# winch vs witch

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### winch
*noun · IPA /wɪnt͡ʃ/ · frequency rank #27,701*
A machine consisting of a drum on an axle, a friction brake or ratchet and pawl, and a crank handle or prime mover (often an electric or hydraulic motor), with or without gearing, to give increased mechanical advantage when hoisting or hauling on a rope or cable.

### witch
*noun · IPA /wɪt͡ʃ/ · frequency rank #6,019*
A person (now usually particularly a woman) who uses magical or similar supernatural powers to influence or predict events.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/winch-vs-witch