# stain vs stink

> 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.

### stink
*verb · IPA /stɪŋk/ · frequency rank #15,922*
To have a strong bad smell.

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