virtue
vir·tue/ˈvɝt͡ʃu/noun
virtue is spelled V-I-R-T-U-E: 6 letters and 2 syllables (vir·tue). It appears 8.7 times per million words in written English, the 7,797th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, virtue means “The idea of all that is good or excellent (in every sense of those terms) in a human being, collectively instantiated by a varying number of human…” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of virtue is virtues.
How many letters and syllables are in virtue?
| Letters | 6: V-I-R-T-U-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: vir·tue |
| In writing | 8.7 times per million words; the 7,797th 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 virtue?
Virtue appears 8.7 times per million words in written English, the 7,797th 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 virtue?
- /ˈvɜːt͡ʃuː/
- /ˈvɜːtjuː/
- US /ˈvɝt͡ʃu/
Virtue has 2 syllables, split vir·tue in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-virtue.ogg, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Simplificationalizer-virtue.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of virtue
- virtues plural
- vertu
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does virtue mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The idea of all that is good or excellent (in every sense of those terms) in a human being, collectively instantiated by a varying number of human traits known as "the virtues", the enumeration of which vary by the many virtue systems which have developed within different cultures, religions, and historical periods.
- 2
Accordance with moral principles; conformity of behaviour or thought with the strictures of morality; good moral conduct.
Without virtue, there is no freedom.
- 3
An attribute of a personality (a "personality trait") which predisposes a person to behaviors resulting in human goodness; an admirable quality.
The commission of acts by a person which he or she believes to be wrong can cause a diminishment of one or more of the virtues which subsist in the person's personality; in this way such actions may be viewed as significant life events.
- 4
A particular manifestation of moral excellence in a person.
- 5
Specifically, each of several qualities held to be particularly important, including the four cardinal virtues, the three theological virtues, or the seven virtues opposed to the seven deadly sins.
Better to be excluded from society than to deny the virtue of citizenship.
- 6
An inherently advantageous or excellent quality of something or someone; a favourable point, an advantage.
- 7
A creature embodying divine power, specifically one of the orders of heavenly beings, traditionally ranked above angels and archangels, and below seraphim and cherubim.
- 8
Specifically, moral conduct in sexual behaviour, especially of women; chastity.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Virtue in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | vertu |
| German | Tugend , Keuschheit |
| Portuguese | virtude |
| Spanish | virtud |
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 virtue come from?
From Middle English vertu, virtue, borrowed from Anglo-Norman vertu, virtu, from Latin virtus (“manliness, bravery, worth, moral excellence”), from vir (“man”). Doublet of vertu. See virile. In this sense, displaced Old English cræft, whence Modern English craft.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).