# paddle vs paddy

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### paddle
*noun · IPA /ˈpædl̩/ · frequency rank #15,239*
A two-handed implement consisting of a shaft with one or two blades attached to the end(s) used to propel a canoe, kayak or a small boat. A paddle is unattached to the boat and freely operated with the hands, compared with an oar which is attached to the boat at a pivot point.

### paddy
*noun · IPA /ˈpædi/ · frequency rank #12,649*
Rough or unhusked rice, either before it is milled or as a crop to be harvested.

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