vermilion
/vɚˈmɪl.jən/noun, adjective, verb
vermilion is spelled V-E-R-M-I-L-I-O-N: 9 letters and 3 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 39,336th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, vermilion means “A vivid red synthetic pigment made of mercury sulfide, cinnabar” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of vermilion is vermilions.
How many letters and syllables are in vermilion?
| Letters | 9: V-E-R-M-I-L-I-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 39,336th 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 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 vermilion?
Vermilion appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 39,336th 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 vermilion?
- UK /vəˈmɪl.jən/
- US /vɚˈmɪl.jən/
Vermilion 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-vermilion.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with vermilion?
3 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as vermilion from its last stressed vowel (/ɪljən/):
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 vermilion
- vermilions plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- vermillion
- more vermilion comparative
- most vermilion superlative
- vermilioning participle, present
- vermilioned participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does vermilion mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A vivid red synthetic pigment made of mercury sulfide, cinnabar.
- 2
A bright orange-red colour.
- 3
A type of red dye worn in the parting of the hair by married Hindu women.
- 4
The red skin of the lips or its border with the skin of the face.
- 5
obsoleteThe kermes or cochineal insect.
- 6
obsoleteThe cochineal dye made from this insect.
adjective
- 1
Having a brilliant red colour.
- 2
Having the color of the vermilion dye.
verb
- 1
To color or paint vermilion.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate vermilion?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of vermilion: ver..
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Vermilion in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | vermillon , vermeil |
| German | Zinnober |
| Portuguese | vermelhão |
| Spanish | bermellón , bermejo |
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 vermilion come from?
From Middle English vermelioun, vermyloun, vermylon, vermilun, from Old French vermeillon (“vermilion”), from vermeil, from Latin vermiculus (“little worm”), from vermis (“worm”), ultimately in reference to Kermes vermilio, a type of scale insect used to make a crimson dye.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).