# lime vs lye

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### lime
*noun · IPA /laɪm/ · frequency rank #8,814*
Any inorganic material containing calcium, usually calcium oxide (quicklime) or calcium hydroxide (slaked lime).

### lye
*noun · IPA /laɪ/ · frequency rank #40,787*
An alkaline liquid made by leaching ashes (usually wood ashes).

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