# flue vs fume

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### flue
*noun · IPA /fluː/ · frequency rank #38,401*
A pipe or duct that carries gaseous combustion products away from the point of combustion (such as a furnace).

### 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: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/flue-vs-fume