# scab vs scum

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### scab
*noun · IPA /skæb/ · frequency rank #37,672*
An incrustation over a sore, wound, vesicle, or pustule, formed during healing.

### scum
*noun · IPA /skʌm/ · frequency rank #11,112*
A layer of impurities that accumulates at the surface of a liquid (especially molten metal or water).

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