# slate vs spade

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### slate
*noun · IPA /sleɪt/ · frequency rank #9,397*
A flake or piece of certain types of stone that tend to cleave into thin layers.

### spade
*noun · IPA /speɪ̯d/ · frequency rank #18,960*
A garden tool with a handle and a flat blade for digging. Not to be confused with a shovel which is used for moving earth or other materials.

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