# how vs hum

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### how
*adverb · IPA /haʊ/ · frequency rank #67*
To what degree or extent.

### hum
*noun · IPA /ˈhʌm/ · frequency rank #13,172*
A hummed tune, i.e. created orally with lips closed.

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