kaléidoscope

\ka.le.i.dɔs.kɔp\

/\ka.le.i.dɔs.kɔp\/ noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

The verdict

“kaléidoscope” is uncommon French (frequency #54,671 among 110,375 “K” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#54,671
frequency rank, French
110,375
“K” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Ensemble de trois miroirs plans formant une surface prismatique dont la section est un triangle équilatéral dont les faces réfléchissantes sont en regard et qui sont disposés dans un tube cylindriq...

Key facts for kaléidoscope
PropertyValue
Headwordkaléidoscope
LanguageFrench
Part of speechNoun
IPA\ka.le.i.dɔs.kɔp\
Letters12
Frequency rank#54,671
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “kaléidoscope” sits in French frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). kaléidoscope lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

kaléidoscope is uncommon French at frequency #54,671 among 110,375 “K” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed \ka.le.i.dɔs.kɔp\. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 5 senses are on record.

No generated misspelling entries exist for kaléidoscope in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Wiktionary doesn't record an etymology for this headword, so its spelling is best explained by sound-to-letter mapping rather than etymology. The correct French form is kaléidoscope, spelled K-A-L-É-I-D-O-S-C-O-P-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Ensemble de trois miroirs plans formant une surface prismatique dont la section est un triangle équilatéral dont les faces réfléchissantes sont en regard et qui sont disposés dans un tube cylindrique. Ce tube est fermé d’un coté par un œilleton et de l’autre par un verre dépoli sur lequel sont placés de petits objets brillants et des éclats de verre colorés, produisant, grâce aux miroirs, des effets réguliers et variés utilisés pour rechercher des motifs ornementaux.
  2. 2
    Jouet.
  3. 3
    Un autre jeu dont je raffolais, c'est cet instrument de merveilles qu'on appelle kaléidoscope : une sorte de lorgnette qui, dans l'extrémité opposée à celle de l'œil, propose au regard une toujours changeante rosace, formée de mobiles verres de couleur emprisonnés entre deux feuilles transparentes. — (André Gide, Si le grain ne meurt, Gallimard, 1926, 180 pages : lire en ligne)
  4. 4
    Des empilements de conserves bariolaient le fond de la cave, en tas, comme les graviers de couleur d’un kaléidoscope. — (Daniel Boulanger, Le jardin d'Armide, 1969, réédition Le Livre de Poche, 1980, pages 98-98)
  5. 5
    Diversité de choses, de personnes, de couleurs multiples.

This word in other languages

kaleidoscope(English)caleidoscopio(Español)Kaleidoskop(Deutsch)caleidoscópio(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 French corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "kaléidoscope"?
"kaléidoscope" is spelled K-A-L-É-I-D-O-S-C-O-P-E. The IPA pronunciation is \ka.le.i.dɔs.kɔp\.
What does "kaléidoscope" mean?
As a noun, "kaléidoscope" means: Ensemble de trois miroirs plans formant une surface prismatique dont la section est un triangle équilatéral dont les faces réfléchissantes sont en regard et qui sont disposés dans un tube cylindriq...
How do you pronounce "kaléidoscope"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "kaléidoscope" is \ka.le.i.dɔs.kɔp\. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "kaléidoscope" come from?
"kaléidoscope" is a French word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “kaléidoscope”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct French spelling is K-A-L-É-I-D-O-S-C-O-P-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as \ka.le.i.dɔs.kɔp\ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more French words and confusable pairs in the same reference. French words

Other uncommon French words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list