# pawn vs pen

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### pawn
*noun · IPA /ˈpɔːn/ · frequency rank #14,379*
The state of being held as security for a loan, or as a pledge.

### pen
*noun · IPA /ˈpɛn/ · frequency rank #3,775*
An enclosure (enclosed area) used to contain domesticated animals, especially sheep or cattle.

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