umbrella
um·brel·la/ʌmˈbɹɛl.ə/noun, verb
umbrella is spelled U-M-B-R-E-L-L-A: 8 letters and 3 syllables (um·brel·la). It appears 7.8 times per million words in written English, the 8,417th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, umbrella means “A cloth-covered frame used for protection against rain or sun” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of umbrella is umbrellas.
How many letters and syllables are in umbrella?
| Letters | 8: U-M-B-R-E-L-L-A |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3: um·brel·la |
| In writing | 7.8 times per million words; the 8,417th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
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); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is umbrella?
Umbrella appears 7.8 times per million words in written English, the 8,417th 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 umbrella?
- US /ʌmˈbɹɛl.ə/
- /ˈʌm.bɹɛl.ə/
Umbrella has 3 syllables, split um·brel·la in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-umbrella.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with umbrella?
The 12 most written words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as umbrella from its last stressed vowel (/ɛlə/):
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 umbrella
- umbrellas plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- brella
- humbrella
- ombrella
- umbrello
- umbreller
- umbrellaing participle, present
- umbrellaed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does umbrella mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A cloth-covered frame used for protection against rain or sun.
Quick, grab that umbrella before you get rained on!
- 2
Anything that provides similar protection.
The fighters provide a defensive air umbrella over the battle group.
- 3
Anything that provides similar overarching coverage of a range of concepts, purposes, groups, etc.
The test facility was established under the umbrella of the company's quality program.
- 4
A strategy in which five players in the offensive zone form an umbrella-shaped formation around the opposition's goal net.
- 5
The main body of a jellyfish, excluding the tentacles.
Jellyfish are composed of more than 90% water and most of their umbrella mass is made up of gelatinous material.
- 6
An umbrella-shaped reflector with a white or silvery inner surface, used to diffuse a nearby light.
verb
- 1
To cover or protect, as if by an umbrella.
- 2
To form the dome shape of an open umbrella.
- 3
To move like a jellyfish.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate umbrella?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of umbrella: brella.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Umbrella in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | parapluie, parasol, ombrelle |
| German | Schirm, Regenschirm, Sonnenschirm , Dach |
| Portuguese | guarda-chuva, guarda-sol, sombrinha |
| Spanish | paraguas, ambrela, quitaguas, bateaguas , amparo |
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 umbrella come from?
Borrowed from Italian ombrella (“parasol, sunshade”), from Late Latin umbrella (influenced by umbra (“shadow, shade”)), from Latin umbella, from umbra + -la (diminutive suffix).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).