# fife vs fume

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### fife
*noun · IPA /ˈfaɪf/ · frequency rank #17,613*
A small shrill pipe, resembling the piccolo flute, used chiefly to accompany the drum in military music

### fume
*noun · IPA /fjuːm/ · frequency rank #45,384*
A gas or vapour/vapor that is strong-smelling or dangerous to inhale.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fife-vs-fume