word
serendipity
ser-en-DIP-ih-tee
ˌsɛrənˈdɪpɪtiListen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
serendipity
Sounds like
Say 'ser-en-DIP-ih-tee'.
Dictionary meaning
The occurrence of fortunate discoveries by accident; a happy chance.
History and origin
Coined by Horace Walpole in 1754, from the old name for Sri Lanka — 'Serendip' — and a Persian fairy tale.
Examples
- It was pure serendipity that they sat next to each other on the train — they were married two years later.
Common mispronunciations
ser-EN-dip-ih-teeSER-en-dip-ih-tee
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