# stain vs sting

> 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.

### sting
*noun · IPA /ˈstɪŋ/ · frequency rank #9,674*
A bump left on the skin after having been stung.

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