# flap vs fray

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### flap
*noun · IPA /flæp/ · frequency rank #15,170*
Anything broad and flexible that hangs loose, or that is attached by one side or end and is easily moved.

### fray
*verb · IPA /fɹeɪ/ · frequency rank #20,120*
To rub or wear away (something); to cause (something made of strands twisted or woven together, such as cloth or rope) to unravel through friction; also, to irritate (something) through chafing or rubbing; to chafe.

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