# gem vs gun

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### gem
*noun · IPA /d͡ʒɛm/ · frequency rank #8,670*
A precious stone, usually of substantial monetary value or prized for its beauty or shine.

### gun
*noun · IPA /ˈɡʌn/ · frequency rank #1,168*
A device for shooting projectiles or ditto (a shooter), functioning through stored energy: a firearm, cannon, harpoon gun/spear gun, raygun, etc, not a bow and arrow, or slingshot.

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