# helix vs helm

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### 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.

### helm
*noun · IPA /hɛlm/ · frequency rank #12,064*
The tiller (or, in a large ship, the wheel) which is used to steer the rudder of a marine vessel; also, the entire steering apparatus of a vessel.

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