# perf vs perm

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### perf
*adjective · IPA /pɜː(ɹ)f/ · frequency rank #42,815*
Abbreviation of perforated; when followed by a number, eg, perf 14, this indicates the number of perforations per two centimetres.

### perm
*noun · IPA /pɝm/ · frequency rank #24,863*
Clipping of permanent wave (“hairstyle”).

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