# helium vs helix

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### helium
*noun · IPA /ˈhiː.li.əm/ · frequency rank #16,725*
The second-lightest chemical element (symbol He), with an atomic number of 2 and atomic weight of 4.002602, a colorless, odorless and inert noble gas.

### helix
*noun · IPA /ˈhiːlɪks/ · frequency rank #20,662*
A curve on the surface of a cylinder or cone such that its angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis is constant; the three-dimensional curve seen in a screw or a spiral staircase.

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