How Do You Spell ALCATRAZ?

Pronunciation: [ˈalkɐtɹˌaz] (IPA)

Alcatraz is a well-known island located in San Francisco Bay, California. The spelling of this word can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first sound is "æ" as in "cat," followed by "l" as in "love," "k" as in "kite," and "ə" as in "sofa." The final sound is "tɹəz," which starts with a "t" sound and ends with the "z" sound, much like "jazz." Therefore, the correct spelling of this word is "Alcatraz," which is pronounced as "æl-kə-tɹəz."

ALCATRAZ Meaning and Definition

1. Alcatraz is an island located in San Francisco Bay, California, renowned for its notorious former prison. It serves as a symbol of the United States criminal justice system and is shrouded in a rich history. Originally named "La Isla de los Alcatraces" after the pelicans that occupied the area, it gained prominence as a military fortress during the mid-19th century.

   The dictionary definition of Alcatraz refers to the maximum-security federal penitentiary built on the island, known as Alcatraz Prison, which operated from 1934 to 1963. It housed some of the most dangerous and high-profile criminals of the time, making it an impenetrable and strictly controlled facility. The prison was considered inescapable due to its location on the isolated island and the strong currents of the bay, serving as a deterrent for convicts.

   Today, Alcatraz stands as a prominent tourist destination, visited by thousands of people each year. The island is maintained as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is accessible by boat. Visitors can explore the remnants of the prison, including cell blocks, guard towers, and the main administration building, which has been converted into a museum. Alcatraz captures the imagination of many due to its reputation as a formidable prison, the stories of its notorious inmates, and the attempted escapes that have become legends.

Top Common Misspellings for ALCATRAZ *

• alecatraz 57.1428571%
• alactraz 14.2857142%
• alcatrez 14.2857142%

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for ALCATRAZ

• alcatraze
• alkatraz
• alcarraaz
• zlcatraz
• slcatraz
• wlcatraz
• qlcatraz
• akcatraz
• apcatraz
• aocatraz
• alxatraz
• alvatraz
• alfatraz
• aldatraz
• alatraz
• alctaraz
• alcatarz
• Alcaaraza
• Alctrz

Etymology of ALCATRAZ

The word "Alcatraz" has its origins in the Spanish language. It comes from the Old Spanish word "alcatraz", which was a term used to refer to a type of pelican. The word was later adopted into English and used to describe the rocky islands, located off the coast of San Francisco, that resembled the sharp beak and head shape of a pelican. Eventually, one of these islands became widely known as "Alcatraz Island", and it gained prominence as a federal penitentiary. Today, "Alcatraz" is primarily associated with this famous prison.