Phrase guide

and a partridge in a pear tree

phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ænd ə ˈpɑːtɹɪd͡ʒ ɪn ə ˌpɛə ˈtɹiː/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ænd ə ˈpɑɹtɹɪd͡ʒ ən ə ˌpɛɚ ˈtɹi/

1

phrase

Meaning 1

Used at the end of a list of items to emphasize its length.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: humorous

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the traditional Christmas song “The Twelve Days of Christmas” first published around 1780, in which earlier lines are repeated and added to with every succeeding line that is sung. The last round of one version of the song that is commonly sung today ends: “On the twelfth day of Christmas, / My true love sent to me / Twelve drummers drumming, / Eleven pipers piping, / Ten lords a-leaping, / Nine ladies dancing, / Eight maids a-milking, / Seven swans a-swimming, / Six geese a-laying, / Five golden rings, / Four calling birds, / Three French hens, / Two turtledoves / And a partridge in a pear tree.”

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: alouette — used at the end of a list of items to emphasize its length
  • Hungarian: és egy csíz a csupasz körtefán — used at the end of a list of items to emphasize its length
  • Polish: i kuropatwa na gruszy — used at the end of a list of items to emphasize its length
  • Spanish: y la abuela — used at the end of a list of items to emphasize its length
  • Spanish: y pare usted de contar — used at the end of a list of items to emphasize its length