testament
/ˈtɛs.tə.mənt/noun, verb
testament is spelled T-E-S-T-A-M-E-N-T: 9 letters and 3 syllables. It appears 12 times per million words in written English, the 6,347th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, testament means “A solemn, authentic instrument in writing, by which a person declares his or her will as to disposal of his or her inheritance (estate and effects)…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of testament is testaments.
How many letters and syllables are in testament?
| Letters | 9: T-E-S-T-A-M-E-N-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 12 times per million words; the 6,347th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
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 testament?
Testament appears 12 times per million words in written English, the 6,347th 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 testament?
- US /ˈtɛs.tə.mənt/
- Australia /ˈtes.tə.mənt/
Testament 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: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-testament.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with testament?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as testament (/ɛstəmənt/).
Spelled with the same letters in another order: statement.
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 testament
- testaments plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- testamenting participle, present
- testamented participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does testament mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A solemn, authentic instrument in writing, by which a person declares his or her will as to disposal of his or her inheritance (estate and effects) after his or her death, benefiting specified heir(s).
- 2
One of the two parts to the scriptures of the Christian religion: the New Testament, considered by Christians to be a continuation of the Hebrew scriptures, and the Hebrew scriptures themselves, which they refer to as the Old Testament.
- 3
A tangible proof or tribute.
The ancient aqueducts are a testament to the great engineering skill of the Roman Empire.
- 4
A credo, expression of conviction.
The prime minister's speech was a glowing testament to the cabinet's undying commitment to the royal cause.
verb
- 1
To make a will.
- 2
To bequeath or leave by will.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Testament in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | testament |
| German | Testament, Letzter Wille |
| Portuguese | testamento , testemunho, demonstração |
| Spanish | testamento |
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 testament come from?
From Middle English testament, from Old French testament, from Latin testāmentum (“the publication of a will, a will, testament, in Late Latin one of the divisions of the Bible”), from testor (“to be a witness, testify, attest, make a will”), from testis (“one who attests, a witness”). Displaced native Old English ġecȳþnes.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).