# rail vs rake

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### rail
*noun · IPA /ɹeɪ(ə)l/ · frequency rank #3,579*
A horizontal bar extending between supports and used for support or as a barrier; a railing.

### rake
*noun · IPA /ɹeɪk/ · frequency rank #17,699*
A garden tool with a row of pointed teeth fixed to a long handle, used for collecting debris, grass, etc., for flattening the ground, or for loosening soil; also, a similar wheel-mounted tool drawn by a horse or a tractor.

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