# stain vs start

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### stain
*noun · IPA /steɪn/ · frequency rank #11,298*
A discolored spot or area caused by spillage or other contact with certain fluids or substances.

### start
*noun · IPA /stɑːt/ · frequency rank #248*
The beginning of an activity.

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