# bulb vs bulge

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### 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.

### bulge
*noun · IPA /ˈbʌldʒ/ · frequency rank #21,150*
An object which is sticking out from a surface; a swelling, protuberant part; a bending outward, especially when caused by pressure.

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