# checking vs choking

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### checking
*verb · IPA /ˈt͡ʃɛkɪŋ/ · frequency rank #3,413*
present participle and gerund of check

### choking
*noun · IPA /ˈtʃəʊkɪŋ/ · frequency rank #13,299*
The process in which a person's airway becomes blocked, resulting in asphyxia in cases that are not treated promptly.

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