a la mode
/ˌɑləˈməʊd/
"a-la-mode" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“a la mode” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 9
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Fashionable; in the current style or fashion.
Corpus desk
Index EN-a-la-mode · a la mode · English
a la mode · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables
- FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
- LEN-LONG 9 letters
- VOW-4 4 vowels
- CONFUS-0 No pairs
- VAR-0 0 variants
- BOOK-THIN "A" thin
- PHOTO-UNK Peer pending
Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern
Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.
| 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) |
Long-tail rank of “a la mode” in English
Rare enough to double-check
a la mode is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anadjective, transcribed /ˌɑləˈməʊd/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.
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.
Recorded use
Wiktionary examplesThese source excerpts show how a la mode appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
Rosettes are the hottest trend right now, and it's looking so damn good on this à la mode crochet bikini set. When you're not beach or poolside, you could even match the triangle top with a sleek maxi or high-waisted bottoms.
Our pudding a la mode has a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top.
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.