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Telltale in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Petzer, Petze, Petzerin , Anzeige, Hinweis, Indikator |
| Portuguese | fofoqueiro , delator |
| Spanish | delator, delatador , grímpola, cataviento |
| French | révélateur, révélatrice |
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 telltale come from?
From tell + tale, perhaps dissimilated from earlier taleteller, from Middle English tale tellere (literally “tale teller”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).