# tribe vs tris

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### tribe
*noun · IPA /tɹaɪb/ · frequency rank #5,923*
An ethnic group larger than a band or clan (and which may contain clans) but smaller than a nation (and which in turn may constitute a nation with other tribes). The tribe is often the basis of ethnic identity.

### tris
*noun · IPA /tɹɪs/ · frequency rank #27,007*
A flammable compound which forms a corrosive solution in water and is used as a buffer and emulsifying agent.

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