# bell vs bulb

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### bell
*noun · IPA /bɛl/ · frequency rank #2,515*
A percussive instrument made of metal or other hard material, typically but not always in the shape of an inverted cup with a flared rim, which resonates when struck.

### bulb
*noun · IPA /ˈbʌlb/ · frequency rank #11,846*
The bulb-shaped underground portion of a plant such as a tulip, consisting of a shortened stem and many fleshy scale leaves, from which the rest of the plant may be regrown.

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