a la mode
/ˌɑləˈməʊd/
"a-la-mode" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“a la mode” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an adjective - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 9
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Fashionable; in the current style or fashion.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | a la mode |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Adjective |
| IPA | /ˌɑləˈməʊd/ |
| Letters | 9 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “a la mode” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for a la mode is 9 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌɑləˈməʊd/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for a la mode, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. Our dataset records no confusable match here, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.
Etymologically, the entry records: Unadapted borrowing from French à la mode (“in fashion”). The US sense was coined by polyglot restaurant owner John Gieriet in Minnesota in the 1800s though later attributed to Berry Hall and Charles Watson Townsend. The correct English form is a la mode, spelled A- -L-A- -M-O-D-E.
Definition
- 1Fashionable; in the current style or fashion.
- 2Served with ice cream.
- 3Of beef: larded and stewed with vegetables.
Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from French à la mode (“in fashion”). The US sense was coined by polyglot restaurant owner John Gieriet in Minnesota in the 1800s though later attributed to Berry Hall and Charles Watson Townsend.
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “a la mode”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is A- -L-A- -M-O-D-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˌɑləˈməʊd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.