penult

P3E1N1U1L1T1
UK/pɪˈnʌlt/UK/pɛˈnʌlt/US/ˈpiˌnʌlt/

noun

The next-to-last syllable of a word.

Similar
penultimapenultimate
Scrabble 8
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Meanings

nounpenult (plural penults)

plural penults

  1. The next-to-last syllable of a word.
  2. The next to the last in a series.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounthe next to last syllable in a word

Similar
penultimapenultimate
Broader
syllable
Also see
penultimapenultimate

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Clipping of penultimate (“next to last”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek πᾰρᾰλήγουσᾰ
  • πᾰρᾰλήγουσᾰ (părălḗgousă)next-to-last syllable of a word
Finnish penultima
  • penultimanext-to-last syllable of a word
German Vorendsilbe, vorletzte Silbe
  • Vorendsilbenext-to-last syllable of a word
  • vorletzte Silbenext-to-last syllable of a word
  • Pänultimanext-to-last syllable of a word
Greek παραλήγουσα
  • παραλήγουσα (paralígousa)next-to-last syllable of a word
Hebrew see מלעיל
  • see מלעיל (mil'él)next-to-last syllable of a word
Latin [syllaba] paenultima
  • [syllaba] paenultimanext-to-last syllable of a word

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with penult

resultadultconsultinsultoccultulttumultexultantepenultcomplisultconstultdeath cultpreantepenultpropreantepenult
All rhymes →

Anagrams

punlet
Cite this entry
APA

penult. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penult

MLA

“penult.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penult. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “penult,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/penult.

Source: penult on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.