Bikini

See also: bikini and bikiní

English

Etymology

  • From German Bikini, the colonial name of the atoll as part of German New Guinea, and this was derived from Marshallese Pikinni.

    Pronunciation

    • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /bɪˈkiː.ni/
    • (General American) IPA(key): /bɪˈki.ni/
    • Audio (US):(file)
    • Rhymes: -iːni
    • Homophone: bikini

    Proper noun

    Bikini

    1. Bikini atoll.

    Usage notes

    While the word bikini, in reference to the swimsuit, usually has just one pronunciation stressed on the second syllable, the English place name Bikini has two pronunciations. /ˈbɪkɪni/ is the older pronunciation stressed on the first syllable, and is still widely used in English by those most familiar with the atoll. /bɪˈkiːni/ is a newer pronunciation stressed on the second syllable, influenced by the swimsuit term.

    Derived terms

    Descendants

    • French: Bikini

    French

    Etymology

  • From English Bikini, from earlier German Bikini, the colonial name of the atoll as part of German New Guinea, and this was derived from Marshallese Pikinni.

    Pronunciation

    • IPA(key): /bi.ki.ni/

    Proper noun

    Bikini ?

    1. Bikini atoll

    Descendants

    German

    Pronunciation

    Etymology 1

  • Borrowed from Marshallese Pikinni.

    Proper noun

    Bikini

    1. Bikini (an atoll in the Marshall Islands)
    Descendants

    Etymology 2

  • Borrowed from French bikini.

    Noun

    Bikini m or (Switzerland) n (strong, genitive Bikinis, plural Bikinis)

    1. a bikini (two-piece swimsuit)
    Declension
    • Monokini

    Further reading

    Japanese

    Romanization

    Bikini

    1. Rōmaji transcription of ビキニ