How Do You Spell ORPHAN?

Pronunciation: [ˈɔːfən] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "orphan" might confuse some people due to its silent letter "h". It is pronounced as /ˈɔː.fən/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The "o" sound is a long vowel, pronounced like "aw" as in "law". The "r" sound is pronounced as a consonant, and the "ph" combination is pronounced as "f". The "a" sound is pronounced as "uh" as in "but", and the silent "h" is not pronounced. Overall, the spelling and pronunciation of "orphan" can be tricky, but understanding the IPA phonetic transcription can make it easier to pronounce correctly.

ORPHAN Meaning and Definition

  1. Orphan refers to a child who has lost one or both parents due to death, abandonment, or disownment, and is left without the support and care traditionally provided by a parent. The term can also encompass individuals who have been separated from their parents due to war, famine, or other catastrophic events.

    In many societies, orphanhood is considered a vulnerable state, as children depend on their parents for emotional nurturing, material resources, and guidance. When a child becomes an orphan, they are often left without these crucial elements of support, which can have profound implications on their overall well-being and development.

    Orphans may be placed under the care of extended family members, adopted by other families, or raised in orphanages, where they can receive the necessary care, love, and opportunities for growth. Governments and non-governmental organizations frequently implement programs to provide support and resources to orphans, aiming to enhance their chances of leading fulfilling lives despite their difficult circumstances.

    The larger global community recognizes the significance of addressing the needs of orphans. International frameworks and conventions have been established to protect the rights of these vulnerable individuals and ensure their access to education, healthcare, shelter, and legal protection.

    Efforts to alleviate the plight of orphans often revolve around creating opportunities for their reintegration into society, empowering them to become self-sufficient adults and reducing their vulnerability to exploitation, abuse, and neglect.

  2. • Bereft of parents.
    • A child bereaved of father or mother, or both-more usually of both.
    • Bereaved of parents.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for ORPHAN *

* 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 ORPHAN

Etymology of ORPHAN

The word "orphan" originates from the ancient Greek word "orphanos" (ὀρφανός), but it was later passed through Latin as "orphanus" before entering Old English as "orfano". The Greek term "orphanos" referred to a child who had lost one or both parents. The Latin word "orphanus" retained a similar meaning, denoting a child without parents or kin. Eventually, the term evolved into its current form, "orphan", in the English language, maintaining its original connotation of a child bereaved of parents or guardians.

Idioms with the word ORPHAN

  • success has many fathers, failure is an orphan The idiom "success has many fathers, failure is an orphan" generally means that when something is successful, many people are eager to take credit or associate themselves with it. However, when something fails, nobody wants to acknowledge any responsibility or be associated with it.

Similar spelling words for ORPHAN

Plural form of ORPHAN is ORPHANS

Conjugate verb Orphan

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have orphaned
you would have orphaned
he/she/it would have orphaned
we would have orphaned
they would have orphaned
I would have orphan
you would have orphan
he/she/it would have orphan
we would have orphan
they would have orphan

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been orphaning
you would have been orphaning
he/she/it would have been orphaning
we would have been orphaning
they would have been orphaning

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would orphan
you would orphan
he/she/it would orphan
we would orphan
they would orphan

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be orphaning
you would be orphaning
he/she/it would be orphaning
we would be orphaning
they would be orphaning

FUTURE

I will orphan
you will orphan
he/she/it will orphan
we will orphan
they will orphan

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be orphaning
you will be orphaning
he/she/it will be orphaning
we will be orphaning
they will be orphaning

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have orphaned
you will have orphaned
he/she/it will have orphaned
we will have orphaned
they will have orphaned

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been orphaning
you will have been orphaning
he/she/it will have been orphaning
we will have been orphaning
they will have been orphaning

IMPERATIVE

you orphan
we let´s orphan

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to orphan

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was orphaning
you were orphaning
he/she/it was orphaning
we were orphaning
they were orphaning

PAST PARTICIPLE

orphaned

PAST PERFECT

I had orphaned
you had orphaned
he/she/it had orphaned
we had orphaned
they had orphaned

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been orphaning
you had been orphaning
he/she/it had been orphaning
we had been orphaning
they had been orphaning

PRESENT

I orphan
you orphan
he/she/it orphans
we orphan
they orphan

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am orphaning
you are orphaning
he/she/it is orphaning
we are orphaning
they are orphaning

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

orphaning

PRESENT PERFECT

I have orphaned
you have orphaned
he/she/it has orphaned
we have orphaned
they have orphaned

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been orphaning
you have been orphaning
he/she/it has been orphaning
we have been orphaning
they have been orphaning

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it orphan

SIMPLE PAST

I orphaned
you orphaned
he/she/it orphaned
we orphaned
they orphaned

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