# shave vs spate

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### shave
*verb · IPA /ʃeɪv/ · frequency rank #9,248*
To make (the head, skin etc.) bald or (the hair) shorter by using a tool such as a razor or electric clippers to cut the hair close to the skin.

### spate
*noun · IPA /speɪt/ · frequency rank #37,701*
A (sudden) flood or inundation of water; specifically, a flood in or overflow of a river or other watercourse due to heavy rain or melting snow; (uncountable, archaic) flooding, inundation.

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