# spear vs spur

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### spear
*noun · IPA /spɪə̯(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #11,296*
A long stick with a sharp tip used as a weapon for throwing or thrusting, or anything used to make a thrusting motion.

### spur
*noun · IPA /spɜː/ · frequency rank #11,976*
A rigid implement, often roughly y-shaped, that is fixed to one's heel for the purpose of prodding a horse. Often worn by, and emblematic of, the cowboy or the knight.

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