# helm vs Hess

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### 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.

### Hess
*name · IPA /hɛs/ · frequency rank #23,298*
A habitational surname from German of German and Ashkenazi origin, denoting a person from Hesse.

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