# rip vs ripen

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### rip
*verb · IPA /ɹɪp/ · frequency rank #4,630*
To divide or separate the parts of (especially something flimsy, such as paper or fabric), by cutting or tearing; to tear off or out by violence.

### ripen
*verb · IPA /ˈɹaɪpən/ · frequency rank #45,055*
to grow ripe; to become mature (said of grain, fruit, flowers etc.)

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