# dais vs dam

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### dais
*noun · IPA /ˈdeɪ.ɪs/ · frequency rank #45,873*
A raised platform in a room for a high table, a seat of honour, a throne, or other dignified occupancy, such as ancestral statues; a similar platform supporting a lectern, pulpit, etc., which may be used to speak from.

### dam
*noun · IPA /dæm/ · frequency rank #5,410*
A structure placed across a flowing body of water to stop the flow or part of the flow, generally for purposes such as retaining or diverting some of the water or retarding the release of accumulated water to avoid abrupt flooding.

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