# ballad vs bally

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### ballad
*noun · IPA /ˈbæləd/ · frequency rank #16,640*
A kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation or singing; especially, a sentimental or romantic poem in short stanzas.

### bally
*adjective · IPA /ˈbæli/ · frequency rank #40,137*
Bloody (used as a mild intensifier).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ballad-vs-bally