# rip vs rot

> 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.

### rot
*verb · IPA /ɹɒt/ · frequency rank #11,285*
To suffer decomposition due to biological action, especially by fungi or bacteria.

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