# melanin vs melatonin

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### melanin
*noun · IPA /ˈmɛlənɪn/ · frequency rank #35,829*
Any of a group of naturally occurring dark pigments, especially the pigment found in skin, hair, fur, and feathers.

### melatonin
*noun · IPA /ˌmɛləˈtəʊnɪn/ · frequency rank #30,499*
A hormone, related to serotonin, that is secreted by the pineal gland, and stimulates colour change in the skin of reptiles, and is involved in the sleep and wake and reproductive cycles in mammals.

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